SEC Weekly Preview: Texas Invades Auburn, Georgia for Showdowns

Remedy Rule. Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

By Dan D’Addona.

The University of Texas will invade the SEC this week for a pair of elite showdowns.

The Longhorns will swim at Auburn on Thursday, then at Georgia on Saturday.

Texas is ranked No. 2 in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America men’s poll and is No. 5 in the women’s poll.

Meanwhile, Auburn is No. 12 in the men’s poll, while the women are No. 14.

The Georgia women are ranked No. 3, making their dual meet with the Longhorns a top-five showdown. The Georgia men are No. 7, which will be nearly the same against the No. 2 Longhorns.

There could be some pretty special dual meet individual showdowns with Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga and Claire Adams of Texas in the 100-yard backstroke. Texas could send Remedy Rule or Adams up against Georgia’s Veronica Burchill, Chelsie Britt and/or Kylie Stewart in the butterfly. Plus Madisyn Cox of Texas and Georgia’s Chantal Van Landeghem will play big roles.

In the men’s meet, it will be interesting to see how the freestyle depth of Texas plays out against the stroke specialists of Georgia.

Townley Haas, Jack Conger, Clark Smth, Tate Jackson and Brett Ringgold lead the Longhorns’ freestyle crew. Texas has been freestyle heavy for years and used that to become national champions. But Georgia has several studs, including Chase Kalisz, Gunnar Bentz and Javier Acevedo — plus the Litherland triplets, who will look to overtake the Longhorns.

Auburn’s Peter Holoda has similar 100 freestyle times from the top Longhorns, but he is one and they are many.

For the women, the signature race could be the 100 butterfly if Aly Tetzloff and/or Haley Black of the Tigers go against Adams and/or Rule.

It should be an exciting week, giving these nationally ranked teams a last look at a top-level non-conference opponent until the NCAA championships.

In other SEC action this week, Texas A&M hosts North Texas on Wednesday, Auburn hosts its Ralph Crocker Invite from Friday-Sunday and South Carolina swims at Duke on Saturday.

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superfan

7 years ago

Both Texas vs UGA meets should be excellent. UGA women have their ‘streak’ on the line. Texas has a great dual meet team !