LEXINGTON, Ky.?The University of Kentucky men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams are set to host back-to-back Saturday home meets, beginning with Southeastern Conference foe-Alabama on Jan. 13. Saturday?s meet is laced with prize giveaways and admission is free to the event which begins at 1:00 p.m. EST.
The men?s squad will look to upend No. 18 Alabama, which would be the second consecutive upset for UK after the Wildcats defeated No. 25 Texas A&M on Dec. 2, 2006.
The No. 25 Wildcat women will entertain Alabama for what is sure to be another SEC-showdown. Saturday?s meet will be the final SEC opponent for Kentucky prior to the SEC Championships, as the final two dual meets of the season will be against non-conference opponents.
Kentucky has not competed in a dual meet competition since the Dec. 2 home-opener. Their most recent action was an intense week of training in sunny Ft. Pierce, Fla., over the New Year holiday. The Wildcats will endure three consecutive weekends of dual meet competition in the final tune-ups for the SEC Championships hosted by Kentucky in February.
Coaches Gary Conelly and Mike Lyden have seen quality production from their young squads thus far into the season. Conelly?s freshmen have all bettered their times at some point in the season and are proving their value to the depth of both the men?s and women?s squads. Veteran leaders senior Eric Weber and junior Lauren Willis hope their stellar seasons continue to improve as the teams enter the most grueling part of their schedule.
Weber enjoyed perhaps his most memorable meet of his four-year career in the Wildcats? upset of the Aggies in early December. The Louisville native, posted career-best times in the taxing 1000- and 500-freestyle events while claiming first in both events.
Willis, a transfer from Purdue and Lexington native, in her first season with Kentucky is among the leaders in the freestyle sprint events. She has already amassed a top-10 record in the 50-free while at the Nike Cup in November.
On the boards, the Wildcat women junior Kari Returm and senior Joey Brown have each topped a previous-best score and anchored their name higher in the UK record books. Sophomores Justin Smith and Dan Cuilla have also enjoyed career-days in their second-year stint under Lyden?s tutelage.
Admission to the meet is free for all patrons. Great prizes will also be given away to some lucky fans including: UK swimming and diving t-shirts, Chick-fil-A coupons, Qdoba burritos, a UK pullover, and one lucky fan will receive two tickets to the UK vs. Mississippi State men?s basketball game to be held at 7 p.m. that same evening.
Complete results of the meet beginning at 1 p.m. EST can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
