COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Swimming and Diving program travels to College Station, Texas for the first road trip of the season to face Southeastern Conference foe Texas A&M at 5 p.m. at the Rec Center Natatorium on Friday.
Carolina hosted Kentucky in their season opener on October 13. The Gamecock men and women both fell to the Wildcats but picked up eight victories on the day, while sixteen freshmen made their debut as Gamecock swimmers.
For the men, Nils Wich-Glasen won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststrokes, Akram Mahmoud took first in the 1650-yard and 500-yard freestyles and Tomas Peribonio earned a win in the 400-yard IM.
“Akram Mahmoud had a good meet,” said head coach McGee Moody. “He put up the fastest time in the country in the mile. Tom Peribonio also had a good meet, and Nils Wich-Glasen swam well.”
The women featured newcomers Christina Lappin and Edith Lingmann. Lappin notched a victory in the 500-yard freestyle, while Lingmann took the 100-yard freestyle. Julia Vincent also picked up a win for the women when she placed first in the 3-meter dive.
Texas A&M men and women started their seasons off at 1-0, when both programs defeated Incarnate Word 182-105 on October 19. Last season, TAMU women finished first at the SEC Championship in February, while the men finished eighth.
“The SEC is the strongest conference in the nation bar none,” said Moody. “If we’re swimming an SEC schedule, we’re racing the fastest people week in and week out. There are no breaks. It’s good for our athletes because by the end of the year at the NCAA meet, nothing fazes them. They’re used to swimming against elite competition.”
The Gamecocks and the Aggies haven’t faced off in a dual meet since October 13, 2012, when South Carolina men won 160-140, while the women fell 190-102.
For the latest updates on South Carolina swimming and diving, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter and Instagram (@gamecockswim).
Swimming news courtesy of South Carolina Swimming & Diving.