The Kentucky swimming & diving team is set to begin the new year with a thrilling two-day dual meet against No. 18/19 Alabama at the Lancaster Aquatic Center. The meet will be divided into three sessions, starting on Friday at 10 a.m., followed by an evening session at 5 p.m., and concluding on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
This meet holds significant importance for the Wildcats as they gear up for the 2024 SEC Championships, which are just over a month away. It marks the first dual matchup between Kentucky and Alabama since December 2020, making it an exciting opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills.
Kentucky’s sophomore standout, Ryan Merani, has been a standout performer this season. Currently ranked second in the SEC and 22nd in the nation in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:43.28, Merani has been a key contributor to the team’s success. He also ranks 45th in the 400 IM with a time of 3:47.17 and leads the team with three NCAA “B-Cuts” this season.
On the women’s side, three Wildcats have posted top-50 times in the nation. Grace Frericks owns the 33rd fastest 200 backstroke time in the country at 1:54.73, placing her 10th among SEC swimmers. Senior Torie Buerger is 48th overall in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.79, while junior Caroline Benda ranks 50th in the 1650 freestyle at 16:26.55.
The Wildcats will also welcome back the 2023 SEC Champion, Levi Sandidge, who is returning from injury. Sandidge is scheduled to compete for the team for the first time since their dual meet against Indiana in October 2023.
UK has had a successful season so far, earning 16 NCAA “B-Cuts” – 10 from the women’s team and six from the men’s team. They have also achieved 10 NCAA zone standards in diving.
Alabama brings a strong lineup to the meet, with eight returning All-Americans from the 2022-23 season – five women and three men. Notable swimmers include Diana Petkova, Emily Jones, Kailyn Winter, Avery Wiseman, Liberty Williams (a transfer from Louisville), Kaique Alves, Charlie Hawke (the 2023 SEC 200 Freestyle Champion), and Tim Korstanje.
The event schedule for the Kentucky vs. Alabama dual meet is as follows:
Session 1 – Friday @ 10 a.m.
– 200 Medley Relay
– 500 Freestyle
– 200 IM
– 50 Freestyle
Session 2 – Friday @ 5 p.m.
– Men’s 1-meter diving
– Women’s 3-meter diving
– 400 IM
– 100 Butterfly
– 200 Freestyle
– 100 Breaststroke
– 100 Backstroke
Session 3 – Saturday @ 9 a.m.
– Men’s 3-meter diving
– Women’s 1-meter diving
– 1650 Freestyle
– 200 Backstroke
– 100 Freestyle
– 200 Breaststroke
– 200 Butterfly
– 400 Freestyle Relay
It is sure to be an exciting and closely contested meet between these two talented teams. Make sure to follow the Wildcats on social media for the latest updates and highlights of the meet.
