LEXINGTON, Ky.?The University of Kentucky men?s and women?s swimming and diving teams will host their final dual meet competition of the season against intrastate rival Louisville. The Wildcats and Cardinals will begin competition at 1 p.m. Prior to the start of the meet Kentucky will honor its four seniors: Joey Brown, Nikia Deveaux, Taryn Ignacio and Eric Weber.
The men?s team comes off a 158-142 upset victory over No. 18 Alabama on Saturday. Kentucky (2-4, 1-3) received stellar performances from sophomore Shane Eliason and freshman Alex Forbes to guide them to their second consecutive win. Eliason topped his career-best time in his winning 100-backstroke race, while taking first in the 200-back as well. Forbes placed in three events while setting career best times in two events. Both Eliason and Forbes were integral members of the winning 400-free relay team that solidified the win. Forbes swam the third leg of the race, while Eliason anchored the winning relay.
On the women?s side, senior Joey Brown won both the one-meter and three-meter diving events as the team took 1-2-3 on both boards to lead the way. Brown set a new UK record, Lancaster Aquatic Center record and a new career best score on the one-meter with a 328.51 mark. For her efforts, Brown was tabbed the SEC Female Diver of the Week. Junior Jenny Bradford and freshman Chatham Penrod each won two individual events to lead the swimming team. Bradford claimed first in the 100-butterfly and the 100-freestyle, while Penrod topped the field in both backstroke events.
Brown concludes her career with the Wildcats earning an All-American distinction after placing 14th on the platform event at the NCAA Championships her junior season. At the 2006 SEC Championships, Brown placed third on all three boards.
?She is athletic and fun to watch,? said Coach Mike Lyden. ?She always keeps a great attitude. There are no cloudy days with Joey – everyday is sunny and happy.?
Ignacio remains Kentucky?s only National Champion in either swimming or diving. She captured the platform event at the 2006 NCAA Championships setting Kentucky and NCAA records in scoring in the final event (335.20). She has earned two All-America honors and one honorable mention honor. Ignacio has twice been tabbed the SEC Female Diver of the Year in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
?She gave me my biggest joy last year becoming my first collegiate champion as a college coach,? said Lyden. ?She is a great girl with a great spirit and when she is on she can hang with any diver out there.?
Deveaux is the team?s only current member who has participated in the Olympic Games as a representative of the Bahamas in 2004. She too has earned two honorable mention All-America accolades. Deveaux has served as team captain her sophomore and junior seasons. Perhaps, her best season with the Wildcats has been her last. Deveaux has set career-best marks in two events already this season.
?Nikia has been a very important part of our team over her four years here,? said Coach Gary Conelly. ?She has been an important force in our sprint program.?
Weber, the lone male senior, has twice scored points for the Wildcats at the SEC Championships in the 1650-freestyle event. His junior season was plagued with injuries which forced him out of competition at the Championships. He too has enjoyed an outstanding senior season. In a dual meet with Texas A&M the Louisville native captured first in both the 500-free and 1000-free events while setting career best times.
?Eric by far and away is the best Kentucky native we have had on our team,? said Conelly. ?Over his four years he has consistently improved to the point that he will end his career here as our second best-ever 1650 freestyler.?
Complete results of Saturday?s meet can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
