By Chandler Brandes, ACC Beat Writer
Virginia Tech hosted Towson and ACC rival Virginia in a two-day meet at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center on January 15 and 16. The Cavalier women beat Virginia Tech 258-95 and Towson 289-64, and Virginia Tech beat Towson 246-107. On the men’s side, the Hokies beat Virginia 212.5-140.5 and Towson 285-66, and Virginia defeated Towson 285-66.
Women’s Meet
Day one began with the 200 free relay in which Virginia’s team of Kasey Schmidt, Ellen Thomas, Caitlin Cooper, and Courtney Bartholomew won in 1:31.67, over three seconds ahead of runner-up Virginia Tech. Virginia swept the top three spots in the women’s 200 IM, led by Bartholomew in 2:00.75, who later won the 200 back (1:55.61). The Cavaliers also went 1-2-3 in the 100 free, led by Thomas (50.27). Other Virginia event winners included Hanne Borgersen in the 500 free (4:50.03), Laura Simon in the 100 breast (1:01.55), and Jen Marrkand in the 200 fly (1:58.73), beating Virginia Tech’s Klaudia Nazieblo (1:58.74) by .01. Bartholomew, Simon, Marrkand, and Thomas won the 400 medley relay in 3:38.22 to concluded day one.
Bartholomew, Simon, Thomas, and Cooper opened day two with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:40.09). Borgersen led Virginia’s 1-2-3 sweep in the 1000 with a time of 10:00.21, and Thomas led the sweep in the 50 free in 23.40. Bartholomew won her third individual event of the weekend in the 100 back (53.60), followed by teammate Megan Moroney (55.58) who later won the 200 free in 1:48.55. Marrkand won the 100 fly (54.85) and the 400 IM (4:22.84), her third individual win of the meet. Virginia Tech senior Weronika Paluszek touched the wall first in the 200 breast (2:13.31). The meet concluded with Moroney, Eryn Eddy, Bartholomew, and Thomas winning the 400 free relay in 3:21.56.
Men’s Meet
The men’s meet started with Virginia Tech’s Lucas Bureau, Ian Ho, Brandon Fiala, and Adam Thomas grabbing the men’s 200 free relay in 1:21.53. Fiala went on to win the men’s 200 IM (1:49.94) and 100 breast (55.50), and Bureau later won the 100 free in 45.21. Virginia’s Sam Magnan won the men’s 500 free in 4:29.79, just out touching Virginia Tech’s Michal Scuba (4:29.81). Robert Owen (1:47.29) and Sean Workman (1:48.06) went 1-2 in the men’s 200 back for the Hokies. Cavalier freshman Zach Fong took the top spot in the 200 fly in 1:48.93. Friday’s session ended with Virginia’s Austin Quinn, Murat Yildirim, Fong, and Nicholas Magana combining to win the 400 medley relay in 3:19.21.
Virginia Tech’s Norbert Szabo, Fiala, Drake Becksted, and Ho began day two with a win in the 200 medley relay (1:30.00). Teammates Magnan (9:22.47) and Dan Golczewski (9:24.25) went 1-2 in the 1000, and Quinn (49.85) and Gust Kouvaris (50.36) went 1-2 in the 100 back for the Cavaliers. The Hokies went 1-2 in the 50 free, led by Ho in 20.49, followed by Bureau (20.79) who later went on to win the 200 free in 1:39.39. Fiala won his third individual event of the meet, taking the top spot in the 200 breast (2:01.72). Szabo won the 100 fly (49.31) and Owen placed first in the 400 IM (3:58.61) for the Hokies. Szabo, Fiala, Ho, and Bureau won the 400 free relay in 3:00.88 to conclude the meet.
Virginia Tech competes again on January 23 against University of Cincinnati and Wright State. Virginia returns to the pool on January 22 as the take on ACC rival North Carolina State.
Full meet results: 2016 Virginia vs. Virginia Tech vs. Towson – Results