Buckeyes At Pitt Invite – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim & Dive
Nov. 16, 2011
Columbus, Ohio – Marking the first road meet for the Buckeyes this season, the 13th-ranked Ohio State women’s swimming and diving team will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., for the Pitt Invitational Nov. 18-20.
MEET BASICS Name: Pitt Invite Pool: Trees Pool Field (6 teams): Cincinnati Connecticut Michigan (Diving only) Ohio State Pitt West Virginia Schedule: Friday, Nov.18 – Prelims 10 a.m.; finals 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19 – Prelims 10 a.m.; finals 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20 – Prelims 9 a.m.; finals 2 p.m.
THE BUCKEYE WOMEN The Ohio State women enter Friday with a 5-0 dual meet record. Last week, the Scarlet and Gray took down in-state foe Ohio 203-97 at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Seven different Buckeyes won at least one individual race vs. Ohio. Duplicate winners were Shannon Draves, winning the 500 free (5:01.28), 1000 free (10:16.50) and 200 butterfly (2:03.46); Kelly Ann Baird, posting top times in the 200 free (1:52.12) and 200 backstroke (2:03.33).
In the relays, Ohio State’s unit of Kelsey Moran, Angela Severn, Michelle Williams and Megan Detro took first in the 200 medley relay (1:42.90); the team of Lauren Massey, Catherine Eitel, Darcy Fishback and Phoebe Cater placed third (1:48.01). In the 200 freestyle relay, Ohio State’s quartet of Michelle Williams, Megan Detro, Phoebe Cater and Jackie Brousseau were first in 1:34.44.
Ohio State swept the 3-meter diving. Bianca Alvarez placed first (400.80), followed by Cheyenne Cousineau (294.90) and Kristin Asman (278.40). In the 1-meter competition, Cousineau was first with a score of 315.45 and Asman finished second with 301.05.
Prior to Ohio, the Buckeyes powered their way to wins over Virginia Tech (198.0-100), Cleveland State (232.0-66.0) and Denison (234.0-64.0) in a home quad meet Nov. 4.
SCOUTING CINCINNATI The Bearcats enter the meet 1-1 on the season, along with a third-place finish vs. West Virginia and Villanova in Morgantown. Cincinnati is no stranger to Trees Pool as they have already traveled to the University of Pittsburgh once this season, a match won by Pittsburgh 217-82.
Cincinnati looks to improve from last season’s program best sixth-place finish in the Big East. Returning swimmers for the Bearcats include senior Josefin Wede, who was a Big East finalist last season, as well as Liz Hansson, who was the Big East champion in the 50-meter freestyle.
SCOUTING UCONN The UConn women officially kicked off the season at the Big East Quad Meet, where the Huskies finished with a win over Georgetown (286-6) and losses to Villanova (197-155) and Rutgers (204-249). UConn also has two dual meet wins over Army and Penn so far this season.
The Huskies are led by head coach Bob Goldberg; Goldberg has been with the program for a total of 23 years. With plenty of returning experience, UConn hopes to continue its consistency in the Big East this season, which it has been known for under Goldberg. The Huskies return senior captains Caitlin Gallagher and Erin DeVinney, both of which are looking to break into the NCAA championships in their respective events this season.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN Michigan will be competing only in diving at the Pitt Invitational. Overall, the swimming and diving program is 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten to start the season.
A pair of underclassmen, freshman Marina Nazario and sophomore Erin Bridgewater, each took home diving titles in the Wolverines only victory of the season vs. Toledo Oct. 21. Nazario placed first on the three-meter, while Bridgewater was the one-meter winner.
SCOUTING PITT The Pitt Panthers are 2-3 so far this season, with a key win over Cincinnati 217-82.
Leading Pitt to the dominating win over Cincinnati were juniors Joanna Budzis and Kelsey Herbst, who each claimed two first-place finishes for the meet. Budzis’ wins came in the 100 and 200 backstroke events, while Herbst placed first in the 200 and 500 freestyles. In the diving events, sophomore Kimberly Ciotti led all on the 3M board; she posted a season-best with 265.80 points.
The Panther roster is made up of a large freshman class. The overall group includes 16 freshman competitors, while only three seniors will depart after this season.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA The Mountaineers are currently 2-2 thus far in the dual meet season, not including a first-place showing at the West Virginia State Games Oct. 14-15. The Mountaineers, similar to Pitt, already have a win over Cincinnati this season (191-104) as well as another Big East foe Villanova (166-131).
After her performance in wins over Cincinnati and Villanova, Rachael Burnett was named West Virginia’s Student-Athlete of the Week. Burnett recorded a dominating three-second win in the 200 freestyle along with wins in the 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley. Also with an impressive meet vs. Cincinnati and Villanova, Danielle Smith set a new pool record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.51. In the diving well, Haily Vande Poel took first on the 1-meter (254.14) and the 3-meter (276.55).
UP NEXT After the Pitt Invitational, the Buckeyes will have a quick turnaround for the Ohio State Invite, which will take place at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion Dec. 2-4.
