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Laitarovsky Remains Undefeated in 100 Back in Loss to No. 2/3 Florida
Swimming and Diving  . 

Laitarovsky Remains Undefeated in 100 Back in Loss to No. 2/3 Florida

Gainesville, Fla. – ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ swimming fell to No. 2/3 Florida in a Friday afternoon dual. The No. 2 Gator men defeated the Gamecocks 164-93 while the No. 3 Gator women took down the No. 21 Gamecock women 175-82.

Junior Michael Laitarovky highlighted the day for the team with his individual win in the 100 backstroke. The Natanya, Israel, native swam a 48.18 for first place, allowing him to remain undefeated on the season with six wins.

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ’s divers also wrapped up action at the Tennessee Diving Invitational on Friday with the men’s platform event and the women’s 1-meter springboard.

Swimming Notables

  • In the men’s 1000 free, freshman Connor Fry placed second with a time of 9:11.61. The finish gives him his fourth top-two finish of the season in the event. Fellow freshman Umut Yildirim finished fourth in the event with a time of 9:24.88.
  • Junior Linus Kahl returned to the pool for ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ after missing much of the fall season due to injury and made the most of his first swim back, claiming second in the 100 breast with a time of 56.01. He was followed in third place by senior Daniel West who swam a 56.02.
  • Sophomore Jordan Agliano tied her highest career finish in the women’s 200 fly, placing third with a time of 1:59.09. Following her was Greta Pelzek in fourth (2:01.22), Breckin Gormley in fifth (2:03.57), and Nicholle Toh in sixth (2:03.64).
  • In the women’s 50 free, senior Aubrey Chandler finished in third with a 23.45. She was followed in fourth by Peyton Curry (23.86) and in fifth place by Dylan Scholes (23.91).
  • Senior Mark Shperkin was the top performing Gamecock in the men’s 50 free, placing second with a 20.56.
  • Chandler got back in after the break with another third-place performance, this one in the 100 free with a time of 51.34. Freshman Ellery Ottem touched just behind Chandler in fourth place with a 51.72.
  • Senior Pia Murray saw her first action in the pool as a Gamecock, placing third in the 200 back in 2:03.20.
  • Junior Wylie Kruse swam a 1:47.51 in the 200 back to place second, his fifth top-two finish of the season.
  • Fry picked up another second-place finish in a distance event, this one in the 500 free with a 4:32.57. It was his fourth top-three finish of the season.
  • Kahl made his presence known at the competition, earning another second-place finish in the 100 fly with a time of 48.80.Ìý

Diving Notables

  • Freshman Max Spencer led the men’s team in the platform event, placing 10th with an NCAA Zone qualifying score of 316.75. Sophomore Charley Bayer placed 16th with a 280.30 while freshman Tyler Hoard placed 21st with a 232.90.
  • In the women’s 1-meter event, junior Blair Isenhour led the team in 19th place with a 242.60.
  • In her first collegiate 1-meter competition, freshman Aislinn Zuechner placed 20th with a 235.60.

Head Coach Jeff Poppell on the Team’s Performance

“Overall, I’m really proud of our group and the way they competed today against a very strong Florida team. The experience should help us a great deal as we move into the championship segment of our season. I felt like we were a little rusty today coming off the winter break and the 6-week layoff since our last competition however that’s always pretty typical the first meet of the new year. I think we’ve identified quite a bit that we can focus and improve upon moving forward. Michael Laitarovsky, Connor Fry, and Wylie Kruse had a solid meet for our men. On the women’s side, Jordan Agliano, Aubrey Chandler and Bella Pantano posted some of their strongest dual meet swims of the season.â€

Up Next for the Gamecocks

·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ will return home for their final home meet of the season on Sat., Jan. 20 where they will host Duke and UNC-Asheville in a Tri-meet. The meet will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the Gamecocks’ honoring their senior class prior to the start of the dual at 10:30 a.m.

For all the latest ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwmDive).

Tennessee Diving Invitational Results

Men’s Platform

Finals

10 – Max Spencer – 316. 75

16 – Charley Bayer – 280.30

21 – Tyler Hoard – 232.90

Women’s 1-meter

Prelims

19 – Blair Isenhour – 242.60

20 – Aislinn Zuechner – 235.60

27 – Mak Blake – 213.65

36 – Josie Matalone – 153.35