SEC Recap: Alabama Men Upset Texas A&M; Aggie Women Win

sec-recap
Photo Courtesy: Noah Sutton/Alabama Athletics

The No. 17 Alabama men’s swimming and diving team opened its Southeastern Conference schedule with a 162-136 upset over No. 10 Texas A&M Saturday morning at the Alabama Aquatic Center.

The Tide’s men won both relays and seven of 12 individual races against the Aggies, led by seniors Robert Howard (50 and 200 freestyles) and Laurent Bams (100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke) as well as junior Zane Waddell (100 butterfly and 100 backstroke). All three men won two events a piece and swam legs on the Tide’s winning 200 medley and freestyle relays.

In the men’s meet, Texas A&M’s Felipe Rizzo made a strong statement, touching the wall first in the 1650-yard freestyle (15:46.07) for his first individual win of the season. Rizzo placed second in the 500-yard freestyle (4:32.01).

Benjamin Walker won in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:59.35), and the 400-yard IM (3:54.53), in addition to second in the 100 yard backstroke (54.58).

Shaine Casas was one of the highlights, taking first in the 200 yard backstroke (1:46.45), and placing second in the 100 yard backstroke (48.79).

Aggie diving captain Sam Thornton came away with the victory in the 1-meter (393.60) and 3-meter (398.33) dives, and has won all four of his competitions this year.

The No. 5 Texas A&M women’s swimming and diving team defeated Alabama 178-117 Saturday morning at the Alabama Aquatic Center.

Captain Sydney Pickrem, Anna Belousova and Taylor Pike each won multiple races individually. Pickrem, the reigning SEC Co-Swimmer of the Week, placed first in the 100-yard (54.57) and 200-yard backstroke (1:57.78). Belousova came away with victories in the 100-yard (1:01.28) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.96), and Pike touched the wall first in the 100-yard (54.54) and 200-yard butterfly (1:59.13),

The Aggies (2-0, 1-0 SEC) won the first event of the day in the wire-to-wire win over Alabama (1-2, 0-1 SEC), the 200-yard medley relay, with Raena Eldridge, Belousova, Emma Carlton, and Golf Sapianchai registering a time of 1:40.64.

Claire Rasmus won the 200 free (1:49.24).

The Aggie divers swept the one-meter and three-meter competitions. Hayley Allen took first in the one-meter dive (317.70) and second in the three-meter dive (322.13). Charlye Campbell had the high score in the three-meter dive (333.23), and finished second in the one meter (287.25). Kaley Bratten placed third in both events, with all three posting NCAA-qualifying scores.

The Alabama women got wins from freshman Kensey McMahon (1,650 freestyle) and Kalia Antoniou (50 freestyle), as well as six runner-up finishes in the individual races.

Here is what else happened in the SEC this weekend:

Auburn beats Florida Gulf Coast

The Gary Taylor era of Auburn swimming and diving started off with an impressive showing, cruising past Florida Gulf Coast, 163-73, in a women’s-only meet at the Martin Aquatics Center Saturday morning. Auburn was first to the wall in 10 of 11 swimming event and swept the springboard diving events.

“There were really, really good performances by the women today across the board,” Taylor said. “I loved the energy, the enthusiasm and the excitement. They raced with a lot of passion and effort. I thought from the very first 200 medley relay all the way through the 400 free relay they fought hard and performed well throughout the meet.”

Auburn went 1-2 in both relays, with Abi Wilder, Val Tazari, Jewels Harris and Julie Meynen winning the 200 medley relay in 1:41.54 to open the meet and Jessica Merritt, Erin Falconer, Emily Hetzer and Shannon McKernan winning the 400 free relay in 3:24.09 to close the meet.

Erin Falconer went 9:55.70 to win the 1000 free and 54.53 to take first in the 100 back.

Aly Tetzloff won the 200 free in 1:47.55 and the 100 fly in 53.65.

Bailey Nero claimed the 400 IM race in 4:16.81.

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Patricia Voelpel-Lang
5 years ago

Roll Tide!

Melinda Harrison
5 years ago

Roll tide!

Dayen Wilson
5 years ago

Piotr Kurleto

Crimson Fan
Crimson Fan
5 years ago

Roll Tide Roll!

Scott Walker
Scott Walker
5 years ago

Roll Tide Roll !!

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