Oct. 25, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky swimming and diving teams will hit the road for the first time after opening the season at home last Friday at the Lancaster Aquatic Center. The Wildcats head to Columbia, Mo., to face Southeastern Conference opponents Missouri and Arkansas in addition to Southern Illinois at 2 p.m. CT.
“We are looking forward to our first road trip,” said Kentucky head swimming coach Gary Conelly. “It is full of challenges. The women are facing very good teams in Southern Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
“We are looking for great performances from our divers. If we get a good performance out of them and Megan Eppler, Tina Bechtel and Mandy Myers can win their events, we will have a good chance of coming away with two or three wins.”
Eppler had a strong opening run in her first meet of the season coming away with second place finishes in both the 50-freestyle and 100-freestyle. Eppler and Mandy Myers were joined by Abby Myers and Julia Gerotto to pick up a second place finish as well in the 4×100-freestyle relay. Mandy Myers and Gerotto each grabbed third place finishes in the 100-butterfly and the 1000-freestyle respectively.
Sophomore Lucas Gerotto helped Kentucky get their lone victory of the meet as he placed first (49.70) in the men’s 100-butterfly.
The diving team is hot off three first place finishes last Friday at home. Junior Greg Ferrucci was victorious in the three-meter event (423.25) while taking second place in the one-meter (361.95). For the women, freshman Rebecca Hamperian picked up her first collegiate win in the one-meter with a score of 298.35 with sophomore Sarah Chewning placing second (282.20). In the three-meter event, Christa Cabot (308.05) placed first with Chewning (305.05) taking home third.
“This meet is going to be a good challenge for both the women and the men,” said Kentucky head diving coach Ted Hautau. “Arkansas and Missouri have very good divers with SEC and NCAA championship credentials. We look forward to the competition.”
Missouri’s men’s and women’s swimming teams are coming off wins over cross-state rival Missouri State. The host Tigers (1-0, 0-0 SEC), along with Arkansas’ women (0-1, 0-1 SEC) and Southern Illinois (1-0) round out a competitive field for the Wildcats in their second meet of the season.
