Jan. 14, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday afternoon, despite winning 12 events, including the diving team taking home first place in three of the four events held at the Alabama Aquatic Center. The men’s team fell by a count of 174-126, while the Tide took the win on the women’s side 167-133.
“We were disappointed with the loss,” UK head coach Gary Conelly said after the meet. “We had some good individual performances, but in many circumstances we were a little flat.”
Kentucky saw success in the relay portion of the meet on both the men’s and women’s side. In the men’s 200-medley relay, the Wildcat representatives of Ramon Walton, Matt Russell, Lucas Gerotto, and Tyler Reed combined for a first-place finish, posting a time of 1:30.67, giving UK its first 11 points of the day. In the women’s 400-freestyle, Megan Eppler anchored the final leg of the race which saw UK post a 3:28.90 en route to a first-place finish. Joining Eppler in the win was Kristen Wilson, Lindsay Lash, and Chelsea Peterson.
Kentucky had three swimmers that won multiple events, including Tyler Reed, Megan Eppler and Julia Gerotto. Gerotto continued her stand-out freshman season, claiming first place in both the 1000 and 500-freestyle events. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native swam a 5:03.31 in the 500-freestyle, while pacing the field with a 10:22.56 in the 1000-freestyle.
“Our training focus is on the conference meet, so we are competing a little beat up. We also lost several races by less than a tenth of a second.” Conelly said.
Megan Eppler won both of her sprint races on Saturday, taking claim to the title in the 50 and 100-freestyle. Eppler, who is having a standout season for the Wildcats as a junior, swam a 23.49 in the 50-freestyle, while recording a 51.19 in the 100-yard freestyle.
Tyler Reed also won two events, in addition to claiming a relay win for UK. The senior swam a 20.49 in the 50-freestyle, and a 1:38.92 in the 200-freestyle, taking first place in both.
Matt Russell and William Heidler took home wins in the 100-breaststroke and 200-IM. Russell swam a 57.10 in the 100-breaststroke, while Heidler claimed first place in the 200-IM with a time of 1:53.54.
It was a very successful day for the Kentucky diving team, as the Wildcats took the title in three of the four events, all by different athletes. On the men’s side, John Fox dove a 351.08 over six dives, taking first place in the three-meter competition. Greg Ferrucci also took first place in an event, capturing the one-meter competition with a tally of 327.98.
“Our divers had a pretty good meet overall today,” UK head diving coach Ted Hautau said. “Sarah Chewning had a real nice meet today. She had her season best on both boards, and qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships. John Fox and Greg Ferrucci were solid and consistant.”
For the women’s diving team, Sarah Chewning again led the way for the Wildcats, taking the win in the one-meter competition with a score of 280.58, while also finishing third in the three meter. Chewning qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships, and scored her season high on both the three, and one-meter boards.
“We saw some things in the meet that need some work, but we should be a better team for this meet.” Conelly said.
Kentucky will travel to Atlanta, Ga. to compete in a dual meet with Emory University on Sunday afternoon. The first race of that meet is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Kentucky is gearing up for the Southeastern Conference Championships for the 2011-12 season. The SEC’s will be held in Knoxville, Tenn., on the campus of the University of Tennessee. More information will be posted on UKAthletics.com in the future featuring schedules, as well as championship information.
For continuing coverage of the 2011-12 swimming and diving team and the latest-breaking news, log on to UKAthletics.com.
