South-Carolina
South Carolina Women Dominate First Day of Gamecock Invitational
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina’s swimming and diving teams both completed their first day of action at their respective midseason invitational meets on Wednesday.
At home, the Gamecock women swimmers claimed first in all five events of the evening and set two new pool record in the process. The men’s team also put up a strong performance with a pair of second-place relay finishes and at least one top-four finish in all three individual events.
The divers at the Tennessee Invitational also had a successful day with three individuals making their way to the finals.
Gamecock Invitational
In the women’s 200 free relay, South Carolina’s ‘A’ team of Dylan Scholes, Aubrey Chandler, Peyton Curry, and Nicholle Toh combined for a time of 1:29.45 to win the event. Their combined efforts landed them as the third fastest team in the program’s all-time top-10. It was the women’s first relay victory of the season and also set a new pool record for the Carolina Natatorium.
The men’s highest-placing 200 free relay team of Mark Shperkin, Michael Laitarovsky, Quinn Buck, and Wylie Kruse combined for a time of 1:20.17, the team’s fastest time so far this season. Their time landed them in second place.
Amy Riordan continues to shine in freestyle events, claiming the win in the 500 free. Her time of 4:43.82 was a new personal best for the sophomore and jumps her up to second place in the program’s all-time top-10.
Riordan was followed by a trio of Gamecocks – Hayley Mason in second (4:48.65), Jordan Agliano in third (4:49.64), and Meaghan Harnish in fourth (4:49.92).
For the men, Raymond Prosinski, Jose Castro, and Connor Fry went 3-4-5 in the 500 free. Prosinski (4:21.96) and Fry (4:24.29) both swam new personal best times in the event.
Greta Pelzek and Annaliese Streeter completed a 1-2 finish in the 200 IM for the women with both Gamecocks swimming new personal best times – Pelzek a 1:58.36 and Streeter a 1:59.98.
In the men’s 200 IM, Wylie Kruse was the top-placing Gamecock in second with a 1:48.83. The time is the fastest on South Carolina’s team so far this season.
The Gamecock women earned a sweep of the individual events for the night with Chandler claiming the win in the 50 free with a time of 22.83.
Shperkin was the top performer for the team in the men’s 50 free, placing fourth with a 20.10. He was followed in fifth place by Buck who swam a new personal best time of 20.22.
South Carolina’s women set another pool record to close out the evening, this one in the 400 medley relay. Bella Pantano, Streeter, Toh, and Scholes combined for a time of 3:34.61 to lower the previous pool record of 3:35.22 that was set at this event last season.
The Gamecocks also claimed the second-place finish in the event as well with Riordan, Lien Yu, Pelzek, and Chandler swimming a 3:35.75.
The men closed out the night with a second and fourth place finish in the 400 medley relay. The ‘A’ team of Laitarovsky, Daniel West, Ahmed Rateb, and Shperkin placed second with a 3:12.11 while Ryan Hufford, Liam Kerns, Luke DeVore and Buck placed fourth with a 3:14.85.
South Carolina’s swimmers will be back in action on Thursday with prelims beginning at 10:00 a.m. and finals at 6:00 p.m.
Tennessee Invitational
South Carolina’s divers completed their first day of action at the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville with three individuals making their way to the finals.
For the women, junior Blair Isenhour excelled, placing seventh in the prelims with a score of 297.50 to earn a second set of dives in the finals. In the finals her score of 268.25 landed her in 12th place overall.
For the men, both sophomore Charley Bayer and freshman Max Spencer made their way to the finals. In the prelims, Bayer placed third (338.65) while Spencer placed 11th (289.25) to secure their respective spots in the final round. From there, Bayer was able to retian his third place finish with a score of 328.20 while Spencer jumped up to ninth place with a 298.20.
Action at the Tennessee Invitational will continue on Thursday with the women’s platform event and the men’s 3-meter event.
For all the latest South Carolina swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwmDive).
Tennessee Invitational Day 1 Results
Women’s 3-meter
Prelims
7 – Blair Isenhour – 297.50
28 – Mak Blake – 241.60
42 – Josie Matalone – 182.70
Finals
12 – Blair Isenhour – 268.25
Men’s 1-meter
Prelims
3 – Charley Bayer – 338.65
11 – Max Spencer – 289.25
20 – Tyler Hoard – 251.95
Finals
3 – Charley Bayer – 328.20
9 – Max Spencer – 298.20
South-Carolina
Former South Carolina wide receiver finds transfer portal landing spot
On Sunday, former South Carolina wide receiver Tyshawn Russell signed with the Syracuse Orange. On3’s Pete Nakos reported the news.
Russell entered the transfer portal earlier this month after not factoring into the receiver room with the Gamecocks this year. He played a decent amount in 2023 before dropping in the pecking order ahead of the 2024 campaign. Russell will join a Syracuse team that finished 9-3 this fall.
During his time with the Gamecocks, Russell logged five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. His one score came on a 50-yard bomb from LaNorris Sellers in 2023. However, he flashed more promise than those numbers might indicate. Thanks to a redshirt this season, he will have three more years of eligibility remaining.
South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:
Russell was not the only receiver to leave Columbia via the transfer portal this offseason. Fellow second-year players CJ Adams and Elijah Caldwell also hit the portal. Neither Adams nor Caldwell have committed to new programs yet. True freshman Debron Gatling also entered the transfer portal, but he has since committed to Georgia Tech.
South Carolina has been in on several wide receiver targets in the transfer portal, though, they have already filled those vacated scholarship spots with true freshmen Malik Clark, Jordon Gidron, Brian Rowe, Jayden Sellers, and Lex Cyrus. The Gamecocks have five wideouts signed in the class of 2025 and could have a sixth coming soon if Donovan Murph picks USC during the Under Armour All-American Game in January.
South-Carolina
Gamecocks Motivated About Citrus Bowl Opportunity
As South Carolina prepares for its Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois, the message from players is clear: this team isn’t just happy to be in Orlando.
The No. 15 Gamecocks (9-3) have their sights set on a historic tenth win, which would mark only the eighth time in program history the team has reached double-digit victories. Despite the disappointment of missing the expanded College Football Playoff, players emphasized their focus has shifted entirely to ending the season on a high note against the Fighting Illini (9-3).
“It’s just another chance to play with my teammates. All of them are like my brothers, even the coaching staff,” said defensive lineman Boogie Huntley, who confirmed earlier this week that he will play in the bowl game. “It’s just another opportunity to go out and have fun, show the nation and the world who South Carolina is.”
The Gamecocks enter the December 31 matchup at Camping World Stadium riding high after their victory over rival Clemson, a game that produced several players’ favorite moments of the season. Linebacker Debo Williams cited quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ game-winning touchdown run against the Tigers as his top memory, while Demetrius Knight Jr. still possesses the ball from his crucial interception to seal the rivalry win.
Sellers, whose heroics in the Clemson game have made him something of a campus celebrity, has maintained his focus despite the increased attention. “I trust him,” Sellers said of his relationship with coach Mike Shula, who was officially confirmed as the team’s new offensive coordinator earlier this week. “He’s coached a lot of guys and has a history with a lot of guys in the NFL. It’s about him trusting me and us continuing to have a great relationship from here on out.”
The defense, which has been a strength all season, appears motivated to finish strong. Safety Nick Emmanwori emphasized the team’s desire to approach this game differently than other teams who missed the playoff. “We want to come with a different mental approach,” Emmanwori said, noting the team is using the playoff snub as motivation.
For seniors like Tonka Hemingway, who recently won the Ray Tanner award, the bowl game represents one final opportunity to represent the school. “I’m really excited to put on the Garnet and black one more time and just leave it all out there,” Hemingway said.
South Carolina enters the game as an 9.5-point favorite against an Illinois team led by former Ole Miss quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ABC, as the Gamecocks seek to close out what has already been a memorable season with one more victory.
South-Carolina
One dead in Orangeburg Co. Saturday night crash
ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Highway Patrol says one person has died in an Orangeburg County crash from Saturday night.
Sgt. Tyler Tidwell says this accident happened at approximately 7:05 p.m. on Redmond Mill Road near Magenta Drive. This is about four miles east of the Town of North.
Tidwell says a Hyundai sedan was traveling west on Redmond Mill Road when they went off to the road to the left and struck a tree. They were the only person in the car and the only vehicle involved.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office has not yet identified the victim.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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