Press Release courtesy of Louisville Athletics
Returning to dual meet action for the first time since November, the University of Louisville men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will square off with the Kentucky Wildcats to Ralph Wright Natatorium for the Battle of the Bluegrass on Saturday at 1 p.m. Platform diving will begin at noon.
Louisville will look to extend their streak against Kentucky, as the Cardinals have won nine straight against the Wildcats. In the most recent meeting between the two teams, UofL won a collective 22 races en route to a victory in Lexington on January 21, 2017.
Last time out, the Cardinals sent a contingent of swimmers to the TYR Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas. Competing against some of the world’s best, Louisville qualified 17 swims into the championship final. Sophie Cattermole led the Cardinals with four top-eight finishes. The junior placed third in the 400M free (4:12.04), fourth in the 1500M free (16:45.74), sixth in the 800M free (8:47.51), and seventh in the 400M IM (4:50.98). Carlos Claverie and Marcelo Acosta also had solid weekends for the Cardinals, recording three top-eight finishes apiece.
The Cardinal divers last competed at the Miami Invitational, where they registered six NCAA zone cut scores, a new men’s platform school record from Daniel Fecteau (350.70), two lifetime best scores, and 13 in-season best scores. Fecteau and Molly Fears led the team with third place finishes in the 1-meter and platform respectively, while also earning NCAA zone cut scores in all three diving events.
Kentucky kicked off 2018 with a defeat over Toledo, but fell to Ohio State in their most recent two-day tri-meet. On the women’s side, the Wildcats overcame Toledo 321-61, but were defeated 204-185 by the Buckeyes. The men fell in a 210.5-178.5 decision to Ohio State.
Asia Seidt led the Wildcats on the women’s side, winning the 100 free (49.24), 100 fly (53.15), 100 back (53.34), and 200 IM (1:58.34). On the men’s side, Issac Jones and Glen Brown won three individual events each. Jones took first in the 1650 free (15:16.04), 200 free (1:38.09), and 500 free (4:22.96), while Brown secured victories in the 200 breast (2:00.63), 400 IM (3:53.71), and 200 IM (1:48.35). Two Kentucky divers also recorded victories at the tri-meet. Chase Lane took first in the 1-meter (384.30), while Seb Masterson won the platform with a score of 366.00.
Both Louisville and Kentucky have multiple swimmers who are ranked inside the top-10 of Division I. On the women’s side, the Cardinals are led by Mallory Comerford, who owns nation leading times in the 100 free (46.70) and 200 free (1:41.17), as well as the fourth-ranked time in the 100 fly (50.92), fifth-ranked time in the 500 free (4:35.78), and the sixth-ranked time in the 50 free (21.87). Grace Oglesby also has multiple events ranked within the top-10 with the No. 7 times in both the 100 (51.69) and 200 fly (1:54.28). Other Cardinals in the top-10 are Cattermole with the No. 8 time in the 1650 (16:02.36), Casey Fanz with the No. 10 time in the 50 free (22.04), and Mariia Astashkina with the No. 10 time in the 100 breast (59.71). All five of the Cardinals’ relays are also ranked in the top-10, highlighted by the second-ranked 200 free (1:27.50) and 800 free (6:58.41) relays.
On the men’s side, Claverie and Acosta each have two swims that rank in the top-10 of Division I. Claverie holds the second fastest time in the nation in the 200 breast with a time of 1:53.10 and the No. 9 time in the 100 breast (52.83). Acosta owns the fifth-ranked time in the 1000 free (8:57.04), as well as the sixth-ranked time in the 1650 free (14:45.42).
Seidt leads the Wildcats with the fifth-ranked times in the 100 back (51.17), 200 back (1:50.67), and 200 IM (1:53.84). Freshman Bailey Bonnett also has multiple swims ranked in the top-10 with the No. 5 time in the 200 breast (2:07.83) and the No. 9 time in the 100 breast (59.60). Rounding out the Wildcat women in the top-10 is Bridgette Alexander with the No. 10 time in the 200 back (1:52.16). The women’s 400 medley relay ranks ninth with a time of 3:32.31. For the men, Jones owns the sixth-ranked time in the 500 free (4:14.72) and the ninth-ranked time in the 1650 free (14:48.61).
EVENT ORDER
Platform Diving
200 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
100 Back
100 Breast
200 Fly
50 Free
1 Meter Diving
100 Free
200 Back
200 Breast
500 Free
100 Fly
3 Meter Diving
200 IM
400 Free Relay