Women Compete Against Missouri in Non-Scoring Meet

January 15, 2021 | Swimming & Diving

Cards win a relay and six individual events

By: Nancy Worley

The University of Louisville women's swimming held a non-scoring meet with Missouri when several of the Cardinals had to go into COVID protocol. The Tigers and the remaining Cardinals raced in regular event format and competed in diving as well Friday morning at the Ralph Wright Natatorium. The Cardinals were without head coach Arthur Albiero,l who was following COVID contact tracing protocol.

"It was great to finally be racing at home again today," said Stephanie Juncker, the UofL assistant coach who acted in Albiero's stead. "I am extremely proud of the way the women competed and continue to battle through adversity this season. "We maximized on the opportunity to race and had highlights throughout the entire meet."

Even severely short-handed, the Cardinals were able to win six individual events and the opening relay. Abby Hay took the 200 fly and the 200 IM. Kaylee Wheeler won the 100 breast and the 200 Medley relay. Alena Kraus won the 200 free and the 200 Medley Relay for the Cards' multiple event winners.

"It was definitely a different experience to watch the meet from my computer at home due to the quarantine," said Albiero. "Major props to our coaching staff who got the team ready to compete today. There were plenty of highlights on both the women's meet and the men's meet and it was great to see a number of swimmers stepping up and performing well for the team in crucial moments."

Ashlyn Schoof (25.29), Kaylee Wheeler (26.41), Alena Kraus (23.80) and Katie Schorr (22.68) kick things off by winning the 200 medley relay in 1:38.18.

Alena Kraus won the 200 free handily with a time of 1:47.93, three seconds ahead of the field. Paige McCormick was the next UofL swimmer, touching fourth in 1:50.83.

In the 100 back, Mizzou's Meredith Rees put up the fastest time with a 53.60. UofL's Ashlyn Schoof was second in 54.10, freshman Cardinal Tatiana Salcutan was 54.38 and Kelly Tichenor was fourth in 55.97.

In the 100 breast, Kaylee Wheeler won for the Cardinals with a time of 59.39 with Morgan Friesen touching second in 1:01.35, both good for NCAA B-cuts.

Abby Hay won the 200 fly with a time of 1:57.77 for a B-Cut for the Cardinals. Carley Lowe was second in 2:00.01.

The 50 free was won by Sarah Thompson of MU, who put up a 22.30. Olivia Livingston was fourth with a time of 24.26.

Missouri won the 3M diving when Sarah Rousseau edged Louisville's Kayla Wilson by a fraction of a point. Rousseau posted a 277.28 and Wilson had a 277.05. Cardinal Else Praasterink was third in 266.63. Abbie Erickson posted a 228.75 and Abigail Andrews had a 212.48 for fifth and sixth. In 1M diving, Rousseau won with a score of 280.43. Praasterink was second with a 248.18.

The Tigers took the 100 free by the slimmest of margins when Alex Moderski put up a 49.98. Louisville's Katie Schorr was the other sub 50 finisher with a 49.99.

Cardinal newcomer Tatiana Salcutan pulled away from the field by almost three seconds to win the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:56.69.

The Cardinals swept the top two spots of the 200 breast with Morgan Friesen putting up the winning time of 2:11.54, an NCAA B-cut. Abby Hay was second with a 2:13.71 for another B-Cut.

Missouri won the 100 fly when Sarah Thompson put up a 53.16 to out-touch UofL's Alena Kraus, who went 53.78. Ashlyn Schoof was fourth with a 56.49.

Abby Hay won her second event with the winning time of 2:00.54 in the 200 IM, Paige McCormick was second in 2:03.07.

In the final relay, Missouri's A relay put up the winning time of 3:32.44.