LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky swimming and diving program will travel to Knoxville, Tenn for the 2025 Southeastern Conference Championship, which is held at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center from Feb. 16-21.
Last season, the Wildcat men finished ninth and the women, eleventh. Levi Sandidge took home silver as a junior in the 1650 freestyle, while a handful of other Wildcats cracked the top five, ten, and A finals.
Sandidge looks to lead the men’s team with his SEC Championship experience, having won every medal in the 1650 freestyle race. Sandidge now ranks No. 2 in the SEC in the 1650 free and No. 18 in the 500 free. Carson Hick also comes into the championship with lots of personal bests and experience, making large waves since this time last year. Finishing top five alongside Sandidge in the 1650 free the past two years, Hick comes into the championship at No. 20 in the 500 freestyle in the SEC, not having swam the full 1650 free in competition yet this season.
Ryan Merani, another senior, is a multi-time SEC A-Finalist and NCAA Qualifier. Devin Naoroz is coming off a hot meet with improved times against Cincinnati a couple of weeks back.
Adomas Gatulis is also one to keep your eyes on, as he has dominated the breaststroke events throughout the season and enters his second SEC Championship. Additionally, there are quite a few freshmen that should be fun to watch over the next week. The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week and fastest sprinter in Kentucky swimming history, Falemana Tuufui, is among the top of the competitors within the conference. After breaking his own program record in the 50 free four times, Tuufui is ranked No. 10 in the 50 free and No. 25 in the 100 free. Lysander Osman, who is tied with Naoroz for the program record 100 back time, is another freshman to watch.
The women’s team leans on senior Grace Frericks who was a three-event scorer last year at the SEC Championship. Another senior, Fernanda De Goeij, has been hot this season and looks to make big waves at the SEC Championship once again. The breaststroke duo of Olivia Stewart and Sarah Anne Shaffer look to compete for the Wildcats, pushing them to a strong finish at the championship.
On the boards, sophomore Avery Giese comes into the conference championship with one SEC Diver of the Week award under her belt, naming her among some of the best in the conference already. She reached a final in her freshman year, and looks to use that experience to propel the women’s score this week.
The Wildcats are in a great position for success in the upcoming week in Tennessee, hoping to come away with new personal bests, school records, and more. To read further information about the 2026 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship, check out the championship central page here.
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