SEC Rivalry Recap: Florida Sweeps Alabama; South Carolina Splits With UNC

Ben Lawless. Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

By Dan D’Addona.

Rivalry week has begun in the SEC.

The No. 3 Florida men defeated No. 16 Alabama, 158-140, while the No. 20 Gator women topped the Crimson Tide, 166-134 at the Alabama Aquatics Center.

Senior Ben Lawless led the way for the Gator men, claiming two individual wins in the 500 and 1,650 free races. He recorded a time of 4:28.81 in the 500 free and swam a 15:19.82 in the 1,650.

Khader Baqlah and Caeleb Dressel aided the men’s eight individual wins with first-place finishes of their own in the 200 free and 50 free, respectively. Baqlah swam a B-cut 1:36.92 in the 200 free, while Dressel posted a B-cut time of 19.10 in the 50 free.

Marco Guarente earned his first individual win of the season, topping the 200 breast field with a time of 2:01.80. The SEC Male Swimmer of the Week, Jan Switkowski, finished first in the 100 fly with a time of 47.87 and classmate Mark Szaranek won the 400 IM, posting a swim of 3:50.44.

Alex Farrow won the 3-meter diving with a score of 322.20.

On the women’s side, the Gators collected nine individual wins, including two from sophomore Brooke Madden. She posted a score of 285.60 on the 1-meter and 296.40 on the 3-meter to sweep both events.

Taylor Ault earned the second win of her collegiate career, registering a time of 16:44.84 in the 1,650 free. Kelsey Dambacher and Emma Ball recorded first-place finishes in the 200 free (1:49.27) and 100 back (53.80), respectively. Ball’s time of 53.80 was a B-cut qualification.

Hannah Burns tallied her second individual win of the season as well, swimming a 2:00.38 in the 200 fly. Kelly Fertel and Savanna Faulconer won the 400 IM (4:14.04) and the 500 free (4:50.98), respectively.

Sydney Sell’s first win of the season came in the 200 back in 1:59.50.

The Tide started the day by sweeping the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays. Senior Bailey Scott, juniors Justine Macfarlane and Katie Kelsoe and freshman Flora Molnar combined for a time of 3:39.57 to win the opening women’s relay. Senior Luke Kaliszak, juniors Laurent Bams and Robert Howard along with sophomore Zane Waddell claimed victory for the men with a time of 3:09.90.

The Tide closed the meet winning the men’s and women’s 200 freestyle relays. Seniors Temarie Tomley and Lindsay Morrow, Molnar and Scott claimed the victory for the women with a time of 1:31.85. Freshman Jack Blake, Waddell, Bams and Howard combined for a time of 1:18.88 to win the men’s race.

Senior Will Freeman won the 200 butterfly (1:46.41). Howard (43.72) and Waddell (44.32) went 1-2 in the 100 freestyle.

Junior Robbie Costine and senior David Morton took first and second off the men’s 1-meter springboard. Costine took top honors with a score of 342.38, while Morton was second with a 281.63.

South Carolina splits with UNC

No. 20 South Carolina men’s swimming and diving started homecoming weekend with a 168-132 victory over North Carolina Thursday afternoon at Carolina Natatorium. South Carolina’s No. 22 women’s swimming and diving team also had a strong meet, but fell short to the No. 19 Tar Heel women, 159-141.

The Gamecock men used a strong start and continued to create separation in the five races after the first diving break to secure their victory over the Tar Heels. Eight individual victories powered South Carolina to its victory with Fynn Minuth picking up two firsts, 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle, for the Gamecocks. Freshman diver Grant Summers swept the diving events.

Emma Barksdale led the way for the women with wins in the 1000 freestyle and 500 freestyle and 200 IM. Senior diver Julia Vincent swept both boards. The women stayed close to North Carolina throughout the meet, bringing the final result down to the last event. With a second-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, the women were unable to top the Tar Heels.

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Superfan

6 years ago

Where is the South Carolina stud Brasilian recruit? I have not seen swim this fall. He was a HUGE pickup for them

Renata Mijic

6 years ago

Jack Gullery

6 years ago

i let my feet get warm

Iudita Sisa

6 years ago

Good job Khader Baqlah
Way to go!

Elisabeta Brezan

6 years ago

gratulalok khader

Bondor valeria

6 years ago

Felicitari si mult succes în continuare !

Larissa

6 years ago

So proud of Khader Baqleh! Way to go champ!