The final road dual meet of the season produced a familiar win-loss split for the Terrapin men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams Saturday. Against a strong West Virginia program, the Terp women outpaced the Mountaineers, 202-96, while the men’s team was routed, 213-87, its largest margin of defeat this year.

The Terp women (8-2) continued their winning ways following a rare loss to Penn State, 205-146, in a quad meet last weekend. With an abundance of depth, the team appears poised to challenge for a top-three finish at the ACC Championships in Atlanta next month.

Co-captain Annie Fittin nabbed individual wins in the 100 back (57.57) and 50 free (23.52) and swam on both winning ‘A’ relay teams (200 medley and 200 free relay) for the Terps. Megan Lafferty, a sophomore, also won a pair of individual events, capturing the 100 free (52.12) by more than a second and narrowly besting teammate Addison Koelle (56.64) in the 100 fly (56.04).

With only one meet remaining before the ACC Championships, coach Sean Schimmel is stressing the importance of preparation to his swimmers and divers.

“What we’re focused on and where I’m at with them is to be uncommon,” Schimmel said after Saturday’s meet. “Be uncommon in their preparation, be uncommon in their willingness, in their leadership and to go above and beyond.”

The Terp men’s side (1-8) suffered its fourth straight defeat since winning the Terrapin Cup, the team’s fall championship meet, in November.

“It was a tough meet, that’s for sure. I don’t think the score reflects how close the meet was when you look at the results in a lot of the closest races that we had,” Schimmel said. “Unfortunately, West Virginia just did a better job getting a hand on the wall in numerous races, whether it was first or second or for that fourth or fifth spot.”

Junior Andrew Relihan grabbed second-place finishes in the 200 back (1:51.79), 200 free (1:42.74) and 400 IM (4:07.40). Terp freshmen John Hauser (500 and 1000 free) and Brad Dillon (100 back) together added a trio of second-place finishes, as well.

While the improved times the Terrapin men recently posted have not translated into wins, Schimmel believes the team is headed firmly in the right direction.

“I think that they’re starting to realize what they need to do as a team, and it’s starting to show up,” he said of the men’s side after losses to Pittsburgh and Penn Sate last weekend. “Middle of January, it’s starting to show up, and good things are happening because of it.”

“It’s a process of the competition that’s out there and where we are and how much they really need each other and to come together as a team.”

The Terps return to competition when the Georgetown men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams visit College Park on Feb. 5 on Senior Day.

castello@umdbk.com