CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The LSU swimming and diving team finished the first day of the 2001 Nike Cup Invitational in second place behind host North Carolina at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium.
“It was a great day for us today,” said LSU head coach Jeff Cavana. “North Carolina is a great program and we are hanging right with them.”
LSU is currently ranked in the top 25 in both the men and women’s polls. The Tigers are ranked 25th and the Lady Tigers are 20th. North Carolina’s women are currently ranked 14th. LSU finished third at the Nike Cup last season with North Carolina winning the event. The meet runs through Saturday and includes eight teams.
Friday’s portion of the three-day meet will include the 200 and 400-yard medley relay, the 800-yard freestyle relay, and four other swimming events. The meet begins at 9 a.m. CST with preliminary races and finals start at 5 p.m. on Friday evening.
LSU won two team events and two individual events on Thursday. The Tigers team of Matt Rucker, Francisco Paez, Chris Stanczyk and Martin Latz won the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:22.65, finishing five seconds ahead of Kentucky’s team. Paez, Steve Gluck, Evan Martinec and Mike Jotautas won the 400-yard medley relay in a time of 3:18.99.
LSU’s team finished second in the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay, finishing just 65 seconds behind North Carolina. Sophomore Stephanie Smith continued her impressive season by making the NCAA B Cut of the Qualifying Standards in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:50.80. The B Cut was 4:55.31. Her score is also third all-time in LSU history.
Mandy Leach placed fourth in the 200-yard individual medley relay with a time of 2:05.77 in the preliminaries and 2:05.32 in the finals on Thursday evening. Julie Hughes finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle. She finished the event in 24.22 in the finals.
“We really had a good day all-around today,” said assistant swimming coach Lars Jorgensen. “I think tomorrow may be our best day, but we just need to keep it going, I do not know if they (North Carolina) has ever lost this meet.”
LSU excelled in the diving competition on Thursday. Jessica Wantz finished first in the 3-meter diving competition. Her score in the final was 531.15. Barb Gorst and Michelle Coryell placed second and third behind Wantz. Kyle Vanardsall won the men’s 1-meter diving with a score of 321.40 in the finals.
“The scores in diving today were some of the best that we have had all season,” said head diving coach Scott Reich. “We really focused today and tried to give the best possible effort.”
The meet will continue on Friday with seven events, and will wrap up on Saturday with six events and the finals of men’s 1-meter diving.
MEN’S TEAM SCORES:
1. NORTH CAROLINA 312; 2. LSU 226; 3. VIRGINIA TECH 199; 4. KENTUCKY 175; 5. EAST CAROLINA 124; 6. DUKE 77; 7. KENYON 66; 8. SYRACUSE 4.
FINAL EVENTS
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
1. Louisiana State (Matthew Rucker, Chris Stanczyk, Martin Latz, Franciso Pacz), 1:22.65; 2. Kentucky (Daniel Wimer, Adam Gustafson, Daniel Cruz, Roger Watkins), 1:22.70; North Carolina (Eddy Matkovich, Michael Chenier, Kevin Erndl, Dan Vick), 1:23.03; 4. Louisiana State (Steve Gluck, Neil Lowe, Reed Robelot, Robbie Moon), 1:24.25; 5. Virginia Tech (Joel Cross, Steve Tozer, Dave Litchfield, Chris Lindberg), 1:24.26; 6. East Carolina (Chris Miller, Gavin Stark, Kelly Hendrick, Travis Todd), 1:24.50; 7. Kenyon College (Read Boon, Marc Courtney-Brooks, Leandro Monteiro, Jon Philipsborn), 1:24.54; North Carolina (Justin Donato, Kert Johnson, Drew Hathaway, Justin Rossi), 1:24.60; 9. East Carolina (Stephen Parsons, Will Powell, Casey Charles, Daniel Walters), 1:26.05; 10. Virginia Tech (Brian Piantadosi, Joey Pickarski, Aaron Sherman, Chris Bassler), 1:26.53; 11. Duke (Conor O’Brien, Grant Peterson, Chris Brede, John Samotyj), 1:26.63; 12. Kentucky (Fernando Barros, Clay Gasparovich, Jamie Peterkin, Chris Collins), 1:26.83; 13. Louisiana State (TJ Natal, Jare Strecker, BJ Alvarez, Ryan Cochran); 1:26.88; 14. Virginia Tech (Rob Duffy, Kevin Furlong, Matt Lewis, Felipe Leibholz), 1:27.02; 15. Syracuse (Spencer Raymond, Mike Anstrom, Djordje Filipovic, AJ Newman), 1:27.89; 16. East Carolina (Cliff Skudin, Brad Bumgarner, Kenny Flory, Nik Lukic), 1:28.24; 17. Kentucky (Russ Throckmorton, Cody Nath, Matt Nilson, Cameron Moore), 1:28.32; 18. Duke (Chris Sundberg, Matt Olmsted, Trevor Yates, Robbie Smith), 1:28.68; 19. North Carolina (Jonathan Hoyle, Yuri Suguiyama, Justin Lynch, Reid Owen), 1:29.05; 20. Kenyon College (Carlos Vega, Justin Karpinos, Petar Krvaric, Michael Bonomo), 1:29.62; Duke (Chris Fleizach, David Plandowski, Brad Thrasher, Chris Smith), 1:29.73; 22. Syracuse (Gustavo Kertzscher, Zack Posey, Steve Polucha, Josh Scott), 1:29.75.
500-Yard Freestyle
Super Final
1. Yuri Suguiyama (UNC), 4:27.54; 2. Judd Glasco (UNC), 4:27.85; 3. Leandro Monteiro (KC), 4:30.99; 4. Joey Faltraco (UK), 4:32.12 Final 5. Matt Walker (ECU), 4:32.39; 6. Stephen Mohr (UNC), 4:32.64; 7. Greg Kubovcik (VT), 4:34.86; 8. Myles Jaynes (LSU), 4:36.08; 9. Dave Kuendig (UK), 4:36.10; 10. Seth Laughlin (UNC), 4:37.47; 11. Andrew Biedrzycki (UNC), 4:37.85; 12. Teddy Helfers (DU), 4:38.52 Consolation Final 13. Mike Peterson (VT), 4:36.79; 14. Gregg Johnson (UNC), 4:37.50; 15. Michael Bonomo (KC), 4:37.67; 16. Dennis Rowe (LSU), 4:39.23; 17. Reid Owen (UNC), 4:40.59; 18. Justin Lynch (UNC), 4:41.60; 19. Keith Gettys (VT), 4:42.37; 20. Petar Krvaric (KC), 4:43.23.
200-Yard Individual Medley
Super Final
1. Chris Helin (UNC), 1:49.76; 2. Rob Duffy (VT), 1:50.62; 3. Casey Cronin (ECU), 1:52.50; 4. Eddie Clement (UK), 1:52.65 Final 5. Joey Piekarski (VT), !:53.62; 6. Justin Rossi (UNC), 1:53.65; 7. Casey Coble (UNC), 1:53.72; 8. Justin Ward (DU), 1:53.86; 9, Chris Bassler (VT), 1:53.68; 10. Steve Gluck (LSU), 1:54.37; 11. Griff Helfrich (UNC), 1:54.45; 12. John Hartmann (UNC), 1:56.02 Consolation Final 13. Justin Boyes (LSU), 1:53.56; 14. John Humphrey (DU), 1:54.75; 15. Aaron Cuker (UK), 1:55.62; 16. David Peck (DU), 1:55.83; 17. Russ Rhrockmorton (UK), 1:56.03; 18. Read Boon (KC), 1:56.31; 19. Djordje Filipovic (SU), 1:58.28; Jonathan Hoyle (UNC), 1:59.18.
50-Yard Freestyle
Super Final
1. Kevin Erndl (UNC), 20.54; 2. Matthew Rucker (LSU), 20.61; 3. Roger Watkins (UK), 20.94; 4. Daniel Wimer (UK), 21.24 Final 5. Francisco Paez (LSU), 20.83; 6. Joel Cross (VT), 20.92; 7. Travis Todd (ECU), 21.06; 8. Adam Gustafson (UK), 21.22; 9. Martin Latz (LSU), 21.26; 10. Chris Lindberg (VT), 21.36; 11. Dan Vick (UNC), 21.50; 12. Chris Stanczyck (LSU), 21.58 Consolation Final 13. Justin Donato (UNC), 21.25; 14. Dave Litchfield (VT), 21.33; 15. Daniel Cruz (UK), 21.35; 16. Steve Tozer (VT), 21.39; 17. Evan Martinec (LSU), 21.44; 18. Conor O’Brien (DU), 21.49; 19. Neil Lowe (LSU), 21.61; 20. Reed Robelot (LSU), 21.66.
One-Meter Diving
1. Kyle Vanarsdale (LSU), 321.40; 2. Stephen Krebs (UNC), 296.30; 3. Eric Poitras (UNC), 282.15, 4. Rob McMillen (UNC), 241.15; 5. Doug Repes (VT), 226.35; 6. Doug Warner (DU), 222.60; 7. Ryan Fught (ECU), 220.85; 8. Matt Bolen (VT), 211.40
400-Yard Medley Relay
1. Louisana State University (Evan Martinec, Steve Gluck, Mike Jotautas, Francisco), 3:18.99; 2. Kentucky 3:21.90; 3. North Carolina (Kert Johnson, Chris Helin, Eddy Matkovich, Justin Donato), 3:22.73; 4. Louisiana State University (BJ Alvarez, Matthew Rucker, Neil Lowe, Chris Stanczyk), 3:23.56; 5. Virginia Tech (Chris Lindberg, Kevin Furlong, Rob Duffy, Joel Cross), 3:23.59; 6. Duke (Chris Fleizach, Ryan Spoon, John Samotyj, Conor O’Brien), 3:26.15; 7. Kenyon College (Leandro Monteiro, Petar Krvaric, Carlos Vega, Marc Courtney-Brooks), 3:26.97; 8. East Carolina (Will Powell, Josh LePree, Chris Miller, Travis Todd), 3:27.51; 9. North Carolina (John Hartmann, Sinisa Haberle, Drew Hathaway, Michael Chenier), 3:27.68; 10. Virginia Tech (Steve Horning, Dave Litchfield, Steve Tozer, Chris Bassler), 3:28.07; 11. Kentucky 3:28.28; 12. Louisiana State University (Nick Tarantino, Robbie Moon, Jared Strecker, Martin Latz), 3:28.83; 13. North Carolina (Jonathan Hoyle, Griff Helfrich, Gregg Johnson, Dan Vick), 3:28.96; 14. Duke (David Peck, Justin Ward, John Humphrey, Trevor Yates), 3:31.14; 15. Virginia Tech (Aaron Sherman, David Szabo, Felipe Leibholz, Mike Peterson), 3:31.62; 16. East Carolina (Casey Charles, Nik Lukic, Kenny Flory, Kelly Hendrick), 3:32.79; 17. Duke (Ryan Harsh, Kevin Ko, John McDonald, Chris Brede), 3:32.94; 18. Kentucky 3:33.36; 19. Syracuse (Josh Scott, Glenn Bizewski, AJ Newman, Steve Polucha), 3:39.05.
WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES:
1. NORTH CAROLINA 296; 2. LSU 247; 3. VIRGINIA TECH 207; 4. KENTUCKY 163; 5. DUKE 132; 6. EAST CAROLINA 90; 7. KENYON 74; 8. SYRACUSE 31.
FINAL EVENTS
200-Yard Freestyle Relay
1. North Carolina (Christy Watkins, Katie Hathaway, Lori Thomas, Jessi Perruquet), 1:34.31; 2. LSU (Lindsay Staak, Julie Hughes, Donna Leslie, Mandy Leach), 1:34.99; 3. Virginia Tech (Megan Drolet, Kelly Furlong, Whitney Johnson, Jill Turner), 1:36.12; 4. Kenyon (Beth Galloway, Agnese Ozolina, Madeleine Courtney-Brooks, Betsy Garratt), 1:37.33; 5. Duke (Lauren Hancock, Amy Halligan, Jen Gauger, Lauren Cornet), 1:37.36; 6. East Carolina (Lindsey Gardiner, Martha Snead, Lara Fuller, Courtney Foster), 1:37.40; 7. Kentucky (Sarah Hoppe, Kelly Neal, Shawna Sechrist, Jessica Siegele), 1:37.75; 8. Virginia Tech (Jen McLaughlin, Paige Sample, Jen Siegele, Katy Peterson), 1:38.27; 9. Louisiana State (Cackey Miltenberger, Margaret Anne Moore, Laura Jo Leininger, Margaret Beadle), 1:38.39; 10. North Carolina (Virginia Hanson, Stefanie Rulis, Jessie Brosch, Janna Turner), 1:38.49; 11. Kentucky (Tracy Sullivan, Kendra Trahan, Xenavee Pangelinan, Jenaca Pumphrey), 1:40.00; 12. Syracuse (Megan Dancy, Lisa Fong, Sarah Reed, Elyse McDonough), 1:40.17; 13. North Carolina (Kelly Weeks, Becky Acker, Jenny Gardner, Marjorie Witter), 1:40.71; 14. Duke (Chrissy Anderson, Suzy Borgschulte, Dominique Ramirez, Paige Dommerich), 1:41.26; 15. Syracuse (Annie Tudryn, Stacy Wells, Melissa Plummer, Ashley Danowski), 1:42.22; 16. Virginia Tech (Jaime Trivett, Ally Hamilton, Erin Veltman, Jackie Arnold), 1:42.68; 17. Kentucky (Sarah Carter, Cami Miller, Emily Johnston, Audrey Johnson), 1:43.59; 18. Duke (Lauren Afflixio, Kate Fay, Becky Fuhrman, Erica Lepisto), 1:43.65; 19. Syracuse (Rachel Wrede, Kalei Mahi, Lindsey Clark, Jessica Gibney), 1:46.99
500-Yard Freestyle
Super Final
1. Chrissy Miller (UK), 4:50.07; 2. Carolyn Rader (UK), 4:50.35; 3. Stephanie Smith (LSU), 4:51.80; 4. Marci Vrooman (UK), 4:53.77 Final 5. Molly Sullivan (UNC), 4:54.11; 6. Erin Milfeit (VT), 4:54.11; 7. Kelly Weeks (UNC), 4:57.65; 8. Whitney Smith (UNC), 4:58.22; 9. Sarah Gardner (VT), 4:58.76; 10 Jamie Spradlin (VT), 4:59.09; 11. Melissa Fiss (UNC), 5:00.53; 12. Donna Leslie (LSU), 5:03.83 Consolation Final 13. Amanda Bourgeois (UK), 4:58.33; 14. Lauren Hancock (DU), 5:01.37; 15. Margot Gathings (LSU), 5:01.49; 16. Caitlin Muldon (UK), 5:03.78; 17. Debra Hinsley (UK), 5:05.02; 18. Alice Hardesty (LSU), 5:05.15; 19. Ashley Danowski (SU), 5:06.00; 20. Amanda Kline (UNC), 5:08.69.
200-Yard Individual Medley
Super Final
1. Katie Hathaway (UNC), 2:00.90; 2. Lauren Cornet (DU), 2:02.87; 3. Diane Parker (ECU), 2:03.18; 4. Many Leach (LSU), 2:05.32 Final 5. Jessi Perruquet (UNC), 2:05.56; 6. Lauren Hancock (DU), 2:05.83; 7. Amy Halligan (DU), 2:05.93; 8. Elyse McDonough (SU), 2:06.52; 9. Kathleen Quinn (UNC), 2:06.62; 10. Kelly Furlong (VT), 2:07.01; 11. Becky Acker (UNC), 2:07.05; 12. Alyson Dabney (VT), 2:07.30 Consolation Final 13. Chere Richards (LSU), 2:07.97; 14. Katy Peterson (VT), 2:08.16; 15. Xenavee Pangelinan (UK), 2:08.39; 16. Janna Turner (UNC), 2:08.66; 17. Leigh Sanders (UNC), 2:09.29; 18. Dawn Coy (LSU), 2:09.99; 19. Allison Terrill (ECU), 2:10.12; 20. Virginia Hanson (UNC), 2:11.71.
50-Yard Freestyle
Super Final
1. Jessi Perruquet (UNC), 23.37; 2. Beth Galloway (KC), 23.56; 3. Christy Watkins (UNC), 23.64; 4. Julie Hughes (LSU), 24.22 Final 5. Jill Turner (VT), 23.46; 6. Donna Leslie (LSU), 23.74; 7. Courtney Foster (ECU), 23.94; 8. Lauren Cornet (DU), 24.04; 9. Meagan Drolet (VT), 24.11; 10. Sarah Hoppe (UK), 24.31; 11. Martha Snead (ECU), 24.32; 12. Chrissy Miller (UK), 24.38
Consolation Final
13. Lindsay Staak (LSU), 24.29; 14. Agnese Ozolina (KC), 24.32; 15. Whitney Johnson (VT), 24.45; 16. Lori Thomas (UNC), 24.50; 17. Marci Vrooman (UK), 24.66; 18. Kelly Neal (UK); 24.81; 19. Shawna Sechrist (UK), 24.82; 20. Jen McLaughlin (VT), 24.83.
One-Meter Diving
1. Jessica Wantz (LSU), 531.15; 2. Barb Gorst (LSU), 523.00; 3. Michelle Coryell (LSU), 500.06; 4. Lindsay Waddell (UNC), 454.55; 5. Holly Winters (LSU), 439.85; 6. Ashley Benner (UNC), 439.80; 7. Katie Grossi (VT), 418.05; 8. Jennifer Rehm (UNC), 395.55; 9. Elizabeth Misiti (UNC); 10. Robin Wood (VT); 11. Amanda Davis (DU); 12. Kayleen Gloor (VT); 13. Carrie Wright (ECU); 14. Jeanne Dewitte (DU); 15. Julie Siegel (VT); 16. Catherine Ceresa (DU); 17. Kaelynn Moury (VT).
400-Yard Medley Relay
1. Virginia Tech (Katy Peterson, Paige Sample, Jen McLaughlin, Jill Turner), 3:46.98; 2. North Carolina (Christy Watkins, Katie Hathaway, Jessie Brosch, Jessi Perruquet), 3:47.50; 3. Louisiana State (Lindsay Staak, Lauren Ostroski, Mandy Leach, Donna Leslie), 3:49.27; 4. Kentucky (), 3:49.62; 5. Duke (Kate Fay, Lauren Cornet, Lauren Hancock, Amy Halligan), 3:51.40; 6. East Carolina (Amy Hendrick, Diane Parker, Katie Kochman, Courtney Foster), 3:53.29; 7. Kenyon (Beth Galloway, Betsy Garratt, Madeleine Courtney-Brooks, Agnese Ozolina), 3:53.91; 8. Louisiania State (Cindy Martinez, Lauren Harvey, Laura Jo Leininger, Julie Hughes), 3:53.91; 9. Kentucky (), 3:54.92; 10. Virginia Tech (Kelly Furlong, Jen Brielmaier, Erin Veltman, Meagan Drolet), 3:55.04; 11. North Carolina (Kathleen Quinn, Becky Acker, Molly Freedman, Virginia Hanson), 3:56.78; 12. North Carolina (Leigh Sanders, Janna Turner, Kelly Weeks, Stefanie Rulis), 3:58.38; 13. Kentucky, 3:58.57; 14. Syracuse (Megan Daney, Annie Tudryn, Elyse McDonough, Lisa Fong), 3:58.82; 15. Duke (Erica Lepisto, Allison Watson, Paige Dommerich, Chrissy Anderson), 3:59.86; 16. Virginia Tech (Erin Milfeit, Kelly Burke, Ally Hamilton, Whitney Johnsen), 4:01.61; 17. East Carolina (Abby Stallworth, Allison Terrill, Lara Fuller, Martha Snead), 4:03.18; 18. Syracuse (Sarah Reed, Kalei Mahi, Stacy Wells, Ashley Danowski), 4:04.55; 19. Syracuse (Melissa Plummer, Jen Jonusaitis, Elisa James, Lindsey Clark), 4:08.16; 20. Duke (Kristina Koehler, Lindsay O’Connell, Kate Lamberton, Jen Gauger), 4:09.59.