By Dalton Ray

Saturday, Jan. 25 was Senior Day for the University of Louisville’s swim and dive team. The Cardinals hosted in-state rival University of Kentucky in Ralph Wright Auditorium. Despite the increased emotions of the rivalry between the two schools, U of L was able to sweep the visiting Cats.

The men’s swim and dive won 212.5-87.5 and the women as well with 193-107 score. The men were led by seniors Kameron Chastain, Joao De Lucca, juniors Caryle Blondell, Evan Noble and sophomore Pedro Coutinho who all posted multiple victories. On the women’s side efforts from junior Tanja Kylliainen, sophomore Kelsi Worrell, seniors Krissie Brandenburg and Breann McDowell all carried the team to a victory.

The women’s 200 medley-relay team of Brandenburg, McDowell, Worrell and Andrea Cottrell would post a winning time of 1:41.00. For the men’s 200 medley-relay team of Blondell, Noble, Coutinho and Chastain would combine for a 1:28.34 time that won the event. In the 1000-free events Louisville sophomore Bryan Draganosky would take first place in the event with a 9:18.63 time and junior Abigail Houck would finish second for the ladies.

In the women’s 200-free, UK’s Kristen Wilson had a time of 1:50.42 just beating out Andrea Kneppers who finished at 1:50.61. Joao De Lucca posted an NCAA B-cut time with a 1:36.05 finish in the 200-free, with Cardinal freshman Matthias Lindenbauer finishing second at 1:39.8.

The Louisville women swept the 100-back with Mackenzie Buss, Krissie Brandenburg, and Erica Belcher placing first, second and third.

In the men’s 100-back, U of L’s junior Evan Noble went under 50 second with a 49.15 for the win. Freshman Josh Quallen finished second with 50.01 and Aaron Greene finished third with a 50.21 time. In the women’s 100-breaststroke, Andrea Cottrell posted an NCAA B-cut time of 1:02.46 in the win and Gisselle Kohoyda was fourth for the Cards with 1:05.41 in a wild rush to the wall.

In the men’s 100-breast, Chastain cruised to a win with a time of 54.60. Once again the Cards swept the event. Freshman Brennen Berger was second with 56.24 and red-shirt junior Thomas Dahlia was third with a time of 56.61. Junior Tanja Kylliainen won the 200-fly for the women with a time of 1.56.95, the only competitor to finish under two minutes. In the 200-fly, senior Juan Lopez took top honors for the men with a time of 149.74 and sophomore Nolan Tesone was second with 1:50.80.

There were multiple members on each side who stepped up for the men and women. In a very tough environment for some of the young members of the squads they came together and both sides dominated their in-state rivals. For the men this is their sixth straight win against the Cats, the women have won the past four.