Jan. 4, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams begin the spring portion of the 2010-11 season Wednesday with a trip down to Savannah, Ga., to compete in a tri-meet against host Savannah College of Art and Design and Limestone College.
Kentucky will be looking to build on their strong fall season. In the Cats’ final meet of the fall, the Tennessee Invitational from Nov. 18-20, numerous swimmers recorded season-best times. Senior Kayla Sergesketter recorded NCAA (B) qualifying times in the 50, 100 and 200 free, and Chatham Penrod earned NCAA (B) qualifying times in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
“We are looking forward to returning to competition,” UK swimming and diving head coach Gary Conelly said. “The SCAD meet should be a fun warmup for South Carolina on Friday and Clemson and North Carolina on Saturday. The SCAD meet will be shorter events and fewer events, so it will be a quick meet with a sprint focus. Our kids love that. We are expecting some fast, exciting swims.”
Entering the spring season, Sergesketter leads the Kentucky women in the 50, 100 and 200 free, while Kelly Titus leads the Cats in the distance freestyle events. Chatham Penrod, a senior from Arcanum, Ohio, leads UK in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Claire Archibald leads UK in the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Senior Lisa Faulkner was the Cats’ top female diver in the fall. Faulkner, a Midlothian, Va., native, has qualified for Zone Championships in the one- and three-meter boards.
On the men’s side, sophomore Travis Green leads the Cats in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle races. William Heidler leads UK in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 and 400 individual medleys. Matt Russell is tops for UK in the 100 breast and 100 butterfly.
Freshman diver Greg Ferrucci leads Kentucky in the one- and three-meter boards and the platform. Ferrucci has qualified for Zone Championships in each of the three dives.
Kentucky divers Faulkner, Emma Brown, Ferrucci and Zack Peterson will conclude day three of the Tennessee Diving Invitational on Wednesday and meet up with the team in Savannah, Ga.
Faulkner earned a seventh-place finish in the women’s one-meter championship Tuesday, and Ferrucci earned a third-place finish in the men’s one-meter championship Monday and a sixth-place finish in the men’s three-meter championship Tuesday. The invitational consists of 120 divers from 16 different schools.
Kentucky won’t rest long after the meet. The Wildcats will travel to Columbia, S.C., for another tri-meet Friday against South Carolina and the College of Charleston. That meet begins at 2:00 p.m. ET. Then on Saturday the Cats will compete in Chapel Hill, N.C., for a tri-meet with North Carolina and Clemson.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for all Kentucky swimming and diving news.
