Kentucky Women’s Swimming, Diving Dominates in Season Opener, Defeats Vanderbilt

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s swimming and diving team commenced its season in dominating fashion on Friday afternoon, defeating Vanderbilt in a 195-75 final score. In the process, the team collected 11 first-place finishes, of 12 possible, during the dual meet.
 
The Kentucky men’s swimming and diving team and the women’s divers participated in an intrasquad scrimmage.
 
“It’s been about eight months since the program last competed, so it was a great feeling for the teams to kick off the season at home and against a Southeastern Conference opponent,” said head coach Lars Jorgensen. “Jeremy (Organ) was nice enough to bring his women’s swimming team here to compete on short notice, so we appreciate them.
 
“I thought our women’s team had a good meet. Both the men’s and the women’s teams were excited to compete, and both teams had some good swims. Junior Riley Gaines had a spectacular meet, earning a NCAA “B” cut to begin the season, and she has been doing great in practice, too.”
 
Gaines, a junior from Nashville, Tennessee, collected her first victorious finish of the season in the 200 butterfly, touching the wall in 1:58.14 to earn a quick NCAA “B” cut. The 2020 NCAA Championships qualifier also recorded the top time in the 100 butterfly, although it was an exhibition race, earning a mark of 53.85, less than a tenth of a second from another NCAA “B” cut.
 
Sophie Sorenson, a junior from Ames, Iowa, competed in three individual events, earning first place in all three races. The two-time NCAA Championships qualifier competed in a pair of untraditional events to begin her season, topping the leaderboard in both races. In the 100 breaststroke, she tied freshman Bridget Engel to place first in 1:05.09. She repeated first place in the 200 freestyle, this time touching the wall in 1:50.58. Sorenson culminated a successful meet by earning the top time in the 400 IM as an exhibition contestant, touching the wall in 4:20.20.
 
Freshman Kaylee Williams logged her first leading performance in her collegiate career, earning first place in the opening individual race of the afternoon. The rookie competed in the 1,000 freestyle event, touching the wall in 10:13.91.
 
Returning for her sophomore season, Kaitlynn Wheeler posted notable times after a long offseason. She finished in first place in the 50 freestyle, earning a mark of 23.59. In the 500 freestyle, she finished in second place on a time of 4:55.96.
 
In their next appearance, both the men’s and the women’s Kentucky swimming and diving teams are scheduled to host Tennessee on October 29 and October 30 at 4 p.m. ET inside the Lancaster Aquatic Center.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.