Freshmen Shine as Louisville Sweeps Xavier to Open 2021-2022 Season

Louisville v. Xavier

• Friday, October 1, 2021
• Ralph Wright Natatorium, Louisville, KY
• SCY
• Dual Meet Format
• Full Results
• Scores
  • Men: Louisville 179, Xavier 78
  • Women: Louisville 179, Xavier 78

Louisville and Xavier kicked off their dual meet season yesterday in Louisville. The Cardinals dominated the day by sweeping every single event, as the men and the women each won identical scores of 179-78. Louisville exhibitioned a number of swims towards the end of the meet, but all of the swimmers who touched first earned points.

Four Louisville freshmen marked their Cardinal debuts with individual victories. Russia’s Polina Nevmovenko led that crew with a pair of victories, sweeping the 200 free (1:48.54) and the 500 free (4:54.14) and and leading off Louisville’s 400 free in 51.50. German national Kim Herkle won the 200 breast in 2:15.51 to go along with 3rd place finishes in the 100 back (57.46) and the 200 IM (2:04.99).

The men’s side was buoyed by a pair of freshmen from Brazil, Gustavo Saldo and Murilo Sartori. Saldo won the 200 fly in 1:50.24 and took 3rd in the 500 free (4:35.49), while Sartori won the 200 free in a strong 1:36.75 and took 2nd in the 500 free in 4:30.67. Additionally, his 45.16 leadoff on the 400 free relay would’ve put 2nd behind Nick Albiero (44.82) in the individual 100 free. Albiero also won the 100 fly with a time of 48.15. Evgenii Somov was the other double individual event winner, sweeping the breaststrokes with times of 54.96 and 2:04.66.

The Louisville men returned most of the core that earned the program its first-ever ACC championship last season. With the addition of freshmen like Saldo, Sartori, and Israeli Olympian Denis Loktev, who is slated to join the team around the time the calendar flips to 2022, they’ll vying to repeat as ACC champs and hold or improve their 5th-place finish at NCAAs.

Xavier faced an uphill battle against one of the best combined programs in the country, but came away withs some strong performances. Junior Hannah Pugh led the Xavier women with 9 points across three events, including a 3rd place finish in the 100 fly (57.82) and a 2nd place finish in the 200 IM (2:12.68). Likewise, junior Jon Bernard paced the Xavier men with 9 points, taking 3rd in the 200 back (1:51.75) and 2nd in the 200 IM (1:54.50).

Louisville Release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville men’s and women’s swimming and diving team won every event as the Cardinals swept Xavier in the season home opener Friday afternoon at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.

The Cardinal men and women both won with a score of 179-78 and both move to 1-0 on the season.

Louisville was boosted by four swimmers with three wins. Gabi Albiero won the 50 free, the 100 fly and was part of the 200 medley relay. Newcomer Polina Nevmovenkowon the 200 free, the 500 free and was part of the 400 Free Relay. On the men’s side, multiple event winners were highlight by Evgenii Somov’s sweep of the breaststroke events and was part of the 200 medley relay. Nicolas Albiero won the 100 free, the 100 fly and the 200 Medley Relay.

Louisville next heads to Dallas as the Mustangs feature the return of the SMU Classic on October 8-9, which welcomes top competition from around the country and features eight swimmers and one diver from each competing institution in a unique format.

Race by Race

In the 200 Medley relay, the A-relay team of Tristen Ulett (26.10)  Kaylee Wheeler (28.07), Gabi Albiero (24.21) and Alena Kraus touched in 1:42.14 for the win.  The B-Relay team of Abby Hay (27.73), Adeline Farrington(28.36), Christiana Regenauer (24.14) and Arina Openysheva (22.79) put up a 1:43.02.

In the men’s event, the Cardinal A-relay team of Mitchell Whyte (23.05), Evgenii Somov (24.51), Nicolas Albiero(21.00) and Abdelrahman Sameh (20.24) put up the winning time of 1:28.80.  Jack Wever (23.38), Aidan Kreiley (25.76), Neal Morsi (22.55) and Caleb Duncan (20.51) picked up a second place finish with a time of 1:32.20 as the B-Relay.

Maddie Luther won the 1000 Free for the Cards with a time of 10:20.61 with teammate Paige McCormicktouching second in 10:35.12 for a 1-2 sweep for the Cardinals. Ilia Sibirtsev boards a 9:24.79 for the win in the men’s 1000. Hayden Curley was second for the Cardinals with a time of 9:29:39. Freshman John Bossler picks up a fourth place for UofL with a time of 9:51.31.

In the women’s 200 Freestyle, the Cardinals swept the top three spots with freshman Polina Nevmovenkostopped the clock in 1:48.54 just ahead of Diana Dunn’s 1:48.65 and Arina Openysheva’s 1:49.70 to complete the sweep.  For the Cardinal men, Olympian Murilo Sartori was well ahead of the field with a 1:36.75. Colton Paulson was second in 1:39.80 and Dalton Lowe was third with a 1:40.78.

Paige Hetrick won the 100 backstroke for the Cardinals in 55.30 just out-touching Tatiana Salcutan’s 55.64 and Kim Herkle’s 57.46 as Louisville had a 1-2-3 sweep.  For the men, Mitchell Whyte is into the wall first with a time of 49.25 and teammate Jack Wever went 50.22 for a second place for the Cards.

In the 100 breaststroke, Kaylee Wheeler posted the winning time of 1:02.69 with teammate Mariia Astashkinafollowing for second in 1:30.34 and Morgan Friesen was third with a time of 1:04.99.  Evgenii Somov took top honors in the men’s event with a time of 54.96 with Aidan Kreiley was second in 57.70 and Luke Shourdscompleting the sweep with a 59.80.

In the 200 butterfly, Tristen Ulett hit the wall in 2:00.45 and Abby Hall was second in 2:01.97 with freshman Madie Hall turning in a third place time of 2:07.21.  For the men, freshman Gustavo Saldo bested the field by more than three seconds with a 1:50.24 for first. Daniel Sos was second in 1:53.68.

Gabi Albiero had a strong second half to win the 50 free wit ha 20.47, out-touching Christiana Regenauer’s23.44. Olivia Livingston completed the sweep with a third place time of 24.25. Abdelrahman Sameh (20.47) out-dueled Michael Eastman (20.79) in the men’s 50 free.

Arina Openysheva won the 100 free with a time of 50.94 with newcomer Fernanda Celidonio touching second in 51.97 for the top two spots.  In the men’s 100 free, Louisville senior Nicolas Albiero was into the wall first with a 44.82 just ahead of teammate Michael Eastman’s 45.30. Colton Paulson made It a 1-2-3 sweep with a third place time of 46.22.

In the women’s 200 backstroke, Tatiana Salcutan was first with a 1:57.89 with Paige Hetrick touching second in 1:58.46. For the men, Jack Wever won the men’s event with a time of 1:49.64 with Cardinal freshman in hot pursuit with a second-place time of 1:50.05.

In the women’s 200 breast, Louisville freshman Kim Herkle finished almost two seconds ahead of the field with a 2:15.51. Teammate Mariia Astashkina, was second with a 2:17.09 and Morgan Friesen completed the sweep with a 2:17.96.  For the men, Evgenii Somov took top honors again with a 2:04.66, ahead of Aidan Kreiley was second with a 2:08.53.

Polina Nevmovenko had the fastest time in the 500 freestyle, as the only swimmer under five minutes with a 4:54.14. Maria Sumida was second in 5:02.12 and Maddie Luther was third in 5:06.87.  Illia Sibirtsev won the men’s event with a time of 4:29.15, outpacing a pair of Cardinal freshman Murilo Sartori (4:30.67) and Gustavo Saldo (4:35.49).

Gabi Albiero won the 100 fly with a 54.81, to start the 1-2-3 sweep with Regenauer touching second in 55.82  and Kraus into the wall third in 56.25.  Nicolas Albiero won the men’s 100 fly with a time of 48.15 with Dalton Lowe touching second in 49.49 and Mitchell Whyte was third in 50.80.

Diana Dunn turned in the fastest time in heat 1 of the 200 IM with a 2:03.76.  Tristen Ulett posted a 2:02.93 in exhibition.  Daniel Sos posted the best time in the men’s 200 IM with a 1:50.82.

In the final relay, Polina Nevmovenko (51.50), Paige Hetrick (51.54), Arina Openysheva (49.63) and Diana Dunn(51.35) combined forces to post the winning time of 3:24.02.  For the men, Abdelrahman Sameh (45.18), Hayden Curley (47.54), Owen Taylor (46.30) and Tanner Cummings (45.31) combined to post the winning time of 3:04.33.

Xavier Release

LOUISVILLE – Xavier men’s and women’s swimming opened up the dual portion of the 2021-22 schedule on Friday afternoon at Louisville, taking part in 16 races on both the men’s and women’s at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.

Xavier will be back in action next weekend when the Musketeers host an Alumni/Intrasquad meet at Heidt Family Champions Center on Saturday, October 9. Events are set to begin at 10:00 a.m.

WOMEN’S NOTABLE

• Xavier was led in the 200 medley relay by Kali Fischer, Lydia Schaeffer, Hannah Pugh and Alexis Worrall’s time of 1:46.16.
• Emma Swabb placed third in the 1000 free with a time of 10:35.12.
• Kali Fischer picked up a fourth-place finish in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.58. Fischer also led the Musketeers in the 200 back with a time of 2:02.88.
• Hannah Pugh set the top time by the Musketeers in the 100 back, 59.22, and the 200 IM, 2:12.68.
• Lydia Schaeffer’s time of 1:06.33 led the Musketeers in the 100 breast.
• Sophia Romero’s time of 2:13.21 was the top time for Xavier in the 200 fly.
• Alexis Worrall led the Musketeers in the freestyle sprints, setting a time of 24.51 in the 50 free and 52.72 in the 100 free.
• Kelly Harris set the top time by the the Musketeers in the 200 breast at 2:26.60.
• Clara Keiser’s time of 5:19.49 led Xavier in the 500 free.
• Kiara Anchrum led Xavier in the 100 fly with a time of 56.99.
• Clare Bosse, Clara Keiser, Kali Fischer and Alexis Worrall set a time of 3:31.30 to lead Xavier in the 400 free relay.
• Xavier fell by a score of 179-78 on the women’s sided.

WOMEN’S TOP FINISHES

MEN’S NOTABLE

• Christian Thomas, Jon Bernard, Joey Mullen and Ethan Saunders set a time of 1:34.17 led the Musketeers in the 200 medley relay.
• Andrew Martin led Xavier in the 1000 free with a time of 9:45.52, and in the 500 free with a time of 4:45.59.
• Jon Bernard led Xavier with a time of 1:43.49 in the 200 free, a time of 1:51.75 in the 200 back, and a time of 1:54.50 in the 200 IM.
• In the 100 back, Christian Thomas set a time of 52.09 to lead the Musketeers in the 100 back. Thomas also led Xavier in the 100 free with a time of 47.63
• Davis Klein set the top time by a Musketeer in the 100 breast, 59.96.
• Caleb Petranchuk’s time of 1:55.65 was the top time set by a Musketeer in the 200 fly.
• Gage Hannewyk led the Musketeers in the 50 free with a time of 21.55.
• Nathan Wall led Xavier in the 200 breast with a time of 2:10.03.
• Joey Mullen set the top time by a Musketeer in the 200 fly, touching the wall in 52.07.
• Christian Thomas, Ethan Wing, Ethan Saunders and Andrew Martin set a time of 3:06.95 in the 400 free relay to lead Xavier.
• The Musketeers fell by a score of 179-78 on the men’s sided.