RALEIGH N.C. – The NC State men and women’s swimming and diving teams both dropped decisions to Clemson at Casey Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 19. The men (4-2, 1-2 ACC) fell to the Tigers 165-133, while the women (3-4, 0-3 ACC) came up short 171-129.
The men’s squad offered a solid showing with Stephen Mellor taking three events, while Andrew Lester grabbed two. Mellor collected the 100-back (50.36), 200-back (1:47.57) and 200-IM (1:51.89), while Lester owned the 1000-free (9:23.90) and 500-free (4:31.78). Mason McGee took first in the 200-free with a 1:40.60, and Dan Forsythe won the 200-breast on a 2:04.95. Forsythe also finished second in the 100-breast (57.03).
Austin Hampton (3:35.55) and Alex Dambly (3:33.30) finished first and second respectively in the 3-meter dive, while Hampton (2:98.88) later took second, and Dambly (2:94.00) third, in the 1-meter.
The women’s team fell behind early, but enriched its score with a strong second-half performance. Jennifer Kopenitz, Ashley Ritcher, Jessica Ward, Maresa Like-Mathews, Patrice Dason and Chelsea Ale all won events, while Anna Linkenauger finished second in three. Kopenitz claimed the 200-back with a 2:04.93, and Ward won the 200-breast on a 2:22.91. The 500-free belonged to Like-Mathews (5:04.24), while the 100-butter was all Dason (56.85). Ritcher picked up the 100-free with a 52.96, and Ale’s 263.10 was tops in the 3-meter dive.
Kopenitz, Ritcher, Dason and Lucy Lindsey (3:32.66) also won the 400-freestyle relay, after Erica Smith, Ward, Dason and Ritcher (1:47.58) had opened the evening with a second-place showing in the 200-medley relay.
NC State will return to action next Saturday, Jan. 26, against Maryland in College Park, Md. Action is slated to begin at 11 a.m.
Courtesy: Peyton Williams/NC State
