With seven teams in the CSCAA men’s top 25 poll, the Southeastern Conference appears poised for a big spring.
Swimming World takes a look at the ranked SEC teams.
Photo Courtesy: Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee
Georgia, No. 3
The Bulldogs are a deep team across a number of events, led by their dynamic individual medley core.
Sophomore Jay Litherland, a member of the U.S. National Team, has the fastest 400-yard individual medley time in college swimming after posting a 3:38.68 at the Georgia Invitational. Joseph Bentz, also a sophomore, is second nationally in the 400-yard individual medley and also third in the 200-yard event.
Senior Matias Koski provides power in multiple freestyle events. He is currently ranked first in the 200-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100. Kevin Litherland also gives the Bulldogs a presence in the 500-yard freestyle. The sophomore holds the third fastest time in the nation in the event.
The Bulldogs will look to juniors Taylor Dale and Pace Clark to hold down their medley relays. Dale holds the third fastest 100-yard backstroke time in the country, and Clark is seventh in the 100-yard butterfly. Clark, a member of the U.S. National Team, is also a strong 200-yard butterfly swimmer. He posted the nation’s second fastest time at the Georgia Invitational.
Georgia also has the third fastest 800-yard freestyle relay and sixth fastest 400-yard medley relay in college swimming.
Florida, No. 4
The Gators have one of college swimming’s brightest stars in sophomore Caeleb Dressel, a U.S. National Team member in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle.
Dressel currently boasts the fastest 50-yard freestyle time in college swimming after throwing down a 18.77 at the Ohio State Invitational. He also has the second fastest 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly times in the nation. On top of that, he also posted the third fastest 100-yard breaststroke time in the country.
Pawel Werner helps the Gators’ 200-yard freestyle core and is a key member of their 800-yard freestyle relay. The senior holds college swimming’s seventh fastest 200-yard freestyle time.
Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo
The Gators are also in good shape in the mid to long distance freestyle events. Arthur Frayler currently holds the fourth fastest 1000-yard freestyle time in college swimming. As a junior last season, Frayler was a second-team All-American in two individual events. Sophomore Jan Switkowski holds the fourth fastest 500-yard freestyle time in the nation, and is also fourth in the 200-yard butterfly.
The Gators also have Jack Blyzinskyj, one of the top backstrokers in the country. The junior posted the nation’s fifth fastest time in the 100-yard backstroke.
Florida has some of college swimming’s strongest relays. They are currently ranked fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay, first in the 400-yard freestyle relay, second in the 800-yard freestyle relay and third in both medley relays.
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
Auburn, No. 8
Peter Holoda blends youth and speed for the Tigers. The sophomore posted college swimming’s fifth fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle and is also strong in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.
Coming off a season in which he was an All-American in five events, junior Michael Duderstadt is poised for another big year. He currently holds the nation’s fifth fastest 100-yard breaststroke time.
Junior Joe Patching gives the team strength in both individual medley events. He currently is 13th in the 200 and sixth in the 400. Last season he was an All-American in the 200-yard backstroke.
As usual, Auburn has a strong core of relays. They currently are fifth in the 400-yard freestyle relay, fourth in the 200-yard medley relay, seventh in the 400-yard medley relay and tied for second in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Missouri, No. 10
Missouri has the star power needed to make an impact on the national stage. Tiger swimmers currently hold college swimming’s fastest times in two individual events.
Junior Michael Chadwick posted college swimming’s fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle with a blazing 41.89. He is also third in the 50-yard event and is a member of the U.S. National Team.
Junior Fabian Schwingenschlogl, a transfer from Western Kentucky, posted the nation’s fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 51.36. He is also fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold
Andrew Sansoucie helps Mizzou in butterfly. The junior is currently seventh in college swimming in the 100-yard butterfly. The Tigers’ team also features Carter Griffin, the silver medalist in the 200-meter backstroke at the Pan American Games.
Mizzou also has posted some of the fastest relay times in the nation. They rank first in the 200-yard medley and second in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay. They are also sixth in both the 400 and 800-yard freestyle relays.
Alabama, No. 12
The Crimson Tide are led by Kristian Gkolomeev. The junior is the defending NCAA champion in the 100-yard freestyle and was the runner up in the 50-yard event. He currently holds college swimming’s fifth fastest time in the 50-yard freestyle.
Luke Kaliszak brings Alabama strength in backstroke. The sophomore is currently ranked fourth in the 100-yard backstroke. In terms of breaststroke, Anton McKee is the team’s strongest swimmer. He posted the nation’s third fastest time in the 200-yard breaststroke and seventh fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The Crimson Tide hold the fastest 200-yard freestyle relay time in the country and are ranked second in the 200-yard medley relay.
Photo Courtesy: Kelly Price/Alabama Athletics
Tennessee, No. 16
Sean Lehane has started off the season strong for the Volunteers. The senior, a member of the U.S. National Team, currently holds the fifth fastest 200-yard backstroke in college swimming. Over the summer, he earned gold at the Pan American Games in the 200-meter backstroke.
The Tennessee team is strongest in long distance freestyle events. Evan Pinion has the second fastest 1000-yard freestyle time in the country and David Heron is ranked fifth in the same event. Pinion is also fourth in the 1650-yard freestyle.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
South Carolina, No. 19
Like Tennessee, the Gamecocks are also strong in distance freestyle events. Sophomore Akaram Mahmoud is currently ranked fifth in college swimming in the 1650-yard freestyle and seventh in the 1000-yard event.
South Carolina is also led by Nils Wich-Glasen, a sophomore. Wich-Glasen was an All-American in the 200-yard breaststroke as a freshman. He currently holds the nation’s ninth fastest time in the event. Wich-Glasen is also ranked eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Photo Courtesy: South Carolina Athletics
Roll tide!
Catherine Allsop
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