Villanova, Xavier Have Strong Nights At Big East Championships

Photo Courtesy: Xavier Athletics

By Chandler Brandes, Swimming World College Intern

After strong nights on the second day of the 2016 Big East Swimming and Diving Championships, the Villanova women and the Xavier men take the lead.

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Below are the top 3 finishers in each event.

Women’s 500 Free

Villanova started the meet by sweeping the 500 free. Emily Mayo, who also won this event in 2015, took first in 4:46.37.

1. Emily Mayo (4:46.37), Villanova
2. Caitlin Daday (4:50.58), Villanova
3. Mary Snyder (4:52.74), Villanova

Men’s 500 Free

Seton Hall’s Noah Yanchulis, who did not swim this event last year, edged out the runner-up to take the title. The sophomore won in 4:26.75.

1. Noah Yanchulis (4:26.75), Seton Hall
2. Jacob Kohlhoff (4:26.84), Georgetown
3. Alexander Wolfred (4:31.46), Xavier

Women’s 200 IM

The Wildcats also swept this event, as Darby Goodwin was the only swimmer under 2 minutes. The freshman clocked in at 1:59.99.

1. Darby Goodwin (1:59.99), Villanova
2. Gabrielle Daigneault (2:02.07), Villanova
3. Elise Pidutti (2:02.08), Villanova

Men’s 200 IM

Seton Hall won their second individual event of the night as Lior Grubert held off Villanova’s John Hoin. The freshman took the title in 1:50.12.

1. Lior Grubert (1:50.12), Seton Hall
2. John Hoin (1:50.39), Villanova
3. Samuel Delise (1:51.29), Georgetown

Women’s 50 Free

Villanova took the top two spots in the women’s sprint event led by Kaisla Kollanus, the 2015 Big East Swimmer of the Meet. The senior won in 22.63.

1. Kaisla Kollanus (22.63), Villanova
2. Taylor Wilson (22.82), Villanova
3. Erica Fabbri (23.01), Georgetown

Men’s 50 Free

Xavier swept the men’s sprint event for the second year in a row, led by Luke Johanns in 20.10. This was the senior’s third-straight Big East title in the event.

1. Luke Johanns (20.10), Xavier
2. Rodrigo Suriano (20.36), Xavier
3. Albert Hitt (20.44), Xavier

Men’s 3m Diving

After placing first in prelims, Georgetown’s Jared Cooper-Vespa dominated the men’s 3m diving event, winning by nearly 100 points. The junior, who finished second in 2015, claimed the title with a score of 644.25.

1. Jared Cooper-Vespa (644.25), Georgetown
2. Ryan Blom (550.85), Georgetown
3. Eric Davidson (533.05), Seton Hall

Women’s 200 Free Relay

Villanova’s Alexandra Fabbri (23.03), Fiona Hardie (22.94), Taylor Wilson (22.38), and Kollanus (22.34) combined to win in 1:30.69. Georgetown’s Fabbri (23.08), Kristin Peterson (23.64), Dorothy Morgan (23.41), and Bailey Page (22.59) finished second in 1:32.72.

Men’s 200 Free Relay

Xavier’s Johanns (20.04), Sam Johanns (21.44), Hitt (19.90), and Suriano (19.85) won the final event of the night in 1:21.23. Georgetown’s Henry Rogatz (21.25), Michael Smigelski (20.82), David Chung (20.44), and William Leach (20.26) took second in 1:22.77.

Current Women’s Team Standings:

1. Villanova-366
2. Georgetown-247
3. Xavier-150.5
4. Seton Hall-134.5
5. Providence-122
6. Butler-97

Current Men’s Team Standings:

1. Xavier-287
2. Georgetown-263
3. Seton Hall-210
4. Villanova-174
5. Providence-63

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