No. 9/11 Cardinals Win the Battle of the Bluegrass

Saturday, January 22

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:00 p.m. (Diving at Noon)

University of Louisville

Kentucky

Gabi Albiero celebrates a win on the blocks

January 22, 2022 | Swimming & Diving

22 Uof L v KY final results Photo Gallery

Louisville sweeps Kentucky

By: Nancy Worley

No. 9/11 University of Louisville men's and swimming team beat No. NR/14 University of Kentucky in the Battle of the Bluegrass Saturday afternoon at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.

The No. 11-ranked Cardinal women won 174-126 with the No. 11-ranked Cardinal men winning 208.5-88.5. The women were led by multiple event winner Gabi Albiero (200 Medley Relay, 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly) and Liberty Williams (1650, 500). The men were led by Nick Albiero (200 Medley Relay, 200 fly, 100 fly, 400 Free Relay) and Haridi Sameh (200 Medley Relay, 50 free, 400 Free Relay).

"Great wins for both our men's and women's teams," said Arthur Albiero, UofL head coach. "This healthy rivalry always brings the best out of our squads. I am proud of the w ay we competed from beginning to the end. Even when the meet outcome was already sealed. We learned a little more about our teams today. This is Championship Season for us and we performed like a team who has big bold goals. It was fantastic to have a full crowd in our buildingtoday. Great energy all around."

The Cardinal women set a pool record in the 200 medley relay and made an NCAA A-cut when the foursome of Tristen Ulett (24.89), Mariia Astashkina (27.02), Christiana Regenauer (23.02), and Gabi Albiero (21.43) combined forces for a 1:36.36 and the win. The Cardinal men followed suit, winning their 200 medley relay, in a A-Cut, pool record time of 1:23.90 set by Mitchell Whyte (21.59), Evgenii Somov (23.17), Nicolas Albiero (20.40) and an anchor from Haridi Sameh (18.74).

Liberty Williams reset her own school record and got an A-cut time with the third fastest time in the nation this year when when she threw down a 15:53.60 for the win. Paige McCormick was fourth with a 16.33.10 and Maddie Luther was fifth in 16:35.68. Hayden Curley won the men's 1650, leading wire to wire to put up a 15:00.75 for a B-cut for the Cardinals. Teammate Eli Shoyat was fourth with a time of 15:35.41 and Ilia Sibirtsev was sixth in 15:39.46.

In the 200 free, UK's Riley Gaines turned in the fastest time for the win, going 1:43.93. Louisville's Paige Hetrick was second in 1:45.00 just ahead of teammate Arina Openysheva's third place time of 1:46.08. For the men, Murilo Sartori ran away with the 200 free for the Cardinals, posting a 1:33.71. Teammate Denis Loktev was third with a 1:36.48 and Colton Paulson turned in a fourth-place time of 1:36.67.

Kentucky's Caitlin Brooks won the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.18. Rye Ulett from Louisville was the top finisher, touching third in 53.09 for a B-cut. Tatiana Salcutan was sixth in 54.17. The Cardinals had a 1-2-3-4 sweep of the men's 100 back led by Mitchell Whyte's 47.04. Nikos Sofianidis (47.12), Jack Wever (48.10), Jack Wever (48.10) and Neal Morsi (49.08) followed respectively.

Kentucky's Bailey Bonnett was the only swimmer under a minute in the 100 breast when she boarded a 59.89 for the win. Louisville's Mariia Astashkina was second in 1:00.13 and Adeline Farrington was third in 1:00.64 just barely out-touching Morgan Friesen's 1:00.68. Evgenii Somov set a pool record when he stopped the clock at 52.47 and made an NCAA B-cut. The Cardinals finished 1-2-3-4 in the event with Somov was followed by teammates Denis Petrashov (52.87), Aidan Kreiley (54.55), and Luke Shourds (56.43).

UofL took the top two spots in the 200 butterfly with Alena Kraus putting up a 1:54.95 just ahead of teammate Abby Hay's 1:55.60 -- both B-Cuts. Tristen Ulett was fourth, boarding a 1:55.94. For the men, Nick Albiero set a pool record in the 200 butterfly when he hit the wall in 1:41.50 and the win. Louisville's Daniel Sos was third with a time of 1:36.33 and a B-cut. Gustavo Saldo was fifth in 1:48.90 and Greyson Alarcon was sixth in 1:50.92.

In the 50 freestyle, the Cardinals took the top two spots led by Gabi Albiero's winning time of 22.09, just edging teammate Christiana Regenauer's 22.44. Haridi Sameh won the 50 free with a 19.21 as part of a Louisville sweep. Dalton Lowe was second (19.56) just ahead of Caleb Duncan (19.95) and Michael Eastman (20.01).

Gabi Albiero won the 100 free with a B-cut time of 48.14. Arina Openysheva was third for the Cardinals with a time of 48.89 just out-touching Christiana Regenauer's time of 48.92 and Madie Hall's 50.12. For the Cardinal men, Haridi Sameh surged to first with a time of 42.92 beating teammate Vlad Dubinin was second (43.48) and Murilo Sartori (43.67) for the top three spots.

In the 200 backstroke, UK's Sophie Sorenson put up the winning time of 1:52.11 just out-touching Rye Ulett's 1:53.22, which set a new school record for the Cardinals. Paige Hetrick was third in 1:53.58 for UofL. In the men's 200 back, Wildcat Mason Wilby touched in 1:43.20 for the win. UofL's Daniel Sos' 1:44.01 for second place. Nikos Sofianidis was third, posting a 1:44.87. Mitchell Whyte was fifth (1:47.33).

Cardinal Mariia Astashkina held off hard-charging Gillian Davey from UK for the win in the 200 breaststroke, turning in a 2:08.54. Morgan Friesen was fourth (2:11.77) and Diana Dunn touched sixth in 2:13.64. In the men's 200 breast, Cardinal Aidan Kreiley touched a full second ahead of the field with a 1:55.62 ahead of teammate Evgenii Somov's 1:57.45, both times making the NCAA B-cut. Newcomer Denis Petrashov was fourth with a time of 1:59.80 for the Ville.

In the 500 freestyle, Liberty Williams continued her streak in the distance events when she boarded the winning time of 4:38.79, almost seven full seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Maddie Luther finished sixth in 4:53.73. Louisville freshman Eli Shoyat won the men's event with a mark of 4:23.54. Hayden Curley was third for the Cards with a 4:24.41. Denis Loktev was fourth in 4:27.10.

In diving, UK's Kyndal Knight won the 1M board with a score of 290.48, beating UofL's Else Praasterink's 244.50 just ahead of teammate Riley Bullock's third place score of 239.40. UK's Mingli Zhang won the men's 1M with a score of 363.38. UofL's Che Stephens was second with a 326.40 and Adam Sneden's 315. Knight won the women's 3M board as well with a 290.48. Else Praasterink was second with a score of 306.75.

In the 200 fly, Gabi Albiero led the Cardinals' 1-2 sweep with a time of 51.71, edging teammate Tristen Ulett's 52.09 and Alena Kraus was fourth in 52.94. Nicolas Albiero won the men's 100 fly with a time of 45.88, a pool record. Dalton Lowe was second in 46.28 and Nikos Sofianidis was third, posting a 48.43.

In the 200 IM, Wildcat Sophie Sorenson won with a 1:57.77. UofL's Abby Hay was second, turning in a time of 1:58.28. Rye Ulett was sixth in 2:00.54. For the men's 200 IM, Daniel Sos powered to the wall in 1:45.81 for the win and a B-cut. Colton Paulson was d8th in 1:54.28.

In the final event, the 400 free relay, the Louisville A-relay team of Alena Kraus (49.39), Christiana Regenauer (48.52), Paige Hetrick (48.33) and Arina Openysheva (48.55) put up the winning time of 3:14.79. UofL's B-relay team of Fernanda Celidonio (50.46), Madie Hall (49.86), Polina Nevmovenko (49.44) and Diana Dunn (49.69) touched second.

In the men's 400 free relay, Louisville took first with the foursome of Michael Eastman (43.53), Nicolas Albiero (42.75), Murilo Sartori (42.920 and Haridi Sameh (42.46) combined for the winning time of 2:51.66.

Haridid Sameh celebrates on the blocks