The University of Florida Men’s Swimming and Diving team notched its second win of the season by defeating South Carolina 165-120 on Saturday. The Gators claimed victory in 10 swimming events and extended their lead in the overall series versus the Gamecocks to 22-4.

Sophomore Darian Townsend (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) and freshman Bradley Ally (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) led the Gators by winning two individual events each. Townsend began the meet by leading four Florida swimmers to a sweep of the 100 back. Townsend touched the wall first in a time of 50.41, followed by teammates Grant Johnson (Clearwater, Fla.), Rex Tullius (Port Orange, Fla.) and Andrew Greener (Delray Beach, Fla.). Townsend also went on to claim the 50 free in a time of 20.88.

“Compared to this point last year, Darian is a more mature athlete,” Florida coach Gregg Troy said.  “He’s training better and more focused on what is going on during each practice.”

A quartet of Gators took the top-four positions in the 200 back, led by Ally who won the event in a time of 1:50.33. Senior Brian Hartley (Indianapolis, Ind.), Greener and Tullius rounded out the top four for Florida. Ally claimed his second victory in the 100 breast with a time of 57.08.

Sophomore Dustin McLarty (DeLand, Fla.) and Tobias Work (Falmouth, Mass.) improved on Friday’s performance at Virginia by winning the 500 free and 1,650 free. McLary edged Work by one second in the 500 free to win his first race of the year. McLarty clocked a 4:34.10 in the event. Work also won his first individual race by recording a 15:48.27 in the 1,650 free.

Hartley added to Florida’s victory total by taking the 200 free in a time of 1:41.23. Daniel Penniman (Pensacola, Fla.) took first-place in the 100 free by recording a time of 46.23. J.B Walsh (Virginia Beach, Va.) edged teammate Nick Borreca by 58-tenths of a second to win the 200 fly in a time of 1:52.14.

Freshman diver Jonathan Wilcox (Bellevue, Wash) scored a 354.90 to win the 3M event. Wilcox and Aaron Leech (Newark, Del) placed second and third in the 1M event with scores of 284.78 and 270.90 respectively.      

Florida returns to the pool on Friday with a tri-meet with Texas and California at Austin, Texas. Complete results from Saturday’s meet can be found at www.gatorzone.com.

Florida 165, South Carolina 120

-UF-