Matthew Menke, Nicholas Perera Show Off Versatility as Alabama Sweeps LSU
By the time Matthew Menke and Nicholas Perera went 1-2 in the 200 individual medley on Friday night, Alabama’s win over LSU was well in hand. But both IMers took winding paths to get there, showing off their versatility up and down the program.
Menke won the event in 1:48.72, putting the finishing touches on a 170-130 win for the Crimson Tide men over LSU, 170-130. The women claimed a 194.5-105.5 victory in the first SEC meet for both programs.
Perera was second to Menke in 1:50.62. Menke swam backstroke to lead off the victorious 200 medley relay. He won the 100 back in 47.68 and the 200 back in 1:46.28. Perera won the 200 butterfly in 1:49.94, edging out teammate Charlie Hawke by .07. (Hawke was also second in the 500 free.) Perera also finished second in the 200 breaststroke.
Bernardo de Almeida and Derek Maas were on both winning relays for the Crimson Tide. De Almeida also won the 100 fly ahead of Maas, who won the 100 breast. Gil Kiesler and Blake Peeples started ‘Bama off with a 1-2 in the 1,000 free.
Olympian Brooks Curry led the way for LSU. He swept the 50, 100 and 200 free. Ryan Warmbier won the 500 free. Mitch Mason was second in the 100 breast before winning the 200.
LSU also scored big points via diving. Juan Celaya Hernandez was excellent once again, leading a pair of 1-2 finishes with Adrian Abadia Garcia. Celaya Hernandez scored 402.30 on 1-meter and 443.10 on 3-meter.
The Alabama women were paced by its pair of Olympians. Rhyan White swept the 100 back (52.37) and 200 back (1:55.68). Kalia Antoniou of Cyprus won the 50 free and 100 free. She also led off the winning 400 free relay and anchored the 200 medley relay. Morgan Scott was part of both foursomes. Avery Wiseman handled breaststroke in the medley before sweeping the 100 and 200 breast.
Kensey McMahon won the 1,000 free and 500 free and was second in the 200 fly. Cora Dupre won the 200 free, Ashley Voelkerding claimed the 200 fly and Morgan Liberto was second to Wright in both backstroke races. Diana Petkova won the 200 IM.
Hannah Bellina led LSU’s point accumulation. She won the 200 fly and finished second in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Jolee Liles (1,000 free, 500 free) and Katarina Mulutinovich (200 free, 100 free) finished twice each for the Tigers.
LSU dominated on the boards with a pair of top-four sweeps. Montserrat Lavenant, the reigning SEC Women’s Diver of the Week, won 1-meter with a score of 293.63. The 3-meter competition went to the Tuxens, with Helle Tuxen topping sister Anne Tuxen with 346.43 points.
