Six Wildcats claim individual-event victories

The University of Kentucky swimming and diving squads opened 2004 with a pair of losses to Florida Saturday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium in Gainesville, Fla. The 22nd-ranked UK men fell 133-96 to the fifth-ranked Florida men, while the third-ranked Florida women claimed a 135-88 victory over the UK women. The UK men’s and women’s squads each drop to 2-2 and 0-2 in the SEC.

Sophomore Daniel Farnham earned the first Kentucky event victory of the day with a time of 20.89 in the 50-yard freestyle. Junior Tim Patrick took a close second at 20.91. In the women’s three-meter diving event, freshman Kari Retrum led the UK contingent with a second-place finish. Junior Daniel Cruz continued his dominance in the 200-yard butterfly, taking the event in 1:47.46, good for an NCAA “B” cut.

The UK women claimed the top three spots in the 200-yard backstroke, with Brennan Moore leading the way in 2:06.61, while sophomore Jessica Siegele and senior Shawna Sechrist took second and third. The UK women also took the top two spots in the 500-yard freestyle, as senior Amanda Bourgeois took first in 5:10.40 while junior Caitlin Muldoon placed second in 5:15.81.

The Kentucky trio of sophomores Laura Graham and Shantel Commander and senior Kendra Trahan led the way in the 200-yard breaststroke with Graham taking the event in 2:20.07. The UK men also fared well in the event, as juniors Michael Arce and Dane Redinger placed first and second. The UK men and women captured the 400-yard freestyle events, as well.

The Cats return to the pool on Wednesday, Jan. 7 against Ball State and Indian River Community College in Indian River, Fla.