Tennessee vs. Kentucky
- December 13, 2024
- Lancaster Aquatic Heart — Lexington, KY
- 25 Yards (SCY)
- Scores:
- Ladies: #5 Tennessee, 200 def. NR Kentucky, 99
- Males: HM Kentucky, 173 def. #7 Tennessee, 127
- Full Outcomes
On Dec 13, the Kentucky males defeated the Tennessee Volunteers in a twin meet for the primary time since 1953. The Volunteers have been with out a few of their largest stars, together with Jordan Crooks and Gui Santos, who each gained a number of medals this week in Budapest on the 2024 Quick Course World Championships.
Tennessee missed their largest stars as this meet in the end got here all the way down to depth—the Wildcat males gained ten occasions whereas the Volunteers took dwelling six occasion wins. Tennessee earned the primary occasion win of the day within the medley relay with Harrison Lierz (22.89), Kevin Houseman (24.12), Bjoern Kammann (20.94), and Michah Chambers (19.87) stopping the clock at 1:27.82, 1.26 seconds forward of Kentucky’s ‘A’ squad.
The subsequent occasions, the 1000 freestyle and 200 free are each occasions that Kentucky’s present roster favors, and certainly, the Wildcats took the wins in each. Distance ace Levi Sandidge gained the 1000 free (9:00.50), main a podium sweep for the Wildcats. Then, Carson Hick gained his first of two occasions within the 200 free. Hick swam 1:37.03 as his teammate Max Berg held off a late cost from Kammann for second place, 1:38.12 to 1:38.33. Later, Hick picked up his second occasion win within the 500 free (4:23.16).
Tennessee responded with its personal 1-2 end within the 100 backstroke, courtesy of Ben Bricca (48.73) and Lierz (48.81). This was one of many closes races of the meet, as Bricca, Lierz, and the third-place Devin Naoroz have been separated by .13 seconds.
Kentucky breaststroker Jonathan Rom gained the 100 breast, coming from behind on the second 50 to out-touch Houseman by two-hundredths. He accomplished the breaststroke sweep later within the meet, successful the 200 breast in 1:58.48.
Berg led a 1-2 end for the Wildcats within the 50 freestyle (20.42), and Szymon Mieczkowski gained the 200 backstroke (1:47.18). Within the latter occasion, Kentucky swept the highest 4 spots. Ryan Merani (200 IM, 1:46.75) and Gavin Dangle (3-meter, 334.05) gained Kentucky’s different particular person occasions on the day, whereas Berg, Justin Peresse, Drew Johnson, and Hick put a stamp of authority on the day by successful the 400 free relay (2:55.99). Tennessee has the NCAA’s quickest time this season within the 400 freestyle relay (2:44.13).
Martin Espernberger was Tennessee’s double-event winner on the day. He swept the butterfly occasions, successful his signature 200 fly with a 1:44.23, then clocking 47.28 to win the 100. Kammann claimed the 100 freestyle in 44.23, whereas Nick Stone scored 356.85 factors to win the 1-meter occasion.
The Tennessee girls defeated the Wildcats handily. They gained each occasion within the pool and swept the 100 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, and 400 free relay to rack up 200 factors to the Wildcats’ 99 factors.
9 swimmers gained particular person occasions for the Volunteers. Josephine Fuller makes a speciality of backstroke and IM however took on a distinct slate at this meet. Fuller led the Tennessee sweep within the 100 freestyle with a 49.73, then added one other occasion win within the 100 butterfly (54.24) together with a third-place end within the 200 butterfly (2:02.25). She raced some backstrokes on the meet, main off the successful 200 medley relay with a 24.92.
She teamed up with McKenzie Siroky (26.88), Emily Brown (24.67), and Julia Burroughs (22.79) to win that relay with a remaining time of 1:39.26 as the opposite Tennessee 200 medley relays have been disqualified for early take-offs. Siroky, Brown, and Burroughs all gained particular person occasions as properly.
Siroky swept the breaststroke occasions, clocking 1:00.43 within the 100 breaststroke and a pair of:13.67 within the 200. Final month, Siroky swam lifetime bests at her first collegiate midseason invite, swimming 58.00/2:08.17 on the Tennessee Invitational. Her fellow freshman, Brown, owns the third-fastest non-converted 200 butterfly time within the NCAA this season. She gained that occasion at this twin meet, touching the wall at 1:57.70 as the one swimmer within the subject to interrupt two minutes. Brown adopted up with a second-place end within the 200 backstroke (1:58.64) behind teammate Ella Jansen (1:57.44) after which was a member of the successful 400 freestyle relay. She led off in 51.32 forward of Jansen (50.53), Sara Stotler (51.30), and Burroughs (50.08).
Burroughs flexed her freestyle vary at this meet, successful the 50 freestyle in 23.23 after which taking second within the 500 freestyle (4:56.33) behind Kate McCarville (4:51.92).
The Tennessee girls’s star sprinter Camille Spink took on the 100 backstroke/200 IM double, coming away with occasion wins in each. She gained the 100 backstroke with a 54.02 and adopted up with a 2:00.99 within the 200 IM.
Kentucky received its occasion wins on the boards. Avery Giese beat Maddie Reese on the one-meter board, 293.33 factors to 276.08. The Wildcats swept the highest three spots on three-meter, with Kristy Pfaff taking the highest spot with 300.75 factors.
Different Occasion Winners:
- 1000 freestyle: Lauren Wetherell, Tennessee — 10:07.21
- 200 freestyle: Brooklyn Douthwright, Tennessee — 1:49.44
