Feb. 15, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams began the 2012 Southeastern Conference Championships Wednesday with Greg Ferrucci highlighting the day for the Wildcats by taking home a second-place finish in the men’s three-meter diving championship at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
“Our men’s divers had their best-ever three-meter performance today,” UK head coach Gary Conelly said, who is in his 21st season at the helm of the Wildcats. “Coach (Ted) Hautau is on pace to be the men’s dive coach of the year.”
Ferrucci posted a 427.30 to take home a second-place finish in the competition. UK also had two more men that made the finals in the event with John Fox placing fifth with a 365.30 and Corey Cowger winding up seventh turning in a score of 351.60.
“I was really pleased with our divers,” UK head diving coach Ted Hautau said. “Greg (Ferrucci) stayed rock solid and handled the nerves well. Both John Fox and Corey Cowger were in their first final and I was really pleased with how they handled it. Corey didn’t even score in this meet last year, and has improved as much or more than any diver I have ever coached.”
The women competed Wednesday in the one-meter competition with Christa Cabot leading the way for UK with a score of 265.95, which was good enough for 13th place overall. Sarah Chewning finished 17th with Lindsay Keahey taking home 20th.
“Christa Cabot was great,” Hautau said. “She had one bad take off and that cost her a spot in the finals, but she kept competing.
Kentucky’s relay teams suffered from two disqualifications due to early exchanges in the 200-medley relay.
“On the swim side, we had two great relay performances negated by early exchanges,” Conelly said. “A .02 early exchange and a .03 on the men’s side. Even though we were disappointed by the disqualified relays, we are very excited about the individual swims.”
In the women’s 800 free relay, the team of Megan Eppler, Blair Kuethe, Abby Meyers and Kristen Wilson swam a 7:18.73 which was good enough for a sixth-place finish. In the same event, the men also finished sixth with Travis Green, Tyler Reed, Will Heidler and Lucas Gerotto finishing in 6:39.64.
In the men’s overall event tally, Kentucky sits fifth in the standings ahead of Florida, South Carolina and Alabama. The women currently are in 10th position.
Team Standings After Day One:
Men:
1. Auburn 106 pts
1. Tennessee 106
3. LSU 73 pts
3. Georgia 73 pts
5. Kentucky 71 pts
6. Florida 67 pts
7. South Carolina 63 pts
8. Alabama 24 pts
Women:
1. Tennessee 118 pts
2. Auburn 101 pts
3. LSU 74 pts
4. Georgia 72 pts
5. South Carolina 67 pts
6. Florida 66 pts
7. Arkansas 59 pts
8. Alabama 58 pts
9. Vanderbilt 32 pts
10. Kentucky 30 pts
For continuing coverage of the 2012 season, log on to UKAthletics.com.
