Panthers Start Strong at the Rutgers Penta Meet

Friday, November 3

Piscataway, NJ

4 p.m.

Pitt

Rutgers & Seton Hall & Georgetown & Villanova

Panthers Start Strong at the Rutgers Penta Meet

11/3/2017 8:00:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

Day One Results (PDF)

Day One Results (PDF) | Saturday Live Results: Pitt at Rutgers Penta

PISCATAWAY, N.J.—The University of Pittsburgh swimming & diving teams dominated the first day of the Rutgers Penta five-team meet on Friday evening at the Rutgers Aquatics Center.

Facing the hosting Scarlet Knights as well as Big East Conference opponents Seton Hall, Villanova and Georgetown, the Panthers won 16 events on Friday evening, with the Pitt men claiming nine titles and the women earning seven victories. In total, Pitt won four relays, 11 individual swimming events and one diving title.

"It was a good evening of racing," Pitt head coach John Hargis said. "We've got some tired bodies with this being the third of back-to-back-to-back meets, but it's great to see that we're still competing hard and winning so many events despite the fatigue and some sickness."

Those victories have both Pitt teams well on their way to numerous comfortable dual victories if the Panthers finish strong tomorrow. The men are in complete control against Georgetown (148-38), Seton Hall (141-42) and Villanova (145-40), while the women lead Rutgers (120-66), Georgetown (140.5-45.5), Seton Hall (150-36) and Villanova (114-72) by healthy margins as well.

For a full list of Pitt event winners and their triumphant times, see below.

The Pitt men were led by some of the usual suspects, with sophomores Eben Vorster and Samy Helmbacher and freshman Armin Remenyi all continuing their winning ways. However, the Panthers received big efforts from John Fauteux in the 100 breast, Ellis Cannon in the 50 free and Joe Ference in the 1-meter springboard diving event as that trio showcased Pitt's incredible depth by earning wins.

For the women, sophomore Valerie Daigneault led the way with two victories in the 100 back and 200 IM, while seniors Amanda Richey and Lina Rathsack and junior Rachel Brown also added wins. Like the men, both the women's 200 free relay and 400 medley relay triumphed, while senior diver Meme Sharp led the way in the 3-meter competition with a second-place finish for the Panthers.

"The young people are starting to figure this thing out, too," Coach Hargis added, highlighting the performances of some of the over 40 underclassmen on Pitt's roster. "We're seeing it across the board. Armin continues to impress for the men, while Valerie keeps winning for the women. We saw breakouts performances tonight from Ellis, John and Sarah Giamber, who lowered her best time in the 200 IM by almost three seconds. That's fantastic to see in what isn't her primary event."

The Panthers will look to win more events and finish off those dual meet victories on Saturday with another successful day at the Rutgers Aquatics Center when the five-team meet resumes at 10 a.m.

Pitt Men's Event Winners
200-Yard Freestyle Relay (1:22.50)
Bence Szucsik: 100 Back (50.48)
John Fauteux: 100 Breast (56.30)
Eben Vorster: 200 Fly (1:48.03)
Ellis Cannon: 50 Free (20.95)
Samy Helmbacher: 200 IM (1:48.52)
Armin Remenyi: 1,000 Free (9:18.96)
400-Yard Medley Relay (3:21.07)
Joe Ference: 1-Meter Diving (327.90)

Pitt Women's Event Winners
200-Yard Freestyle Relay (1:33.72)
Valerie Daigneault: 100 Back (55.16), 200 IM (2:02.69)
Lina Rathsack: 100 Breast (1:03.37)
Rachel Brown: 50 Free (23.27)
Amanda Richey: 1,000 Free (9:54.66)
400-Yard Medley Relay (3:45.22)

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