ATHENS, Georgia, October 15. THE Georgia Bulldogs dominated in today’s dual meet against the Georgia Tech swimming and diving teams, posting a final score of 187-104 in the women’s meet and 184-109 in the men’s competition. The women have now won 85 consecutive dual meets, extending their record that has lasted since 1995.
Georgia completed a 1-2-3 sweep of 15 of the 32 events swum today, most of which were done in the women’s competition. Georgia swam the fastest times in the men’s and women’s 200 IM and the men’s and women’s 400 free relay as exhibition swims.
Georgia Tech was the outright winner of the men’s 50 and 100 freestyles, with junior Andrew Kosic posting times of 20.36 and 44.68. Georgia’s Matias Koski, an NCAA top-three finisher in distance events last season, was an impressive second in both events with times of 20.60 and 45.40. He also posted a win in the 1000 freestyle with a 9:09.35 which stands third in the collegiate rankings behind Connor Jaeger (9:02.50) and Jeremy Bagshaw (9:06.60).
Also earning the winning points for Georgia Tech were Efrat Rotsjen in the women’s 200 IM (2:06.86) and Mark Sarman in the men’s 200 IM (1:56.16). Hali Flickinger (2:03.84) and Alec Cohen (1:52.63) posted the fastest times in those events in exhibition swims.
Melanie Margalis was just one of two Georgia women to post two wins. She won the 200 free with a 1:47.09 and came back to post a 1:57.75 in the 200 backstroke. Her 200 free time is the only swim under 1:48 so far this season, while her 200 back time stands just behind Elizabeth Beisel’s 1:56.96.
Also earning the double was Annie Zhu, who won the 200 fly with a 2:02.88 before dipping into her specialty for the win in the 200 breast with a 2:16.04.
Olivia Smoliga, the reigning Swimming World Magazine Female High School Swimmer of the Year, posted her first collegiate dual meet win with a 23.19 in the 50 free.
World championship silver medalist Chase Kalisz raced in just one individual event today, winning the 200 free with a 1:38.22 over Cohen’s 1:39.86. Though known as an all-around swimmer based on his success in the IM events, Kalisz has become world class in the 400 IM based on a strong back half that includes a powerful freestyle, and could use that to help Georgia in 800 free relay action.
Nic Fink and Tynan Stewart were double winners for Georgia in the men’s meet. Fink had no trouble winning both breaststrokes, taking the 100 in 56.91 and the 200 in 2:04.92. Stewart posted a double in the 200 fly (1:49.29) and 200 back (1:48.45).
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