December 14, 2012
H2Okies look back on successful fall season
Tech resumes action in early January

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech swimming and diving program recently wrapped up its fall portion of the 2012-13 schedule, which was highlighted by several accolades. The H2Okies competed at six competitions and were victorious in five. The women have a dual record of 7-2, while the men have only dropped one meet this season.

Tech’s men’s squad started the season ranked in the top 25 and currently sit at the No. 17 spot. The week of Nov. 20, the H2Okies climbed all the way to the No. 12 ranking for Tech’s highest in program history, after they defeated No. 15 Florida State for the second-consecutive year.

On the women’s side, senior Heather Savage has led the H2Okies to seven dual victories as she is undefeated in every event swam so far this season. At the H2Okie Fall Invitational, the senior won four individual races with NCAA B standard times and set a school record in the 200 butterfly. The All-American was named ACC Female Swimmer of the Week, which was the first time since 2010 that an H2Okie received the honor.

Along with Savage, Tech has collected eight ACC weekly honors this season. All-American divers, Logan Shinholser and Kaylea Arnett, have racked in three each, while Zach McGinnis was the first Tech male to be named an ACC Male Swimmer of the Week since the H2Okies joined the conference in 2004.

Arnett has dominated the diving portion for the women this season. The sophomore is currently undefeated in the 3-meter event and holds the top conference score in both springboard events. She has also hit NCAA Zone scores at every competition this season, along with setting a CAC record on the 3-meter at the H2Okie Fall Invitational.

Shinholser leads the H2Okie divers on the men’s side. The senior has also hit NCAA Zone marks at every meet this season and is coming off a stellar performance at the Georgia Fall Invitational. He swept all three events and set a Gabrielsen Natatorium record in the platform event, which beat the previous mark that was set in 2006 by almost 70 points.

As a team, the men’s and women’s diving squads have won 20 of the 24 events and have 10 divers qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships already this season.

Tech will head down to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a 10-day winter training session on Dec. 30, before getting back into action on Jan. 12 when it hosts a top-25 Tennessee squad. Start time is set for 12 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Hokie All-Access.

For updates on Virginia Tech swimming & diving, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_SwimDive).

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