Louisville Triumphs Over Tennessee as Daria Golvaty and Denis Petrashov Shine in Dual Meet

Louisville Triumphs Over Tennessee as Daria Golvaty and Denis Petrashov Shine in Dual Meet

The University of Louisville’s swimming and diving teams made waves as they hosted and defeated the Tennessee Volunteers at the Ralph Wright Natatorium on Thursday. With impressive performances from stars like Daria Golvaty and Denis Petrashov, Louisville emerged victorious in both the women’s and men’s events, sweeping the competition and showcasing their depth in individual and relay events. This meet proved to be an intense battle, with Louisville’s athletes breaking through key moments to seal their wins.

Louisville Women’s Team Narrowly Clinches Victory

In a thrilling meet, Louisville’s women’s team achieved a 16-point victory over Tennessee, ending with a score of 157-143. Though Tennessee had an early edge, Louisville fought back, led by standout swimmer Daria Golvaty. Tennessee initially gained momentum by winning the 200-medley relay, with Camille Spink anchoring an impressive final split to beat Louisville’s relay team, clocking in at 1:36.15. However, Golvaty struck back, capturing first place in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:38.80, setting the tone for the Cardinals.

Louisville’s Paige Hetrick continued the momentum, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:45.12. Despite her win, Tennessee found success in the backstroke and breaststroke events, with Josephine Fuller taking the 100 backstroke in 52.26 and Emelie Fast claiming the 100 breaststroke in 59.51. However, Louisville’s resilience shone through in the latter half of the meet, as Golvaty returned to claim victory in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:38.79. The Cardinals closed with wins from Ella Welch in the 100 fly and a relay team that secured the final victory in the 400 freestyle relay.

Louisville Men’s Team Dominates Tennessee

The Louisville men’s team won by a larger margin, finishing with a score of 178.5-121.5. The meet began with an unusual start as Louisville and Tennessee tied in the 200 medley relay, both teams finishing with an impressive time of 1:23.96. Louisville’s lineup featured star swimmers like Denis Petrashov and Guy Brooks, who kept the Cardinals competitive throughout the meet. Petrashov, a powerhouse in breaststroke events, claimed victories in both the 100 breaststroke (52.01) and 200 breaststroke (1:54.04).

Louisville maintained control as Eli Shoyat won the 1000 free in 9:02.17, and Brooks took the 200 free with a swift 1:33.45. The Cardinals maintained their lead with key wins from Mateo Miceli in the 100 backstroke (46.86) and Shoyat securing another victory in the 500 free with a time of 4:19.38. Freshman standout Gregg Enoch also impressed, placing fifth in the 200 IM with a solid performance.

Tennessee’s Highlights in a Competitive Meet

Tennessee’s athletes demonstrated impressive skill, especially in sprint and diving events. Camille Spink anchored the women’s 200 medley relay, securing an early win, while Fuller and Fast delivered strong individual finishes. In the men’s events, Jordan Crooks clocked 19.07 in the 50 free, while his teammate Gui Caribe topped the 100 free with a time of 42.15. Crooks also took the 100 fly, securing another win in 45.76, and closed the meet with a stunning anchor leg in the 400 freestyle relay, clocking 41.19.

Tennessee’s Martin Espernberger also stood out, winning the men’s 200 butterfly in 1:41.82. On the diving side, Bennett Greene secured a victory for the Vols on the 3-meter board with a score of 336.38, while Che Stephens clinched a Louisville win on the 1-meter dive with 335.40.

The Decisive Finish

The meet concluded with Louisville’s women’s and men’s teams establishing their dominance in the final relay events. The women’s team, consisting of Caroline Larsen, Julia Dennis, Gabi Albiero, and Ella Welch, clocked 3:12.26 in the 400 freestyle relay, sealing their narrow victory. On the men’s side, though Tennessee’s Caribe, Taylor, Blackman, and Crooks finished the relay with an impressive time of 2:49.43, it wasn’t enough to overcome Louisville’s overall score.

Louisville’s success at this meet highlighted the talent and determination of both their women’s and men’s teams. With star performances from Daria Golvaty and Denis Petrashov, Louisville seized their home advantage, delivering memorable victories and thrilling performances. As both teams look forward to future competitions, this win sets a promising tone for the rest of the season, underscoring Louisville’s strength and resilience in the pool.