The Georgia swimming and diving teams will conclude the Southeastern Conference portion of their schedule on Saturday as they visit Tennessee.
The meet at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center – the site of next month’s SEC Championship – will begin at noon.
The No. 3-ranked Lady Bulldogs are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the SEC. The Georgia women are undefeated in their last 20 conference meets with a 19-0-1 mark dating back to 2013. The No. 5 Bulldogs check into Saturday’s meet at 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.
The Tennessee women are No. 15, while the men are No. 20.
Saturday’s meet will be Georgia’s first since getting swept by Texas last weekend at Gabrielsen Natatorium. Not only was that each team’s initial loss of the season, but it halted the Lady Bulldogs’ streak of 103 consecutive victories at Gabrielsen Natatorium dating back to November of 1995.
“I’ve been pleased this week with the work everyone has put in,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “No one has come to the pool pouting or complaining or feeling sorry for themselves. It’s one loss; it happens. The key is how you respond to it. We’ve got a big challenge ahead of us this week with Tennessee and we still have our lofty aspirations for February and March. That has not changed. We know what we have to do and we know how to get there.”
Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga is the national leader in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and she is No. 6 in the 100 backstroke. Chantal Van Landeghem stands fourth in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle, while Stephanie Peters is No. 8 in the 500 freestyle and No. 10 in the 1,000 freestyle. Meryn McCann (500 freestyle), Veronica Burchill (100 butterfly), Chelsea Britt (200 butterfly), Megan Kingsley (200 butterfly) and Emily Cameron (400 individual medley) also have top-10 efforts. The Lady Bulldogs also own the country’s best time in the 400 freestyle relay.
For the Bulldogs, Chase Kalisz is No. 1 nationally in the 200 and 400 individual medley, No. 2 in the 200 butterfly, No. 3 in the 100 breaststroke and No. 7 in the 200 breaststroke. Jay Litherland is second in the 400 individual medley, eighth in the 200 freestyle and ninth in the 200 backstroke. Kevin Litherland (500 freestyle), Taylor Dale (100 backstroke), Pace Clark (200 butterfly) and Gunnar Bentz (400 individual medley) are in the top 10 as well.
Georgia will conclude the regular season Saturday, Jan. 28, at Gabrielsen Natatorium against Emory. Georgia’s seniors will be recognized in a pre-meet ceremony.
News courtesy of Georgia Athletics.
GO UT you can do it!