TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will celebrate Senior Day Friday, January 22 as they host the University of Cincinnati Bearcats to close out the regular-season portion of its schedule at home in the Alabama Aquatic Center. Senior Day activities begin just after 3:30 p.m. while the first race gets underway at 4 p.m.Admission is free.
“Senior Day is always a special as we celebrate all this class has accomplished,” head coach Dennis Pursley said. “At the same time, with the SEC Championships on the horizon, we’ll use this meet in a variety of ways. For those who have earned a place on our championship roster, we’ll give them a chance to swim some other events to get ready for the postseason. This will also be a chance for those who are on the bubble to make their case for a spot on the SEC roster.”
For the men, captains Clark Garner and Phillip Deaton along with Ian Decker and Hunter Smith will be honored. On the women’s side, All-Americans Kaylin Burchell and Kristel Vourna and captain Emily Facchine will be honored along with Lisa Bogosian, Brooke Elias, Angely Martinez and Brittany Parkey. The Tide will also honor the late John Servati, who passed away last spring while saving the life of another University of Alabama student during a band of severe storms. Servati was honored with the NCAA Award of Valor last Friday in Washington, D.C.
Friday’s meet will also be the Crimson Tide’s eighth Power of Pink meet, Alabama Athletics’ breast cancer awareness initiative. The Tide women will be wearing pink suits, while the men’s suits will feature a pink “A” on a black suit.
The meet also kicks off Alabama’s alumni weekend, with swimmers and divers from throughout the Crimson Tide’s storied history returning to campus. Alabama will honor the 1985 Women’s Southeastern Conference Championship squad, the Crimson Tide’s first league champions in any women’s sport, along with their coach, the legendary Don Gambril.
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Above is a press release submitted by Alabama Athletics.