By Catherine Laroche

University of Louisville swimming and diving Coach Arthur Albiero took the women’s and men’s teams to the Big East Championships, in East Meadow, N.Y., with the intentions of coming back as champions.

The teams didn’t win the titles. However, they did come back with a pair of runner-up finishes, 27 new school records and two MVPs.

“I’m very proud of our efforts,” Albiero said. “They really embraced things to a whole different level and it showed in the way they competed and kept on fighting. For me, it was an honor to be a part of this.”

Juniors Leslie VanWinkle and Andrei Radzionau were both named Big East Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the women’s and men’s sides. Van Winkle won three championships and gained an NCAA A-cut, while Radzionau set three conference records and won three championships

“They showed clearly that they were the best of the field and their performances were earth-shattering performances in many ways,” Albiero said. “We knew that they were talented.”

In the 800-free relay, the Cardinal foursome of VanWinkle, freshman Sarah Andrews, sophomores Anna Dishuck and Liz Halet won with a time of 7:16.14. For the men, Radzionau, senior Chris Lindauer, freshman Jordan Wessels and junior Adam Madarassy finished second.

The U of L men won the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:27.81, just .60 shy of the league record. The women finished third with a time of 1:42.24.

VanWinkle reset the Big East record that she set in the morning session with a dramatic win in the 200-Individual Medley with a time of 1:59.17, shedding time off her NCAA A-cut. Junior Jenny Schimenti finished fourth while seniors Leigh Smith and Johanna Nyysti placed sixth and seventh, respectfully.

The U of L men won the 200-free relay with a time of 1:20.60 and making the NCAA B-cut.

The 400- IM kicked off as VanWinkle set a new school record and made an NCAA A-cut with a time of 4:11.99.

On the men’s side, Madarassy set both a school and conference record with a time of 47.62 to make an NCAA B-cut. Radzionau set a conference record with a time of 1:35.35 in the 200-free.

In the 400-medley relay, the men won with a time of 3:12.54.

For the women, VanWinkle finished second with a time of 1:58.54 in the 200-back and sophomore Karen Criss was sixth. Junior Whitney Campbell was fourth in the 100-free, while Halet was right behind her in 51.30.

Radzionau set a new conference record with a win in 43.27 in the 100-free, while Madarassy set a Big East record and made an NCAA-cut with the stunning time of 1:44.56 in the 200-fly.

In the 400-free relay, Radzionau, sophomore Carolos Van Isschot, Lindauer and Madarassy had a commanding lead the entire race breaking the Big East mark.

“Our goal from day one has been to put ourselves in a position to win the Big East and to be a program that is nationally recognized,” Albiero said. “Even though we’re disappointed that we fell short, it was an inspiring week with the conference results and the records that we broke. They stepped it up.”?

Although the teams aren’t satisfied with a second-place finish, the women’s team is proud of the improvements they’ve made.

“We weren’t going to settle for getting fourth or fifth-place again,” VanWinkle said. “We were tired of that and said we weren’t going to have it this year.”

Albiero said he was impressed with the women’s team overall.

“The women’s program has made a significant improvement,” Albiero said. “We’re on the right track. It takes a while to do it the right way, but we’re doing it.”

?Both teams still have the opportunity to win at the NCAA Championships as several individuals and relay teams are expected to qualify for the event.”