VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova swimming and diving travel to Morgantown, WV to take on University of West Virginia (WVU) and Iowa State (women) on Saturday January 27 at 11 a.m. from The Aquatic Center at Mylan Park.
 
With just three meets remaining in the regular season, the Wildcats look to gear up for the conference championships with BIG 10 and BIG 12 competition in the WVU mountaineers and the Iowa State Cyclones this weekend.
 
Last time the two teams met in the pool on the men's side, freshman Justin Nowicki led the way for the Wildcats. Nowicki finished second in the 400 IM (3:56.49) just behind first place finisher, WVU's Danny Berliz (3:46.53). The Victor, N.Y. native propelled fellow freshman Ben Tunila to a fourth-place finish in at 3:57.69.
 
The men's team enters the competition after beating Providence, 112-93, just one week ago. Among the six event wins that led the Wildcats to the victory, Villanova swept the 800 SC freestyle and 400 SC freestyle events courtesy of senior Charlie Hinckley and Aubrey Bowles. Hinckley tapped the wall first in the 800 SC freestyle in 4:09.16 just head of sophomore Patrick Casey (4:10.71) and Nowicki (4:11.98). While in the 400 SC freestyle, Bowles bested the field by nearly four seconds tapping the wall at 2:05.56 with sophomore Carson Brockette (2:09.26) and freshman Josh Seidman (2:09.90) in second and third respectfully.  
 
On the women's side, the Wildcats will face the Mountaineers as well as the Cyclones in a three-way competition.  Last time out against WVU at the WVU Invitational, Villanova saw multiple season-best performances.
 
Senior Molly Benson won the 200 freestyle tapping the wall in 1:48.33, more than one second ahead of the second place finisher, WVU's Gabi Baldwin (1:49.40). Benson also finished fourth in the 500 freestyle clocking in at 4:53.23, just ahead of freshman Marlene Blanke in fifth place with a time of 4:54.63. Blanke (16:57.34) along with fellow freshman Peri Gaguzis (16:59.06) took third and fourth in the 1650 freestyle finishing ahead of three Mountaineers in the championship final.
 
In the 100 backstroke, senior Audrey Pastorek recorded a season-best time of 54.24, not far off her personal-best of 53.97. Also recording her best time all season was freshman Meghan Tiernan in the 400 IM. Tiernan finished second in 4:24.57 merely out tapped by WVU swimmer Chloe Hickman (4:23.12). Not far behind was Gaguzis in fifth place with a time of 4:24.87.
 
The women enter the weekend after a tough loss to Rutgers, 99-199, just one week ago. Sophomore Katie White took the top spot in the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:03.70 followed by freshmen Anna Farley (2:06.92) and Tiernan (2:07.75) in fourth and fifth. Freshman Alyssa McHale (52.54) and junior Lainey Quinones (52.79) finished 1-2 in the 100 freestyle.
 
Pastorek tallied a total of 14 points with four top-three finishes. The Savannah, Ga. native finished runner-up in the 100 backstroke (57.43) and 200 medley relay as well as third place finishes in the 200 backstroke (2:04.35) and 200 IM (2:08.60).
 
Saturday's meet at WVU will begin at 11 a.m. from the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park.

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