Cards Move in the Rankings and Head to Kentucky

Saturday, January 23

Lexington, KY

1:00 p.m.

University of Louisville

Kentucky

January 21, 2021 | Swimming & Diving

The men are No. 8 and the women are No. 19 going into the Battle of the Bluegrass

By: Chandler Brandes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It's an in-state showdown for the No. 8/19 University of Louisville men's and women's swimming and diving team as they travel to Lexington to face RV/No. 10 Kentucky on Saturday, January 23.

This year's Battle of the Bluegrass will be held at the Lancaster Aquatic Center with a 1 p.m. start time.

About the Cardinals
On January 15, the UofL men took down Missouri 199-101 in the first home meet of the season. The Cardinals claimed both relays and a total of nine individual events, including two apiece from Hayden Curley (500 freestyle, 1650 freestyle), Mitchell Whyte (100/200 backstroke), and Daniel Pinto (1m/3m board). The UofL women competed in a non-scoring meet against the Tigers where they clinched a victory in the opening 200 medley relay and six additional events despite being short-handed.

It came down to the wire on January 9 when the UofL men secured a narrow 152-148 victory over Notre Dame as Michael Eastman, Haridi Sameh Kamel, Nicolas Albiero, and Colton Paulson won the final 400 freestyle relay. Whyte (100/200 backstroke), Albiero (100/200 butterfly), and Evgenii Somov (100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley) were double event winners for the Cards. In a hard-fought battle, the Cardinal women came up just short and fell 141-158 to the Fighting Irish. UofL won both relays as Morgan Friesen (200 breaststroke), Maria Sumida (500 freestyle), Gabi Albiero (50 freestyle), and Kaylee Wheeler (100 breaststroke) collected individual titles.

Louisville concluded the 2019-20 season with a 4-2 dual meet record. Both the men's and women's teams finished third overall at the ACC Championships where the Cardinals produced a total of four individual gold medalists and two relay champions. UofL qualified 10 men and 12 women for the NCAA Championships before the meet was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Scouting Kentucky
After receiving votes in the latest CSCAA poll, the Wildcat men are coming off a 216-84 loss to Tennessee last weekend after falling to the Vols in December. Kentucky also fell to Alabama 202-187 in a highly-contested matchup, but Jakob Clark achieved a lifetime best in the 1000 freestyle and continues to pace the Wildcats in the distance events. Max Berg and Louis Barker lead their lineup in the sprint events and have been valuable assets to their relays while Mason Wilby owns the team's fastest times in the 100/200 butterfly.

The 10th-ranked Kentucky women also suffered a 178.5-121.5 loss to the Lady Vols despite edging them 152-148 earlier this season. The Wildcats took down Alabama 206.5-182.5 last month and posted a 195-75 victory over Vanderbilt to kick off the season. Their team is led by freestyler Riley Gaines, who owns the third-fastest 200 freestyle in the NCAA this year, and distance ace Beth McNeese. Caitlin Brooks and Sophie Sorenson pave the way in both backstroke events and the 2020 SEC 3-meter champion Kyndal Knight tops their roster on the boards.

Last Time Out
Last year's Battle of the Bluegrass took place at the Ralph Wright Natatorium where the UofL men won 165-135 while the Cardinal women fell 160-140. Louisville won 15 individual events, clinched two relays wins, and saw six double event winners in total. Albiero swept both the butterfly events while Somov did the same in the 100/200 breaststroke, and Daniel Sos won the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley. On the women's side, Christiana Regenauer picked up a victory in the 100 butterfly and Arina Openysheva was victorious in the 100 freestyle.

Mens swimming huddles before meet