Kentucky Sweeps Cincinnati on Senior Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky swimming & diving sent off their senior class with a clean sweep of Cincinnati on Friday at the Lancaster Aquatic Center. UK won the women’s contest, 207-93, and the men’s by a score of 186-111. It marks the 14th-straight time the Cats have swept the Bearcats dating back to the 2009-10 season.

Kentucky won 25 events on the day overall including multiple individual victories from Sean Mackey, Sam Duncan, Grace Frericks and Marie Belli. UK also won three relays, touching first in the men’s and women’s 400 medley relays, as well as the women’s 200 free relay.

Prior to the meet, Kentucky honored the 13 members of its senior class at a pre-meet ceremony. It was a particularly celebratory occasion for UK seniors Megan Drumm, Zane Rosely, Claire McDaniels, Duncan, Bridget Engel, Anna Havens Rice and Max Berg, who all posted individual victories on Senior Day.

Kentucky earned podium sweeps in four swimming events, taking the top three spots in the men’s 100 and 200 butterfly as well as the women’s 200 and 500 freestyle.

It was a masterful display for UK diving as the Wildcats took first, second and third in all four springboard events. Duncan grabbed the top spot in both the 1-meter (365.93) and 3-meter (381.60) competitions to score 18 points for the team. On the women’s side, McDaniels was victorious in the 1-meter (296.70), while freshman Kristy Pfaff took home the 3-meter, vaulting into the program’s all-time top-10 with a score of 331.43. The Cats also notched four new NCAA zone cuts as Danny Zhang tallied qualifying scores on both boards while McDaniels and Jodi Cobb punched tickets on the 1-meter and 3-meter, respectively.

Next up, UK will send representatives to the Louisville First Chance Meet, Feb. 15-16 at Ralph Wright Natatorium.

Kentucky Event Winners:

• Women’s 400 medley relay: Buerger, Engel, Rice, Frericks (3:35.99)
• Men’s 400 medley relay: Hamilton, L. Johnson, Merani, Berg (3:12.86)
• Megan Drumm: 1000 free (9:51.65)
• Sean Mackey: 1000 free (9:15.78), 500 Free (4:26.58)
• Lauren West: 200 free (1:48.55)
• Ryan Merani: 200 freestyle (1:36.20)
• Grace Frericks: 100 backstroke (53.09), 100 freestyle (49.99)
• Marie Belli: 200 butterfly (1:59.50), 200 IM (2:00.47)
• Zane Rosely: 200 butterfly (1:46.24)
• Drew Johnson: 50 freestyle (20.33)
• Claire McDaniels: 1-meter (296.70)
• Sam Duncan: 1-meter (365.93), 3-meter (381.60)
• Libby Grether: 200 backstroke (1:57.73)
• Bridget Engel: 200 breast (2:12.08)
• Lance Johnson: 200 breast (1:57.78)
• Madi McGlothen: 500 free (4:51.85)
• Anna Havens Rice: 100 fly (53.63)
• Carter Ruthven: 100 fly (48.51)
• Kristy Pfaff: 3-meter (331.43)
• Max Berg: 200 IM (1:49.68)
• Women’s 200 free relay: Frericks, Daly, Buerger, West (1:32.03)

New NCAA Zone Cuts:

• Danny Zhang: 1-meter (312.00), 3-meter (375.30)
• Gavin Hang: 1-meter (315.98)
• Jodi Cobb: 3-meter (285.00)
• Claire McDaniels: 3-meter (324.98)

Top-10 Times in Program History:

• 10th – Kristy Pfaff: 3-meter diving (331.43)

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