SEC Meet of the Week: Georgia Men Make Statement Against Florida

during the Bulldogs' swim meet against Florida at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on October 28, 2016. (Photo by Cory A. Cole)

Georgia's Chase Kalisz. Photo Courtesy: Cory A. Cole

By Dan D’Addona.

While a lot of the attention was on the defending national champion Georgia women’s swim team it was the Georgia men who made a huge statement in their SEC opener — and in a rivalry meet.

The No. 8 women earned a typical 164-125 win over No. 18 Florida, while the No. 7 Georgia men crushed No. 8 Florida 178-122.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if either team had won a close meet, but it turned into a stunning, dominating performance by the Bulldogs.

If Georgia can continue to put together meets like this early in the season, it will be in the hunt for a team trophy at the NCAA championships.

Here are some of the highlights from the meet

Georgia’s Taylor Dale, Chase Kalisz, Pace Clark and Javier Acevedo and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel, Stanley Wu, Jan Switkowski and Mark Szaranek finished in 1:27.97 to win the 200 medley relay.

The Georgia women started strong as Olympian Olivia Smoliga teamed with Emily Cameron, Megan Kingsley and Chantal Van Landeghem to win the 200-yard medley relay (1:39.81). The Bulldogs went 1-2 in that opening relay to set the tone as Chelsea Britt, Caitlin Casazza, Kylie Stewart and Veronica Burchill took second (1:42.82) ahead of Florida (1:43.32).

Smoliga won the 100 backstroke (54.22). Kingsley won the 200 butterfly (1:54.97) and Van Lendeghem won the 50 freestyle (22.67). Van Landeghem (49.56), Burchill (50.77) and Smoliga (50.96) went 1-2-3 in the 100 freestyle.

Georgia’s Stephanie Peters won the 1,000 freestyle (9:52.96). Meaghan Raab won the 200 freestyle (1:46.23) and the 100 breaststroke (2:14.27). Meryn McCann won the 200 backstroke (1:55.57). Shauna Lee won the 500 freestyle (4:52.73).

McKensi Austin (320.1) and Madison Duvall (292.95) went 1-2 in 3-meter diving.

Florida’s Savanna Faulconer won the 100 breaststroke (1:04.63). Alyssa Yambor-Maul won the 100 butterfly (56.06).

In the men’s meet, Kalisz won the 100 breaststroke in 53.88 and the 200 breaststroke (1:54.62). Acevedo won the 100 backstroke (47.35) and Clark won the 200 butterfly (1:44.52) and the 100 butterfly (47.63), edging Olympians Dressel (47.65) and Gunnar Bentz (47.65), who tied for second.

Jay Litherland (1:45.53) and Acevedo (1:45.66) went 1-2 in the 200 backstroke.

Georgia’s Kevin Litherland won the 1,000 freestyle (9:10.88). Jay Litherland won the 200 freestyle (1:36.27). Taylor Dale won the 100 freestyle (44.55). Walker Higgins won the 500 freestyle (4:24.98).

Bentz, Dale, Acevedo and Clark won the 400 freestyle relay (2:57.21).

Dressel won the 50 freestyle (19.56). Sam Smith won 1-meter diving (336.68) and 3-meter diving (377.03). Switkowski won the 200 IM (1:47.20).

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superfan

7 years ago

Dual meets are dual meets but can Georgia men beat UF men at SECs or NCAA’s?