The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams will travel to face host LSU and Texas A&M in a dual meet at LSU Aquatic Center on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. ET. This will be the Southeastern Conference dual-meet opener for the men.
The 23rd-ranked men’s squad (3-0) returns to competition after a hiatus following the Texas A&M Invitational. The Cats are led by Shaun Zitani who is listed in the top-25 for three events. Macon White, David Tweedie, Aaron Workman, and Roger Watkins all make appearances in the top-25 as well, while Kentucky’s 200- and 400-yard relays additionally made it into the top-25. The men have already tallied eight career best times and four career best scores as well as two broken school records this season.
Kentucky’s divers, Clayton Moss and Aaron Kirkpatrick have already qualified for NCAAs in both the one- and three-meter events, while Moss has additionally qualified on the platform. Currently ranked in the top five in the SEC in all events but the one-meter (championship), which these divers have not yet competed in, the men look to climb even higher in the rankings.
Kentucky’s 23rd-ranked women’s team (1-2) is the fourth-highest ranked SEC team in the nation. Currently, the Wildcats boast five times in the top-25, with Jaime Siegele and Melissa Olson leading at one apiece. The squad already has recorded 11 career best times and three career best scores.
Individually in the SEC, the Wildcats are present in the top 10 in all but three events.
Divers Carrie Knoeber and Kelli Frost have already qualified for NCAAs and are ranked in the top-10 in the SEC in every event except the one-meter (championship), which they have not yet competed in.
Last week, LSU’s men’s and women’s teams finished first at the Tampa Invitational.
Ken Kuhn, Ross Buffington, and Evan Martinic all occupy spots in the SEC top-10, as well as the 400 freestyle and 200 medley relays. Two Tiger divers, Corey Fox and Erik Petursson will attempt to overcome the Wildcats.
The Tigers have women ranked in the top-10 in the SEC in all freestyle events with the exception of the 1650 and in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. Diver Jamie Watkins will present a challenge to the talented Kentucky divers as she is in the top spot in the one-meter (dual). The 400 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay are both ranked in the top-10 in the SEC as well.
The men of Texas A&M are currently third in the nation, while the women are just behind the Cats at No. 24. This will be a rematch of the last Kentucky meet when the Cats traveled to College Station, Texas to face the Aggies.
