One day before their football counterparts square off in Jacksonville, the Georgia and Florida swimming and diving teams will compete in a top-5 matchup in Athens.
Friday’s meet will begin at 11 a.m. at Gabrielsen Natatorium inside the Ramsey Center. Admission is free.
The meet will pit the No. 2 Lady Bulldogs against the No. 3 Lady Gators and the No. 4 Bulldogs against the No. 5 Gators in one of the nation’s marquee early season match-ups.
“We’re definitely excited about this meet,” said Harvey Humphries, Georgia’s Acting Head Coach. “We always look forward to the challenge of competing against Florida. It’s a great measuring stick to see where we are at this point of the season, and the rivalry makes everyone compete even harder. Every point is going to be critical.”
The Bulldogs’ Chase Kalisz currently holds the nation’s top time in the 200 butterfly and he ranks No. 2 in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 and 400 individual medley. Other Bulldogs with top-10 times include Matias Koski (third, 500 freestyle; sixth, 200 freestyle), Kevin Litherland (third, 1,650 freestyle; 10th, 1,000 freestyle); Ty Stewart (seventh, 200 butterfly; eighth, 200 backstroke); Nicolas Fink (third, 100 and 200 breaststroke); Gunnar Bentz (fourth, 200 individual medley; sixth, 400 individual medley; ninth, 200 breaststroke); Pace Clark (ninth, 200 butterfly; 10th, 100 butterfly); Mick Litherland (eighth, 200 butterfly); and Jay Litherland (eighth, 400 individual medley).
The Lady Bulldogs’ Brittany MacLean is the top swimmer this season in the 1,000 freestyle and she is second in the 1,650 freestyle and seventh in the 500 freestyle. Other Lady Bulldogs with top-10 times are Chantal Van Landeghem (sixth, 50 freestyle); Amber McDermott (fourth, 400 individual medley; sixth, 500 and 1,000 freestyle); Anna Kolanowski (eighth, 1,650 freestyle); Kylie Stewart (fourth, 200 backstroke; eighth, 100 backstroke); Hali Flickinger (third, 200 butterfly; seventh, 400 individual medley); and Annie Zhu (ninth, 400 individual medley).
The Lady Bulldogs have won 91 straight — and are 92-1 all-time — at Gabrielsen Natatorium in a streak that dates back to Nov. 8, 1995.
College Swimming News courtesy of George Swimming and Diving.