Alabama
Arkansas (W)
Alabama Swimming and Diving Wins Season Openers
9/30/2022 7:26:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The Crimson Tide women beat SEC rival Arkansas in Fayetteville, while the Alabama men down Delta State in Cleveland, Miss.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark./CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Alabama swimming and diving men's and women's teams opened the 2022-23 seasons against different schools, in different states, at different times, but the outcome was the same, a Friday afternoon Crimson Tide victory.
The Tide women opened their season by beating Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas, 161-139, in Fayetteville, Ark., while the men downed Delta State, 186-101, in Cleveland, Miss.
The women won 10-of-14 individual events, with Rhyan White leading the way with victories in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley, while freshman Ryleigh Rodgers won both diving events and Kensey McMahon won the 500 and 1,000 freestyles.
The men's squad finished first in 12-of-14 individual events and both relays. Charlie Hawke, Trey Sheils, Victor Johansson, Matt Menke and Derek Maas all touched the wall first in a pair of individual events to lead a dominant performance for the UA men.
Head Coach Margo Geer Said
"It was great to open our season with wins for both the women and men. Our women earned a hard fought win against a very well prepared Arkansas team. We got their best shot and responded well. Our men gave great efforts today at Delta State and found ways to get better collectively. We are looking forward to both squads competing at home against South Carolina in October."
Arkansas Pool Records
- The Crimson Tide broke a trio of Arkansas Natatorium records while in Fayetteville
- Rhyan White took down the 100 and 200 backstroke marks (52.68/1:51.81), while Kalia Antoniou broke the 50 freestyle standard (22.49)
- With the three records broken on Friday, Alabama's women now own five Arkansas Natatorium records, with Tide legend Anne Poleska still holding the 100 and 200 breaststroke marks (1:00.99/2:09.21) set in 2002
Alabama Wins – Women
- Rhyan White not only won the 100 backstroke (52.68) and 200 backstroke (1:51.81) in pool-record time, she also picked up the 200 individual medley (1:59.98) title
- Kensey McMahon earned the Crimson Tide's first win of the season, taking first in the 1,000 freestyle (9:52.87) before coming back toward the end of the meet to win the 500 freestyle (4:49.25)
- In her Crimson Tide debut, Ryleigh Rodgers won both the 3-meter (266.48) and 1-meter (264.00) springboard events
- Kalia Antoniou (22.49) won the 50 freestyle in a pool-record time, while Morgan Scott took first in the 100 freestyle (48.64) and Cat Wright came away with the 200 breaststroke (2:11.51) title
Alabama Wins – Men
- The Crimson Tide men opened their season by touching first in the 200 medley relay, with Matt Menke, Derek Maas, Ben Hines and Tim Korstanje combining for the win (1:28.20)
- Charlie Hawke, Kaique Alves, Maas and Menke then closed the meet by posting the top time in the 400 freestyle relay (2:59.84)
- Hawke also posted the top time in the 200 butterfly (1:51.18) and 100 freestyle (45.05)
- Victor Johansson won the 1,000 freestyle (9:23.41) and 500 freestyle (4:30.82) to open his Crimson Tide career
- Trey Sheils won both the 100 breaststroke (55.88) and the 200 breaststroke (2:06.89)
- Maas posted the top time in the 100 backstroke (48.61) and 100 butterfly (48.90), while Menke touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle (20.58) and 200 individual medley (1:49.19)
- Eric Stelmar took first in the 200 backstroke (1:49.32), while Bernardo Bondra de Almeida got the win in the 200 freestyle (1:41.23)
Up Next
- After opening their seasons at different road locations, the Alabama men and women will come together on Oct. 15 to take on South Carolina in Tuscaloosa
- The meet will get underway at 10 a.m. CT at the Alabama Aquatic Center
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Players Mentioned
