Nov. 18, 2011
Knoxville, Tenn. – After three days of competition this week, the University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams completed their run in the 2011 University of Tennessee Invitational with the men finishing fourth, and the women finishing sixth.
“We had some very promising swims this week,” 21st-year head coach Gary Conelly said. “Christina Bechtel swam a B-cut time in the 200-butterfly and just missed the record. Julia Gerotto also went B-cut in the 200-butterfly, and Megan Eppler made B-cut in the 100-freestyle.”
In the women’s 200-butterfly, the Wildcats put up many stellar performances, including Christina Bechtel, who swam a 1:58.89 in the event, getting her into the B-cut class of times, and putting her fifth overall in the event. Julia Gerotto also had a great swim in the 200-butterfly, posting a 1:59.84 in the finals, placing her in 11th place overall.
Megan Eppler continued her fantastic fall season with a swim of 50.14 in the final heat of the 100-freestyle, placing her in 10th place overall in the event. The time of 50.14 also qualifies her for a B-cut time.
The UT Invite always features one of the most competitive fields of teams in the country, and this year was no different as the Wildcats faced off against three other Southeastern Conference teams in the meet.
On the diving platform today for the Wildcats, Greg Ferrucci continued to shine, as the sophomore posted a 336.95 in the competition, placing second overall. John Fox, who turned in a score of 296.70 in the event, placing fifth, joining Ferrucci in the top five.
Texas A&M finished the event in first place on the men’s side, turning in a score of 1173.5. The host team, Tennessee, finished in second place, while in-state rival Louisville took the final place on the podium with a score of 594.5, coming in third.
Louisville took home the meet championship on the women’s side, claiming a score of 1058. LSU finished in second, while Tennessee rounded out the top three.
This event was the final event of the fall semester for Kentucky, as the Wildcats will not return to the waters as a team until Jan. 14, when the Wildcats will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Crimson Tide in a dual meet.
“I am very excited about the direction we are going.” Conelly said.
For continuing team coverage of UK swimming and diving, log on to UKAthletics.com.
