University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
South Carolina
Freshmen Earn First Wins as Vols Roll South Carolina
November 06, 2009 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 6, 2009
Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
DREW RUTHERFORD
UTsports.com
The Tennessee swimming and diving team continued to defend the home waters with a 184-115 win over South Carolina Friday. The Big Orange are now a perfect 6-0 at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
"We had a great meet today," head coach John Trembley said. "We have a lot of guys who are hitting their groove and really starting to swim well."
To begin Friday's contest, the SEC Diver of the Week showed why he has won the distinction three times already this season. Sophomore-sensation Ryan Helms won (388.50) the one-meter springboard event with a career-best and pool record performance. He now leads the conference in both the one- and three-meter events. Freshman Jordan Mauney also had his best performance this year with a 299.85, second-place score and senior Michael Muscari earned a 293.93 and finished third.
"The highlight of our day was Helms' performance on the one-meter," diving coach Dave Parrington said. "This is the best one-meter list he has done this year and I couldn't be happier for him."
Helms mark was just short of Jevon Tarantino's school record of 388.65, set in 2004.
The Vols dominated the 200 medley relay with two teams tying for first place. The first team consisted of Chris Winchell, Brad Craig, Michael DeRocco and Herbie Behm and the second was Ricky Henahan, Mattias Kahlin, Giles Smith and Paschall Davis. Both squads finished first with a 1:31.72 time.
After winning his first career event last week, junior Carl Jones finished second in the 1000 freestyle at 9:31.57. Freshman and Knoxville native Michael Zaczyk finished third (9:42.94).
Again Ryan Harrison dominated the 200 freestyle, winning the event for the third time in four meets with a 1:39.76 mark. Sophomore Jake Epperson finished fourth (1:44.01) and junior Scott Friderichs placed seventh (1:45.31).
Still undefeated this season in the 100 backstroke, Ricky Henahan notched a 49.16 time for his fourth win in the event this year. Winchell placed third (51.63) while sophomore Anders Storvik finished fourth (52.57).
Storvik's swims were noteworthy Friday as he competed with his arm in a cast.
"Anders Storvik swam like a warrior today," Trembley said. "We need more guys to be like him. He was the competitor of our meet today."
Craig got the win in the 100 breaststroke with a 56.07 time with Kahlin in third at 57.15. Sophomore Derek Paul placed sixth (59.59).
In the 200 butterfly, Smith just missed the win, finishing second at 1:51.46. Patrick Beasley scored in fourth (1:53.64) and Forrest Leary finished fifth (1:58.43).
DeRocco earned the win in the 50 freestyle at 20.72 with Walsh in a close second (21.08). Behm placed fifth (21.48).
With his first collegiate win, Walsh grabbed the top spot in the 100 freestyle at 45.92. DeRocco placed second (45.97) with Storvik in fourth (47.25).
"I have been waiting for it for the last three weeks so it was great to finally get my first win," Walsh said. "Now I am ready for my second win at the [Tennessee Invitational]. We have been working on our finishing and today it counted. The little things are starting to pay off."
Henahan finished second in the 200 backstroke with a 1:51.07 time with Winchell in fourth (1:53.44) and Wensel in sixth (2:01.63).
Earning his second win on the day, Craig won (2:01.17) the 200 breaststroke by more than two seconds. Epperson placed third (2:06.96) and Paul finished sixth (2:16.64).
Zaczyk continued his strong performance with a second place finish (4:38.33) in the 500 freestyle. Jones finished third (4:38.47) and Friderichs placed fourth (4:43.86).
After being tapped out at the wall earlier in the meet, Smith earned his first collegiate victory in the 100 butterfly. At 49.25, Smith's time ranks sixth in the SEC. DeRocco finished second (50.01) with Leary in fifth (52.77).
"It was a great feeling," Smith said. "Ed and I have been talking and we both were saying we were going to win really soon so it was great to finally get it. I know I have a long way to go before the end of the season though."
"Our freshmen came in as a heralded class," Trembley said. "We have expected them to step up and compete and they have showed a lot of improvement. I am very proud of those two young men who earned their first win today."
On the three-meter, Helms came back after a rough first dive to remain perfect on the year with a 388.88 score to win. Muscari posted an excellent list and finished third (338.63) and Mauney placed fifth (318.38).
"After my first dive I was a little confused," Helms said. "I felt like the dive was going to go great. But after that I didn't change up my mindset because I went into it feeling like I should before a dive. I just forgot about it and took one dive at a time."
Epperson led the Vols in the 400 I.M. with a 4:06.18, third-place finish. Beasley placed fifth (4:09.51) with Zaczyk in seventh (4:23.96).
To wrap up the meet, Tennessee earned the top two spots in the 200 free relay. Henahan, Walsh, Craig and Davis won the event for the Vols at 1:24.22. In second place was the team of Kahlin, Behm, Storvik and Smith at 1:24.32.
Tennessee is now 20-2 all-time against the Gamecocks and 12-0 against South Carolina in Knoxville. The Vols are now 4-0 (3-0 SEC) on the season and are off until the Tennessee Invitational, which begins Nov. 18.
Players Mentioned
