KINGSPORT, Tenn. — WVU Tech swimming closed out its three-day appearance at the King Invite with multiple podium finishes, 18 personal bests and several of its strongest mid-season swims to date. The Golden Bears earned a third-place team finish on the men's side and fifth place for the women against a field that included NCAA Division II and strong NAIA programs.
Team Finish
Men — 3rd of 5 (425 pts)
Top three: Mars Hill (686), King (667), WVU Tech (425)
Women — 5th of 5 (50 pts)
Top three: King (767.5), Mars Hill (751), Barton (271.5)
Golden Bear Highlights
Carmine Bernardo (So., Salerno, Italy) delivered a standout meet with three podium finishes, winning the 200 butterfly (1:52.23, PB, NAIA B-cut), placing second in the 100 fly (50.89, PB) and taking third in the 500 free (4:41.34, PB, B-cut). Bernardo was also a key relay performer, anchoring WVU Tech's winning 200 free relay — the program's fastest since 2022–23.
Neda Vaicaite (Fr., Šilainiai, Lithuania) swept the women's backstroke events for the Golden Bears, capturing first place in the 200 back (2:11.62, PB, B-cut) and second in the 100 back (1:01.04, PB, B-cut). She added a sixth-place finish in the 50 free (24.94, PB) to close out a strong debut at a collegiate invitational.
Lorenzo Silva (Fr., São Paulo, Brazil) dropped time across all three of his distance events, finishing fourth in the 1650 free (17:31.22, PB), fifth in the 500 free (4:57.43, PB) and eighth in the 400 IM (4:42.06, PB).
Jose Fernando Perez (Sr., Trujillo, Peru) recorded two individual PBs — 21.95 in the 50 free and 48.32 in the 100 free — and contributed legs on both podium relays, including the Golden Bears' victory in the 200 free relay.
Bryson George (Jr., St. Vincent and the Grenadines) earned a personal best in the 200 breast (2:15.37) while also swimming key roles on Tech's 1st-place 200 free and 3rd-place 800 free relays.
Mauro Sanchez Lopez (Fr., Spain/Andorra) dropped a personal best in the 100 free (48.16) and contributed to both podium relays, including the 200 free relay win and the third-place finish in the 800 free relay.
Sebastian Morales Tito (Fr., Lima, Peru) picked up two PBs — 2:17.13 in the 200 IM and 55.39 in the 100 free — while scoring in multiple individual events.
Mason Adams (Fr., Chilhowie, Va.) posted a personal best in the 100 free (56.15) and added season-best splits in relay action.
Noah Maniace (Sr., Osceola, Fla.) recorded a personal best in the 100 free and added scoring performances in sprint and stroke events.
Relay Highlights
- Men's 200 Free Relay — 1st place (1:27.07)
Perez, George, Sanchez Lopez, Bernardo
Fastest WVU Tech 200 free relay since 2022–23; all four swimmers posted their fastest 50 frees.
- Men's 800 Free Relay — 3rd place (7:11.08)
Siscart Muntané, Perez, Sanchez Lopez, Bernardo
- Men's 200 Medley Relay — 5th place (1:37.68, SB)
- Men's 400 Free Relay — 4th place (3:16.98)
Other Contributors
- The Golden Bears recorded 18 personal bests and multiple season-best relays across three days.
- Bernardo, Silva and Vaicaite combined for five podium finishes and six NAIA B-cuts.
- WVU Tech produced its strongest relay showing of the season, highlighted by a signature win in the 200 free relay.
What's Next
WVU Tech returns to action on Jan. 24 when the Golden Bears host West Virginia Wesleyan at the YMCA of Southern West Virginia in Beckley. The postseason begins Feb. 5–8 at the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship in Kingsport.
