SEC Weekly Analysis: Alabama-Missouri Becoming Pivotal Rivalry

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold / Aringo Photos

By Dan D’Addona.

The SEC is loaded with swimming talent. Individual stars and prominent programs.

The Alabama-Missouri matchup isn’t usually the first that comes to mind as the top matchup in the conference, but this year, it just might be.

There aren’t many battles this early in the season that pit the No. 10 men’s team (Alabama) vs. the No. 12 team (Missouri). Alabama held off Missouri 183-144.

The women’s meet was pretty good, too, with No. 23 Missouri edging No. 26 Alabama 167-132.

The rise of prominence with these programs is huge for the SEC and all of swimming. More and more teams are becoming contenders in their conferences and this meet could be the start of a pretty even rivalry for years to come.

Here are some of the highlights:

Senior Anton McKee and junior Luke Kaliszak led the way for the Alabama men. McKee took first in both the 200 breaststroke (1:59.26) and the 400 individual medley (1:59.26). Kaliszak won the 100 backstroke (47.42) and swam legs on the winning 200 medley relay (1:26.92) and 200 freestyle relay (1:21.25).

Senior Connor Oslin and freshman Robert Howard also swam legs on the winning 200 medley and freestyle relays while senior Pavel Romanov filled out the medley relay and senior Alex Gray anchored the free relay.

Freshman Daniel Kober picked up his first Crimson Tide win, winning the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 9:21.80. Senior Alex Gray picked up top honors in the 200 freestyle (1:38.02) while junior Will Freeman posted a 4:34.69 to win the 500 freestyle. Junior Taylor Charles won the 200 butterfly (1:49.71) and Christopher Reid won the 200 backstroke (1:45.44).

Missouri was led by Michael Chadwick and diver Kyle Goodwin.

Chadwick swept the 50 and 100 free races. His winning 50 free time of 19.81 stands as the fastest time in the country this season, while he also clocked a 43.28 in the 100 free. Goodwin tallied scores of 329.48 on 1-meter and 382.43 on 3-meter to win his first two event titles of the season.

In the women’s meet, senior diver Lauren Reedy broke Missouri’s 3-meter springboard school record.

Rachel Hayden claimed wins in both the 100 and 200 events. She swam a 50.98 in the 100 free and a 1:49.90 in the 200 free.

Reedy notched her school record 381.98 on 3-meter, besting the old mark of 376.05 set by Loren Figueroa in 2011, and give her possession of both springboard records. The senior also notched a 313.95 on 1-meter to win that event.

Junior Alexa Beckwith took second behind Reedy on 1-meter with a 298.28 and junior Madeline McKernan placed second on 3-meter with 307.73 points.

Alabama junior Mia Nonnenberg won three individual events, pushing her season total to eight wins in three meets. Nonnenberg won the 1,000 freestyle (10:08.29), and went on to earn victories in the 500 free (4:55.45) and the 400 individual medley (4:14.78).

Junior Bailey Scott won in the 50 freestyle after posting a 23.23 while junior Hannah Musser earned her fifth butterfly win of the season after taking first in the 100 butterfly in Columbia.

So many great performances by both teams in this matchup. They will meet again in the SEC championships with plenty on the line.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use