Jan. 25, 1997

Virginia Men Lose, Women Upset Tar Heels

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Four different athletes won two events each for the University of Virginia men's swimming team, but it was not quite enough as the Cavaliers dropped a close meet to No. 11 North Carolina, 150-144. The Tar Heels captured first and second place in the final event of the day, the 400 yard freestyle relay, to come from behind for the victory. Virginia falls to 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while North Carolina improves to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in the ACC.

Junior Jason Webb (Philadelphia) continued his strong performances in the backstroke events, capturing first place in the 100 yard back (49.67) and the 200 yard back (1:46.35). Junior Douglas Gallagher took first place in the 100 yard breaststroke (56.27) and the 200 yard breaststroke (2:01.83), while sophomore Shamek Pietucha (Edmonton, Alberta) was victorious in the 100 yard butterfly (48.63) and the 200 yard butterfly (1:47.04). Freshman Kyle McDuffie (Tallahassee, Fla.) was also a double-winner for the Cavaliers, winning both the 1m and 3m diving competitions.

Two other swimmers captured first place finishes for Virginia. Freshman Austin Ramirez (Brookfield, Wis.) won the 1,000 yard freestyle in a time of 9:19.77 and freshman Doak Finch (Southern Pines, N.C.) took first in the 400 yard individual medley with a time of 3:57.49.

The Virginia swimming teams will be in action again tomorrow, when they host a dual meet with Duke at 2 p.m. The UVa women's swimming team will also face North Carolina at 4 p.m.

For the women, freshmen Emily Carrig (Richmond, Va.) and Kathryn Caratelli (Westlake, Ohio) both won two events as the Virginia women's swimming team posted a 158-142 upset victory over No. 12 North Carolina. Virginia improves to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the win, while North Carolina falls to 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.

The Cavaliers clinched the victory on the final event of the meet, the 400 yard freestyle relay. The Virginia team of freshmen Rebecca Cronk (Charlottesville, Va.), Emily Trakas (Herndon, Va.), Kori Forster (New Orleans, La.) and Meghan McCubbins (Richmond, Va.) won the event with a time of 3:28.95.

Carrig claimed her victories in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:54.77 and the 1,000 yard freestyle in a time of 10:07.59. Caratelli won both of the diving events, scoring 262.575 in the 1m competition and 287.25 in the 3m competition. Other event winners for the Cavaliers were Cronk in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 52.47 and freshman Lindsey Schubert (Greenwich, Conn.) in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:23.17. 

Summary
200-Yd. Medley Relay--North Carolina, 1:31.10;  1000-Yd. 
Freestyle--Austin Ramirez (UVA), 9:19.77;  200-Yd. Freestyle--Trevor 
Runberg (UNC), 1:40.10;  100-Yd. Backstroke--Jason Webb (UVA), 49.67;  
100-Yd. Breaststroke--D.J. Gallagher (UVA), 56.27;  200-Yd. 
Butterfly--Shamek Pietucha (UVA), 1:47.04;  50-Yd. Freestyle--Tom 
Woodworth (UVA), 20.79; 100-Yd. Freestyle--Ted Brisson (UNC), 46.34;  
200-Yd. Backstroke--Jason Webb (UVA), 1:46.35;  200-Yd. 
Breaststroke--D.J. Gallagher (UVA), 2:01.83;  500-Yd. Freestyle--Micah 
Copeland (UNC), 4:32.78;  100-Yd. Butterfly--Shamek Pietucha (UVA), 
48.63; 400-Yd. Individual Medley--Doak Finch (UVA), 3:57.49;  400-Yd. 
Freestyle Relay--North Carolina, 3:02.70.
Records:  North Carolina 7-2, ACC 3-0;  Virginia 3-6, ACC 1-3