Luca Urlando Doubles as Georgia Opens with Dominant Win

Luca Urlando Doubles as Georgia Opens Season with Dominant Win Over UNC-Wilmington

Sweeping all 16 events, the University of Georgia men’s swimming and diving team opened the 2025-26 season with a decisive 224.5-73.5 victory over UNC Wilmington Friday evening at the David B. Allen Natatorium.

Fast Facts

• Sophomore Drew Hitchcock highlighted the day with three individual victories, as well as a relay win. Hitchcock swept the butterfly events with times of 1:44.53 (200y fly) and 47.76 (100y fly) before winning the 200y IM at 1:48.18. He also led off the opening 400 medley relay with a 49.72 leg, joining teammates Finn Wendland, Sam Powe, and Luca Urlando to prevail with a 3:19.37.
• Urlando, who was a member of both winning relays, touched first in the 200y freestyle with a time of 1:37.73 before posting a winning time of 1:45.78 in the 200 backstroke.
• Junior Tomas Koski opened the meet with a top time of 9:05.58 in the 1000y freestyle, followed by a time of 4:24.86 in the 500y freestyle. He joined Urlando, sophomore Tane Bidois, and senior Ruard van Renen in the closing 400y freestyle relay.
• Sophomore Elliot Woodburn swept the breaststroke events: posting a 55.43 in the 100 and a 2:01.99 in 200. Additional victories went to van Renen (100y backstroke), Bidois (50y freestyle), and freshman Luke Sandberg in the 100y freestyle.
• Junior Matthew Bray posted an impressive season premiere on the springboards, taking the 1-meter with a score of 293.10, followed by a score of 281.10 on 3-meter.

Results