Feb. 1, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky swimming and diving teams closed out the 2014 home slate of meets with a bang on Saturday afternoon, winning 26 of the 32 events held, as the Wildcats overall defeated the University of Cincinnati Bearcats 400-186.
The UK men defeated the Bearcats 213-80, with the Wildcats also coming out on the winning side for the women, collecting a 186-106 win.
Saturday also marked Senior Day for the Wildcats, as pre-meet festivities took place at the Lancaster Aquatics Center honoring the 16 seniors who swam their final meet in Lexington on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re kind of like a new program,” UK head swimming coach Lars Jorgensen said. “The seniors have worked extremely hard, they have been very supportive of the program. I hope that in three or four years from now when the program is a lot better, because some of the stuff that they did this year.”
In the pool, Kentucky dominated from start to finish, winning 26 of the 32 events contested, including each of the first 16.
Freshman Kelly Berger had a fantastic meet for Kentucky, taking in the title for the women’s 1000-yard freestyle in 10:01.56. Also in the 1000-free, Kendal Casey collected a podium finish for the Wildcats, coming in third by swimming a 10:12.93.
Another freshman, Danielle Galyer, had an impressive meet, collecting a race win in the 200-yard backstroke, as well as a runner-up finish in the 200-yard free. Galyer won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:02.29, while tapping in at 1:52.48 in the 200-freestyle to collect second place. In the 200 free, Kentucky went 1-2-3 on the podium, with senior Kristen Wilson collecting the winning time with 1:51.24, and junior Blaire Kuethe finishing in third with a time of 1:52.61. Galyer also was part of the 400-medley relay winning team for the Wildcats, starting off with a 56.99 leg to open the race for the Wildcats.
Junior Tina Bechtel collected two race wins on Saturday afternoon, taking the crown in both the 100-butterfly and the 50-freestyle. Bechtel tapped in No. 1 in the 50-freestyle in just less than 24 seconds, at 23.93, while recording a 55.37 in the 100-fly to take the top spot on the podium.
“Today was fun,” Jorgensen said. “We have swam a really difficult schedule so we haven’t had the chance to win very much. To get a today was good. Cincinnati has got a lot of really good athletes, so for us it was a good competition, and that last home meet of the season. It was nice to get some momentum heading into the SEC Championships.
Kentucky fared just as well on the other side of the facility, winning both diving events held, both on the men’s and women’s side.
Senior Greg Frerrucci shined on both the 1-meter and 3-meter winning both competitions. The North Carolina native scored a 398.25 on the 1-meter, while also scoring high on the 3-meter, tallying a mark of 374.33 to collect gold in both events.
Junior Christa Cabot also won both the 1-meter and the 3-meter for Kentucky, as she finished atop the podium in both events held on Saturday. Cabot scored a 335.70 on the 3-meter, while collecting a 330.83 to win on the lower board.
Zach Peterson, a senior for the Wildcats, scored a 332.55 to finish in third place on the 3-meter, while freshman Noah Richter scored a 308.78, and finished fourth as an exhibition score. John Fox, a senior, was second in the 1-meter, just 31 points behind Ferrucci, scoring a 367.43 to take silver in the event. In third place on the 1-meter was Peterson, who tallied a 333.08. Richter was fourth, with a 325.95.
On the 3-meter for the women, junior Lindsay Keahey wound up second, scoring a 329.55 to finish in second place, while Keahey also finished second to Cabot on the 1-meter, with a 278.38.
Saturday marked Kentucky’s final meet before heading to Athens, Ga., for the 2014 Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. The University of Georgia will host the event, with the championships scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18 running through Feb. 22.
For continuing coverage of UK swimming and diving, log on to UKathletics.com.
