Pitt Takes On AT&T Winter Nationals
12/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
| Pitt Invitational | |
| Date | Wednesday, Dec. 3 - Saturday, Dec. 6 |
| Location | Greensboro Aquatics Complex / Greensboro, N.C. |
| Television | NBC (Sunday, Dec. 7) |
| Radio | N/A |
| Online | Meet Homepage | Live Results | Psych Sheet | Live Webcast |
| Game Notes / Stats | 2014-15 Top Times | 2014-15 Factbook | School Records |
| Promotions | N/A |
| Social Media | @PittSwimAndDive - Twitter / Facebook / Instagram |
PITTSBURGH - Coming off a successful home invitational two weeks ago, the Pitt swimming and diving team gears up for its toughest challenge of the fall semester where it will face off against former Olympians and National Champions at the 2014 AT&T Winter Nationals, which is being held at the Greensboro Aquatics Complex in Greensboro, N.C. from Dec. 3-6.
A total of 33 swimmers, 19 men and 14 women make the trip down south to Greensboro, which is the site of the USA Swimming's biggest stage during the winter months. The event isn't just limited to NCAA participants and will showcase some of the top talent in the world, including Olympic goal medalist Katie Ledecky, along with the top high school and club swimmers around the nation.
LAST TIME OUT
As the host of the annual Pitt Invitational, the Panthers had the luxury of swimming in its own home, Trees Pool, and put on a clinic during the three-day event, taking home first place on both sides with scores of 3,010 for the women and 2,394 for the men. Overall, Pitt swimmers and divers recorded 79 lifetime best performances at the meet, which included three school records, and eighth student-athletes achieving NCAA "B" cut times. Of the 42 events, Pitt took first in 31 of them and registered top season times or scores in 38.
SCHOOL RECORDS FALL
During the Pitt Invite nearly two weeks ago, three school records fell, with sophomore Kinga Cichowska besting two and freshman Meme Sharp claiming the other.
Cichowska took down two records she previously set last year as a freshman in sweeping the 100-yd and 200-yd breaststrokes. Her time in the 100 of 1:01.12 was 0.49 seconds faster than the former best time and sits 24th nationally and sixth in the ACC, while her 200 time of 2:11.25 lowered the record by 0.79 seconds, which is good for 11th in the country and third in the conference. Both were also B cut times.
Sharp, meanwhile, etched her name in the record books and took down a 15-year old diving record that was last set in 1999. Sharp's score of 342.45 points in the 3-meter diving finals shattered Jamie Tomazich's longstanding score of 321.60 points.
B CUT'S FOR SWIMMERS
Prior to the Pitt invite, only two swimmers, Cichowska and freshman Amanda Richey had achieved B cut times so far this year. But after a strong showing, six more swimmers posted times they needed for the B cut standard.
In addition to Cichowska, Richey had a B cut time in the 1,650 free, a race she swam faster at the Pitt Invite (16:15.84), and added one in the 500 free (4:46.03).
Joining the pair following the weekend were seniors Cam Dixon and Luke Nosbisch, who both recorded a pair of B cuts in both the 100 and 200 breast. Freshman Katie Fernander also hit a B cut in the 200 breast. Juniors Kaleigh Ritter (500 free) Blair Wegescheide (100 back) rounded out the female B cut performers and sophomore Zach Lierley was the only other male to reach a B cut standard, doing so in the 200 IM.
RICHEY RACKS UP WINS
Freshman Amanda Richey has accumulated the most individual wins on the team this season, typically doing so in record or near-record fashion.
She opened her collegiate career by setting the freshman record in the 1,000 free three times in five races, most recently on Oct. 25 with a time of 9:51.92, which gives her the fastest time in the ACC and 17th fastest in Division I. That time also makes Richey the third fastest freshmen in the country and is just 1.92 seconds away from the Pitt school record.
Through two months of the season, Richey is undefeated in 10 races of at least 500 yards and has won 15 of her 20 individual competitions. She has won all five of her 500-yd free races, all three of her 1,000 free races and both of her 1,650 free races. Her best time of 4:46.03 in the 500 is the 24th fastest in the nation this year, second best by a freshman and ranks fourth in the ACC. Richey is also the fastest freshman and ACC swimmer and ranks sixth in the country in the 1,650 free (16:15.84).
SWIMMERS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST
After two months of competition, a total of six Pitt swimmers rank in the top-50 nationally in their respective races.
Joining Richey and Cichowska is senior Cam Dixon, who is the only other Pitt swimmer to appear on the list twice, while senior Luke Nosbisch, junior Kaleigh Ritter and sophomore Zach Lierley are on it once apiece.
Dixon owns top-50 times in both the 100 breast, where she ranks 45th nationally with a time of 1:02.10, and the 200 breast, with a time of 2:14.27, good for 39th in the country.
Ritter rounds out the female contingent with the 41st fastest time in the 500 free of 4:47.26. Nosbich's time of 1:59.71 in the 200 breast ranks 37th, while Lierley is 33rd in the 400 IM with his time of 3:52.82.
TOP TIMES IN THE ACC
In addition to the six nationally-rated swimmers, three more swimmers find themselves in the top-10 of the ACC. Junior Bethany DeWitt posted the 10th fastest 1,650 free time of 16:49.42 at the Pitt Invite and junior Blair Wegescheide also ranks 10th, but in the 100 back with a time of 54.31.
Freshman Katie Fernander notched the ninth fastest ACC time in the 200 breast of 2:15.41, giving the Panthers three swimmers in the top 10 of that event.
UP NEXT
The AT&T Winter Nationals serves as the last major test of the calendar year. In the coming weeks, Pitt will participate in its annual Christmas Meet (Dec. 11-14), Diving Senior Nationals (Dec. 16-21) and its annual training trip down south.
Players Mentioned
