Alabama Dominates Delta State in First Meet Under Head Coach Margo Geer

Alabama vs. Delta State Dual Meet

• September 24, 2021
• Alabama Aquatic Center, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Short course yard (25 yards)
• Team scores:
  • Alabama M defeat Delta State M 223-72
  • Alabama W defeat Delta State W 217-78

In the school’s first meet under new head coach Margo Geer, both the Alabama men and women swam smoothly to victory over Mississippi’s Delta State University. Alabama exhibitioned the 200 individual medley and the 200 freestyle relay.

“We have been pushing hard in training and now is a great time to step up, compete and evaluate where we are as a team,” Geer said in a press release prior to the event. “We’re especially excited to compete at home and welcome our fans back to the aquatic center.”

Geer, a former United States World Championships team member, announced her retirement from professional swimming in February before taking the reins at Alabama. She was announced as the next head coach, replacing Coley Stickels, in December 2020.

Since 2012, Alabama has opened its season against Division II Delta State, with the exception of last year, when COVID-19 disrupted the team’s schedule. When they last competed in 2019, Alabama won 204-91 on the women’s side and 206-88 on the men’s side. Delta State has yet to win against Alabama. 

Alabama finished fifth at the women’s NCAA Division I Championships and fifteenth at the men’s Division I championships, while Delta State finished sixth overall at the NCAA Division II Championships.

Men’s Meet

The Alabama men kicked off the meet by earning first in the 200 medley relay with in 1:27.41. NC State transfer Gil Kiesler picked up his first Alabama win in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 9:34.92.

Alabama junior Matthew Menke led the backstroke events, finishing first in the 100 backstroke with a 47.79 and first in the 200 backstroke with 1:48.23. Menke also took home the top honors in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:50.59.

Delta State graduate student Savio Ragonesi led the Delta State swimmers in the 100 breaststroke, finishing fourth with a time of 58.75 after Alabama’s 1-2-3 sweep. Ragonesi also scored fourth in the 200 breaststroke.

Women’s Meet

The women opened their season after finishing fifth at NCAA championships, their best place in 30-plus years. Senior Rhyan White, Tokyo silver medalist (the best finish for a UA women’s team member at the Olympic Games and the team’s breakout star) finished first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:59.42 and second as part of the 200 medley relay, where she swam a 25.81 in the backstroke leg.

Alabama senior Kensey McMahon swept the distance events, finishing 30 seconds ahead of second-place Selina Reil in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:11.42, and placing first in the 500 freestyle with 4:54.28. Delta State freshman Jamie Glover placed third overall in the 1000 freestyle, and first out of Delta State’s competitors, with a time of 10:47.71. 

Crimson Tide sophomore Gracie Felner also dominated the field in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle, as well as participating in the 200 freestyle relay.

Alabama’s next meet will take them to Birmingham, where on October 22 they will compete against Birmingham-Southern College. On October 9, Delta State will take on Rhodes College at home.