The Virginia swimming and diving teams competed at University Park this weekend against two of the nation’s finest programs: Michigan and Penn State. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, the results of the dual meets were consistent with the high level of competition.
The No. 7 Virginia women’s team (1-1) defeated No. 20 Michigan (5-2, 4-0 Big Ten), 184.5-168.5, but fell to No. 19 Penn State (8-1, 0-1 Big Ten), 183-170, despite leading 94-73 after Friday. On the other side, the Virginia men (1-2) could not build off their Oct. 24 victory against Navy, falling to No. 1 Michigan (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), 247-102, and the No. 19 Nittany Lions (5-2, 0-1 Big Ten), 212-136.
The lady Cavaliers captured first in seven events on the weekend, including four on Friday. Junior Courtney Bartholomew won the 100- and 200-yard backstroke, while also leading Virginia’s 1-2-3 finish in the 200-yard individual medley.
Sophomore Laura Simon swept the breaststroke discipline by winning the 100- and 200-yard events. Fellow sophomore Leah Smith and senior Ellen Williamson added victories in the 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly, respectively.
The Cavalier men — still enduring the 2014 suspension of five of their top swimmers — picked up four event wins on the weekend. Junior Yannick Kaeser won the 100-yard breaststroke Friday while picking up the victory in the 200-yard competition Saturday. Meanwhile, senior JB Kolod — a week after breaking his own records on the 1 and 3-meter diving competitions — again swept those events.
The Cavaliers will next face NC State at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Aquatic and Fitness Center.