Swimming & Diving

Sophomore Ryan Merani, who was named Co-SEC Swimmer of the Week earlier this month, continued to shine with victories in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM. He also set new program top-ten times in the 100 and 200 fly events. Merani’s time of 1:42.50 in the 200 butterfly moved him up to second all-time in the program’s history, just behind Mason Wilby. In addition to his individual successes, Merani scored the most points for the Wildcats, matching the total of Louisville’s Jackson Millard and Christiana Regenauer.

The Cardinals had an impressive showing in multiple events, sweeping their opponents in several disciplines. Ilia Sibirtsev led the way in the distance events, while Denis Petrashov dominated the breaststroke. Lindsay Gizzi excelled in diving, Gabi Albiero showcased her skills in the butterfly, and Christiana Regenauer sprinted her way to victory. The Cardinals also won all four relays, with impressive performances from Ella Welch, Gabi Albiero, Dalton Lowe, Denis Petrashov, and Matias Santiso.

This clash between the Wildcats and the Cardinals is expected to be a fierce competition, as both the Louisville women’s team and the men’s team are highly ranked in the latest CSCAA polls. The Louisville women’s team is currently ranked No. 8, while the men’s team holds the No. 15 spot.

The Cardinals are coming off a dominant performance in their last home meet on January 5, where they swept Missouri with the men winning 205-89 and the women winning 203-96. The team was led by multiple first-place finishes, with standout performances from Christiana Regenauer and Kim Herkle on the women’s side and Denis Petrashov and Guy Brooks on the men’s side.

One of the major highlights of the season will be a much-anticipated in-state rivalry meet against the University of Kentucky. This exciting showdown is set to take place on January 27th at noon at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.

Coach Albiero expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, stating, “We have a strong and dedicated team this year. The athletes have been training hard and are ready to showcase their skills in the pool.” With his experienced guidance, Coach Albiero instills confidence in his athletes, encouraging them to give their best.

Merani illustrated his prowess in the pool by winning three individual events during the Wildcats’ dual meet against the Crimson Tide. The Lutherville Timonium native emerged victorious in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 butterfly, amassing a meet-high 27 points. Notably, Merani set a new season-best time in the 400 IM, clocking an NCAA B-standard of 3:45.98.

In the women’s competition, Kentucky came up just short, losing to Alabama with a score of 163-156. On the other hand, Alabama claimed victory in the men’s competition with a score of 175-144.

In the morning session, several Wildcats posted strong performances. Frericks and Caroline Benda placed second and third respectively in the 500 freestyle, each with season-best times. In the men’s 500 free, freshman Carson Hick finished second with a time of 4:24.43.

This meet holds significant importance for the Wildcats as they gear up for the 2024 SEC Championships, which are just over a month away. It marks the first dual matchup between Kentucky and Alabama since December 2020, making it an exciting opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills.