College Swimming Season Opens With Alabama vs. Delta State Today

Photo Courtesy: Mike Comer/ProSwimVisuals.com

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama, September 12. THE University of Alabama swimming and diving teams open up the 2014-15 season this Friday at 4:00 p.m. with Delta State at the Alabama Aquatic Center. Admission is free.

The Crimson Tide is coming off its best season since the early 1990s. The men turned in a fourth place at the SEC Championships and a 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships and was named the national “Breakthrough Team of the Year,”  setting new school records in 12 events, including all five relays.  The women’s team also moved up in both the conference and national standings, while setting new school marks in nine different events.

“It’s the first opportunity to see our freshmen in competition,” UA head coach Dennis Pursley said of Friday’s meet.  “It’s also an opportunity to swim our veteran swimmers in some events that they may not have competed in last year, but might want to enter them in some of the meets this year.”

Seniors Kaylin Burchell and Kristel Vourna will look to lead the Tide women and improve on last season’s success.  Burchell was a 2014 All-American in the 100 breaststroke after taking seventh at the NCAA Championships.  Vourna, a 2012 All-American, holds the school record in the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.

On the men’s side, sophomore All-Americans Anton McKee and Kristian Gkolomeev will look for even more success after standout freshmen campaigns.  Gkolomeev won the 50 freestyle at the NCAA Championships in a time of 18.95, becoming the first Crimson Tide swimmer under 19 seconds in the process.  Coming off an SEC Championship in the 200 breaststroke and an outstanding summer of competition, McKee will be sidelined to start the season after breaking his collarbone late in the summer.

“Both Anton and Kristian have a lot of potential to get better and that is exciting considering they were among the best in the country as freshmen,” Pursley said. “Anton, unfortunately, is currently out of the water right now. He is rehabbing and progressing well, but it will be a while before he gets back in the pool.”

The Tide also returns All-Americans Brett Walsh and Connor Oslin to this year’s squad. In addition to its veterans, nearly a dozen newcomers will have a chance to make their Crimson Tide debuts on Friday.

“The freshmen have gelled very well with the program,” Pursley said. “They are all responding in a way that we would like to see them respond.”

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.

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