For the fifth time in six years, the Xavier Muskateers traveled to Louisville for both teams' season opener. The Cardinals soundly defeated the Musketeers, winning 168-85 on women's side and 167-86 on the men's.
Kim Herkle led the Louisville women with three different wins in three different disciplines. After swimming backstroke on Louisville's 'A' relay, which came in 3rd place, Herkle won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.07. She's a strong IMer, so it's not too surprising to see her flex into some different events, and she's now 1-1 lifetime in the 200 yard backstroke after winning that event with a 2:01.18. She closed off her day with a 2:02.76 win in the 200 IM, a more traditional event for her.
Israeli Olympian Daria Golovaty made the most of her Louisville debut, winning the 200 free in 1:50.25 and the 500 free in 4:56.20. Golovaty also anchored the Cardinals' 'A' 400 free relay in 50.91, helping them to a 3:24.78 win.
Another Louisville freshman, Caroline Larsen, won the 50 free in 22.95, touching ahead of Xavier's Olivia Oyster (23.17). Oyster also took 2nd in the 100 free, touching in 50.85, behind Louisville sophomore Lucy Mehraban (50.61).
On the other end of the experience spectrum, a trio of Louisville grad students also picked up victories. Tristen Ulett took the 200 fly by over three seconds with a 2:00.19, Paige Herrick won the 100 back in 55.23, leading a 1-4 Louisville sweep, and Gabi Albiero won the 100 fly ahead of teammate Ella Welch, 54.97 to 55.30.
The Cardinals also got wins from Summer Cardwell (10:10.58 in the 1000 free) and Mia Cheatwood (2:17.01 in the 200 breast).
With only two divers contesting the diving events, Lindsay Grizzi came on out top in both with scores of 280.50 (1m) & 301.88 (3m).
The men's racing got underway with an exciting race in the 200 medley relay, where three Louisville squads all finished within 0.032s of each other.
Denis Petrashov put the 'C' team in the lead after a 24.16 breaststroke split, and Rian Graham (21.29) and Matias Santiso (20.05) powered home to win in 1:29.01. Dalton Lowe led off the 'A' relay with a 22.26 backstroke split, and Guy Brooks anchored the 'B' relay in 19.33, the fastest splits in the field.
Petrashov, who like Lowe is a fifth year, went on to sweep the breaststroke events. He won the 100 breast by nearly three seconds with a time of 54.33, then took the 200 breast by nearly six seconds with a 1:58.75.
Freshman Gregg Enoch also picked up a pair of victories in his college debut. After taking third in the 200 free (1:39.75), Enoch took the 500 free in 4:35.06 and the 200 IM in 1:50.60. He ended the day by anchoring Louisville's 'D' relay in 45.55, en route to a 3:01.97 victory.
The 200 free was another great race, as Brooks closed hard on Murilo Sartori, but Sartori got his hand on the wall first, 1:36.46 to 1:36.59. Brooks would go on to the win the 50 free in 20.25, ahead of Yassin Abdelghany (20.48) and Lowe (20.58).
Brooks, Lowe, and Petrashov all qualified for the NCAA championships last season, and three other 2024 individual qualifiers earned victories for the Cardinals. Tommy Bried took the 200 fly in 1:47.92, Millard Jackson won the 200 back in 1:48.71, and Murilo Sartori beat Santiso in the 100 free, 44.57 to 44.68.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 13/9-ranked University of Louisville men's and women's swimming and diving teams won every race to sweep Xavier in the opening meet of the season Friday evening at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.
won the 200 butterfly with a 2:00.19 with Xavier's Norah Simich, who touched in 2:03.53 into the wall second. Louisville's won the 200 butterfly, boarding a 1:47.92 with XU's Aiden Leamer touching second in 1:48.49.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Xavier men's and women's swimming opened up the dual portion of the 2024-25 schedule on Friday afternoon at Louisville, taking part in 14 races on both the men's and women's side at Ralph Wright Natatorium.
Next up, Xavier will travel to the Akron Zips Classic, held at Ocasek Natatorium on October 11-12.