Georgia Fall Invitational Still a Backstroke Showcase

Georiga's Olivia Smoliga. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

By Dan D’Addona.

The Georgia Fall Invitational has become one of the cant-miss events of the college swimming & diving season.

Each year, the Bulldogs host a group of the top teams and top athletes in the country for the final meet before winter break. It leads to some spectacular racing and a nice preview of the NCAA Championships.

This year, Georgia, ranked No. 2 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America poll, and No. 13 in the men’s poll, will again face big-time competition.

The Georgia women will face No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Virginia, No. 10 Cal, No. 11 Auburn and Florida State.

The Bulldog men will host No. 6 Cal, No. 10 Michigan, No. 17 Auburn, No. 29 Virginia and Florida State. UCLA and Harvard will join the meet for diving only.

This meet has been a backstroke showcase the past few years, especially on the women’s side.

Last year, Virginia’s Courtney Bartholomew swam the fastest races in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes at this meet — faster than anyone went at the NCAA Championships.

Bartholomew, Missy Franklin, Rachel Bootsma, Elizabeth Pelton, Emily Bos and Olivia Smoliga have all had epic backstroke battles at this meet.

Smoliga, of Georgia, is the only one remaining, but will be joined by fellow Olympian Kathleen Baker and All-American Amy Bilquist — both of Cal — as well as Michigan’s Gabby DeLoof,making for another year with stellar backstroke racing at this event.

In the men’s meet last year, Cal Olympian Ryan Murphy edged teammate Jacob Pebley in the 200 backstroke. Murphy also won the 100 backstroke.

The backstrokers will be on display, but it will be a huge meet for everyone heading into winter break. It is a change to gauge progress among many of the nation’s best teams and a chance to flat-out race against some of the nation’s best — especially in the backstroke.

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