Photo Courtesy: Tia Patron\/Tennessee Athletics<\/p>\n
WILMINGTON, North Carolina, September 25. THE\u00a0Tennessee swimming and diving program opens its 2014-15 season Friday against UNC Wilmington.<\/p>\n
The dual meet starts at 2 p.m. at Seahawk Natatorium.<\/p>\n
The meet is part of Tennessee’s annual three-day training trip to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. On Saturday, Tennessee takes on UNC Wilmington for an open water race in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n
For some notes on the team and meet:<\/p>\n
Tennessee: 0-0
\nUNC Wilmington: 0-0<\/p>\n
Last Season for UT: In the second year as a combined program, the men’s team showed improvement, finishing 15th overall at NCAAs, one spot higher than the previous year. The team finished its regular season with a 5-3 record. Junior Sean Lehane captured the SEC title in the 200 backstroke, and then backed that up with a sixth place finish in the event at NCAAs and leading the way for swimming Vols by earning six All-American honors. Meanwhile, in the diving well, Mauricio Robles sculpted an impressive return campaign from a head injury the year prior finishing third on the 3-meter springboard at the NCAA Championships and earning SEC Diver of the Year honors.<\/p>\n
Last Time vs. UNC Wilmington: The men’s team beat UNC Wilmington 167-133 in the season opener last year, starting off their campaign on a positive note which saw a number of swimmers emerge as contributors. The men won 13 of the 16 events, led by Robles set a pool record in the 3-meter dive (387.37) and Lehane won a pair of races and teammates Jacob Thulin, Jimmy Dagley, Ross Dibblin, Miles Garner, David Heron and Tristan Slatereach won a race for the Vols.<\/p>\n
Who’s New: While both male divers Robles and Michael Howell return for the Vols, UT will feature five true freshmen (Peter John Stevens, Ryan Coetzee, Duncan Johnson, Sam McHugh and Joshua Romany) who will debut at the Seahawk Natatorium.<\/p>\n
Tennessee: 0-0
\nUNC Wilmington: 0-0<\/p>\n
Last Season for UT:The Tennessee women enjoyed yet another brilliant season in the pool, winning eight of their nine dual meets en route to a seventh-place NCAA finish, its third-straight year finishing in the top 10. VFL Lindsay Gendron capped off her career in style, setting new school records in the 200 butterfly and 100 and 200 freestyle while also finishing with 25 All-America honors. Meanwhile, Knoxville native Tori Lamp finished off her illustrious career with her third-straight SEC gold medal in the platform event.<\/p>\n
Last Time vs. UNC Wilmington: The UT women won 178-116 in the season-opening meeting last year at Seahawk Natatorium. Lauren Driscoll, in her first dual meet since transferring from California, racked up a pair of victories as the team’s only multi-race winner. The 200 medley relay team of Faith Johnson, Lauren Solernou,Molly Hannis and Harper Bruens set a pool record in the first event of the night, while Gendron broke her own record in the 100 freestyle. Amanda Carner, Cherelle Thompson, Caroline Finkbeiner, and then-newcomersHeather Lundstrom, Colleen Callahan and Morgan Dickson each won races for the Lady Vols.<\/p>\n
Who’s New: After featuring 12 newcomers a season ago, Tennessee will reveal five debutantes at UNCW. Logan Haddock, Micah Bohon, Alex Cleveland, Amy Lubawy and Taylor Lehr will all see dual meet action for the first time as competitors on Rocky Top.<\/p>\n