Several of the SEC and ACC’s top powers are competing this weekend at the Georgia Tech Invite, including Florida State, Alabama and the Auburn women, but it was the South Carolina Gamecock swimmers who stole the show on night one, winning three of six individual swimming events.
Florida State’s women opened up with a win in the 200 free relay, with Emma Terebo, Elise Olsen, Tayla Lovemore and Lexi Smith finishing in 1:28.49. Auburn’s Alyssa Tetzloff, Ashton Ellzey, Robyn Clevenger and Julia Meynan were just behind at 1:28.76, and Alabama took third in 1:29.26 with Flora Molnar, Temarie Tomley, Lindsay Morrow and Bailey Scott.
Alabama’s men won their version of the 200 free relay, with Zane Waddell, Robert Howard, Luke Kaliszak and Laurent Bams touching in 1:16.68. Florida State led by 36 hundredths at the final exchange, but Bams split an impressive 18.84 on the end after Howard had been 18.83 on the second leg.
FSU’s Will Pisani, Chad Mylin, Emir Muratovic and Kaleo Kaleoaloha took second in 1:16.95 — with Mylin recording the race’s fastest split of 18.70. Georgia Tech’s team of Rodrigo Correia, Franco Reyes, Caio Pumputis and Noah Harasz took third in 1:19.70.
Alabama’s Leonie Kullman won the women’s 500 free in 4:41.95, easily out-pacing Auburn’s Zoe Thatcher (4:45.27) and Georgia Tech’s Emily Ilgenfritz (4:46.38).
The South Carolina Gamecocks won the next three events, beginning with Fynn Minuth’s triumph in the men’s 500 free. Minuth, the SEC champion in the event, recorded a time of 4:16.07, while Georgia Tech’s Colton Williamson took second (4:18.78) and Alabama’s Daniel Kober was third (4:23.03). South Carolina’s Akaram Mahmoud, a two-time top-three finisher in the 1650 at the NCAA championships, won the B-final in 4:19.23.
SC’s Emma Barksdale cruised to the top spot in the women’s 200 IM, touching in 1:56.41. Auburn’s Alyssa Tetzloff took second in 1:58.62, and Alabama’s Alexis Preski was third in 1:59.82.
The third win for the Gamecocks came in the men’s 200 IM, when senior Tom Peribonio held off Georgia Tech freshman Caio Pumputis, 1:45.16 to 1:45.68. Alabama’s Christopher Reid touched third in 1:46.39.
In the women’s 50 free, Auburn’s Ellzey finished first by one hundredth over Alabama rival Scott, 22.35 to 22.36, while Molnar finished in 22.46 to make it a 2-3 finish for the Crimson Tide.
In the men’s 50 free, Howard blasted a time of 19.11 for the win, while Mylin came in second at 19.35. Pisani took third in 19.64.
Florida State freshman Joshua Davidson won men’s three-meter diving with a score of 410.85, ahead of Auburn’s Scott Lazeroff (365.80) and Matt Casillas (350.30).
The Seminole women won their second relay of the night as Madeline Cohen, Natalie Pierce, Lovemore and Smith won the women’s 400 medley relay in 3:33.45. Pierce stood out with a blazing 57.98 split on the breaststroke leg.
Auburn’s Tetzloff, Breanna Roman, Haley Black and Meynan finished second in 3:35.21. Alabama’s Katie Kelsoe, Justine Macfarlane, Molnar and Scott took third in in 3:35.89.
The Crimson Tide completed the night with a dominant effort in the men’s 400 medley relay. Luke Kaliszak, Bams, Waddell and Howard finished in 3:07.04, and it was Bams’ breaststroke leg (52.01) and Howard’s anchor (41.70) that made the difference.
Florida State’s Mylin, Ryan Telford, Kaleoaloha and Pisani took second in 3:10.66, while South Carolina’s Will Countie, Nils Wich-Glasen, Justin Rose and Patrick McCrillis rounded out the top three. Wich-Glasen was also highly impressive on the breaststroke leg, splitting 52.32.
After the first of three nights of competition, Auburn led the women’s team rankings with 354.5 points, ahead of Alabama (286) and Florida State (277.5). On the men’s side, Florida State was ahead with 459 points, while Alabama was second (345) and Florida State third (239).
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