TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – It’s been more than nine months since the Alabama swimming and diving teams suited up for a home meet, as it will on Friday at 2 p.m. against Southeastern Conference rival Auburn, and the Crimson Tide is ready to compete once again in the Alabama Aquatic Center.
“We’ll have our home crowd on Friday and that’s a definite plus,” senior captain Brittany Gilbert said. “We’re excited to compete in that environment.”
A lot has happened since the Tide’s last home meet, with a slew of school records falling and both the men and women posting their best national finishes in more than a decade. The Tide men posted their first top-10 NCAA finish since 1994, led by two-time NCAA champion Kristian Gkolomeev. The Tide men finished just behind the Tigers at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
“Auburn is Auburn,” senior All-American Brett Walsh said. “It’s always going to be one of those super hyped meets. On the guy’s side especially, the last time we saw them was at the national championship meet when they clipped us by six points, so it was a real nail biter.”
Friday will be Alabama’s second dual meet of the season after opening on the road with a sweep of Delta State on Sept. 9 in the first collegiate competition in the nation this season while Auburn opens its 2015-16 season with the Crimson Tide.
Admission to the meet is free and it will be part of the Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger slate of events. Fans are encouraged to bring canned food to donate to the West Alabama Food Bank. The Tide will also be giving away the 2015-16 schedule poster and Alabama will be signing autographs after the meet.
Swimming news courtesy of Alabama Swimming & Diving.
