University of Tennessee Athletics
Despite loss, Vols in "the right place"
January 29, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Jan. 29, 2011
Drew Rutherford
UTsports.com
The seventh-ranked Tennessee swimming and diving team fell Saturday at No. 5 Florida, 198-101.
While the Vols gained their first loss of 2011, head coach John Trembley gained some valuable perspective about his Tennessee team.
"Florida came out ready to go and they really took care of business--our hats go off to them today. But when you look at the score, it doesn't reflect how we competed today," Trembley said. "We competed well and I think we are in the right place. We are right where we need to be at this point in the season."
Senior Brad Craig won the 100 breast for the Vols with a 55.54-second mark, followed by Jake Epperson in second in 55.78 seconds.
Co-captain Michael DeRocco won the 50 free, pacing the field in 20.36 seconds.
Freshman Sam Petersen finished third in the 1000 freestyle in 9:10.14, the fifth-fastest performance in school history.
"Brad came up with a big win in the 100 breast for us," Trembley said. "DeRocco continues to perform at a high level and I cannot say enough about Sam Petersen's 1,000 freestyle. The fact that it stands among our school's best times says enough."
The Vols found success on the boards as senior Michael Wright swept the 1- and 3-meter. On the 1-meter, the Forest Park Ill., native scored 353.10 points for first place. Junior Ryan Helms finished third with 320.48 points. Knoxville-native Brent Sterling finished fifth with a 310.50-point mark.
On the 3-meter, Wright scored 408.98, topping Helms in second place with 405.23 points.
"Michael Wright had another brilliant day," Trembley said. "Our divers really did well, as we have come to expect from them."
Tennessee ends the regular season with a 6-2 overall dual-meet record and boasts a 2-1 record in SEC play.
Now the Vols turn their attention squarely on the SEC championships, which will also be held at Florida's O'Connell Center Natatorium.
"We should be much better at SECs," Trembley said. "We will be better from having learned a little about the pool and a little from ending our season with a loss to our rival. Our divers learned a little about making adjustments on the boards here, and our swimmers gained some valuable experience with the pool. Our team is in the right place."
SCORING REPORT
1-meter diving: 1. Michael Wright (UT) 353.10; 2. Michael Lewark (UF) 326.10; 3. Ryan Helms (UT) 320.48; 4. Jonathan Speed (UF) 317.93; 5. Anthony Lewark (UF) 312.45; 6. Brent Sterling (UT) 310.50
3-meter diving: 1. Michael Wright (UT) 408.98; 2. Ryan Helms (UT) 405.23; 3. Michael Lewark (UF) 366.15; 4. Jonathan Speed (UF) 360.53; 5. Anthony Lewark (UF) 355.50; 6. Brent Sterling (UT) 349.66
200 medley relay: 1. Florida (Marco Loughran, Conor Dwyer, Marcin Cieslak, Brett Fraser) 1:28.84-B; 2. Tennessee (Samuel Rairden, Brad Craig, Michael DeRocco, Ed Walsh) 1:29.23-B
1000 free: 1. Conor Signorin (UF) 9:08.84; 2. Joey Pedraza (UF) 9:09.99; 3. Sam Petersen (UT) 9:10.14; 4. Jason Taylor (UF) 9:16.87; 5. Geoff Sanders (UT) 9:18.75
200 free: 1. Conor Dwyer (UF) 1:34.33-B; 2. Sebastien Rousseau (UF) 1:37.77-B; 3. Ryan Harrison (UT) 1:37.97-B; 4. Jonathan Jordan (UF) 1:38.23-B; 5. Michael Christy (UT) 1:43.96
100 back: 1. Marco Loughran (UF) 47.78-B; 2. Samuel Rairden (UT) 49.47; 3. Anders Storvik (UT) 49.87
100 breast: 1. Brad Craig (UT) 55.54; 2. Jake Epperson (UT) 55.78; 3. John Lehtonen (UF) 55.83; 4. Rodion Davelaar (UF) 56.02; 5. Mattias Kahlin (57.50)
200 fly: 1. Marcin Cieslak (UF) 1:45.45-B; 2. Balazs Gercsak (UF) 1:46.74-B; 3. Gabriel Huen (UF) 1:48.05-B; 4. Christoffer Wallin (UT) 1:49.60; 5. Norbert Kovacs (UT) 1:49.81; 6. Patrick Beasley (UT) 1:50.08
50 free: 1. Michael DeRocco (UT) 20.36; 2. James Turner (UT) 20.38; 3. Bradley Deborde (UF) 20.48; 4. Brett Fraser (UF) 20.49; 5. Oystein Hetland (UT) 20.86; 6. Clint Johnson (UT) 21.00
100 free: 1. Brett Fraser (UF) 44.38; 2. James Turner (UF) 44.69; 3. Bradley Deborde (UF) 44.78; 4. Clint Johnson (UT) 45.46; 5. Ryan Harrison (UT) 45.52; 7. Ed Walsh (UT) 45.98
200 back: 1. Marco Loughran (UF) 1:44.01-B; 2. Karol Wolk (UF) 1:45.46-B; 3. Sebastien Rousseau (UF) 1:48.51; 4. Anders Storvik (UT) 1:49.45; 5. Samuel Rairden (UT) 1:51.06
200 breast: 1. John Lehtomen (UF) 1:57.81-B; 2. Brad Craig (UT) 2:00.08; 3. Jake Epperson (UT) 2:01.42; 4. Mattias Kahlin (UT) 2:06.58
500 free: 1. Balazs Gercsak (UF) 4:24.73-B; 2. Jonathan Jordan (UF) 4:25.02-B; 3. Connor Signorin (UF) 4:29.64; 5. Geoff Sanders (UT) 4:30.97; 6. Sam Petersen (UT) 4:33.47; 7. Norbert Kovacs (UT) 4:38.23
100 fly: 1. Marcin Cieslak (UF) 47.84-B; 2. Michael Yuan (UF) 48. 54; 3. Michael DeRocco (UT) 48.88; 4. Oystein Hetland (UT) 49.11
400 I.M.: 1. Conor Dwyer (UF) 3:44.73-B; 2. John Lehtonen (UF) 3:49.71-B; 3. Alex martin (UF) 3:51.66-B; 5. Christoffer Wallin (UT) 3:56.14; 6. Jake Epperson (UT) 3:56.48; 8. Michael Christy (UT) 4:02.14
400 free relay: 1. Florida (Brett Fraser, James Turner, Bradley Deborde, Sebastien Tousseau) 2:58.50-B; 2. Tennessee (Michael DeRocco, Anders Storvik, Ed Walsh, Ryan Harrison) 3:01.50
Players Mentioned
