Gamecock Invitational: North Carolina Men, South Carolina Women Hoist Trophies
After three days of hard-fought competition, the University of North Carolina men’s team and the University of South Carolina women’s team came out on top at the midseason Gamecock Invitational over the weekend.
The North Carolina men got out to a fast start and never looked back, totaling 1493 points on the way to a win. Second place was a battle, however, as Tampa squeaked by South Carolina, 1040 to 1035. They were followed by UNC-Wilmington (695), Milligan (339), and Carson-Newman University (292).
The women’s side presented a close battle, especially for first. South Carolina came out on top with 1551.5 points, but was followed by North Carolina with 1425.5. Tampa came in third with 455.5 points, with East Carolina (445) and Vanderbilt (412) next. Georgia Southern(208.5), North Florida(159), Carson-Newmann(80), and Milligan(50) closed out the competition.
Men’s Meet
Patrick Hussey and P.J. Foy were the biggest contributors for the Tar Heels, facing different schedules but securing key victories in their respective events. Foy came in second in the 50 Free at 19.43 on Thursday. The freshman upped the ante on Friday and Saturday with victories in the 100 fly and free, coming in at 45.25 and 43.00.
Hussey started off his weekend with a victory in the 500 freestyle (4:15.35), and followed it up with a school record 1:33.0 in his 200 free victory. He finished off the weekend strong with a second-place effort in the 200 fly. Both were also a part of the victorious 200 and 400 free relays that set school records, and the second-place 200 medley relay.
North Carolina’s Louis Dramm helped get the party started for the Tar Heels with a school record 1:41.84 and a win in the 200 individual medley. The junior collected a win in the 400 IM as well, and finished second in the 200 Freestyle.
UNC’s Ben Delmar was dominant in the breaststroke events, prevailing in the 100 and 200 distances.
Tampa’s Tibor Tistan threw down a speedy 19.31 to claim victory in the 50 freestyle. The sprinter edged out Foy and teammate Caleb Brandon for a Division II NCAA A cut, as well as the school record. Tampa’s Jacob Hamlin was the runnerup in the 500 freestyle, but his time of 4:16.84 was good for a Division II record.
North Carolina dominated most of the meet’s relay action. But a key victory for the Tampa men in the 800 free relay likely secured the school second place in the team race. A team of Parker Knollman, Hamlin, Jaxson Row, and Rafael Ponce de Leon eked out a victory over UNC-Wilmington, battling back with a strong finish by Ponce De Leon in 1:36.23.
Women’s Meet
On the women’s side, the stars for both the Gamecocks and Tar Heels stood out, as the teams dominated the individual events. USC’s Amy Riordan took first in both the 200 backstroke and the 200 freestyle, coming in at 1:52.89 and 1:45.60. Meanwhile, Greta Pelzek dominated the butterfly events, winning the 100 and 200 in 52.19 and 1:54.75.
UNC, meanwhile, picked up some big victories in the sprint events to make it a tight meet. Greer Patterson took victories in both the 50 free and the 100 back, coming in at 22.35 and 52.77. Her teammate, Georgia Nel, won the 100 free in 48.95, and finished second in the 50.
Both teams traded blows throughout the entire meet. The Tar Heels’ Mary Macauley ruled over the IM events, winning both the 200 and 400 in 1:56.55 and 4:11.17. Her impact was matched by the Gamecocks’ Ellery Ottom, who won the 500 freestyle in 4:43.74.
North Carolina’s Skyler Smith continued her strong season in the breaststroke events, winning both the 100 and the 200. Her time in the 100 breast, 58.26, stands as second fastest in the country as of Saturday, breaking her own team record as well.
North Carolina dominated the relays, getting wins in the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley, and 400 medley relays.
The Gamecocks went 1-2 in the 800 Free Relay, sealing their win.