Jan. 29, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky swimming and diving team concludes regular season action against Cincinnati on Friday.
The UK swimmers will compete in Cincinnati at 5 p.m. ET, while the diving competition will take place in Lexington at the Lancaster Aquatic Center. Diving begins at 2 p.m. with the 3-meter, while platform is slated to commence at approximately 4 p.m.
Live video from UC’s Keating Aquatics Center will be available at GoBearcats.com. Results from Cincinnati and Lexington, along with additional updates can be found on Twitter at @UKSwimDive.
The Kentucky women (4-5) enter the weekend ranked 21st in the CollegeSwimming.com rankings, while the UK men (1-8) are No. 31. The women rose 10 spots in the rankings, while the men climbed three following last weekend’s Senior Day meet vs. Louisville.
WILDCATS IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Three UK swimmers have posted times that rank among the top 25 nationally. Senior Christina Bechtel owns the nation’s fastest time in the 200 butterfly with a 1:52.36 and the second-fastest 100 time of 51.11. Sophomore Danielle Galyer has posted three top-25 times led by a 1:53.28 in the 200 backstroke, 14th in the nation and third in the SEC. Galyer is also 21st in the 100 backstroke with a 52.75 and 24th in the 400 IM with a 4:12.34. Sophomore Kendal Casey owns the 21st-fastest time in the 1,650 freestyle with a 16:15.91.
Last Time Out: Wildcats Edged by Louisville
The Kentucky swimming and diving teams posted nine individual wins in the Senior Day meet vs. Louisville on Saturday in front of a packed crowd at UK’s Lancaster Aquatic Center. The Kentucky women, ranked No. 31 in the nation, won six events – including two each by Kendal Casey and Danielle Galyer – in a 155-145 loss to No. 13-ranked Louisville. The UK men, ranked No. 36 nationally, got three wins vs. the No. 10-ranked Cardinals, who prevailed the team score 211-89.
Diver Christa Cabot celebrated her Senior Day by opening the meet with a win on the 3-meter board. Later in the day, Rebecca Hamperian, Cabot and senior Lindsay Keahey went 1-2-3 from the 1-meter board. Sophomore Kendal Casey got the Wildcats’ first victory in the pool in the 1,000-yard freestyle, taking the lead midway through the event and surging to win by more than four seconds at 10:03.92. The 500 free proved to the Cats’ best event of the day as Casey (4:56.31), Kelly Berger and Aubrey Jones swam to the first three spots. The 100 backstroke was a strong event for the Wildcat women. Sophomore Danielle Galyer won with a time of 54.24, followed in second place by teammate Bridgette Alexander. Galyer got a second victory in the 200 backstroke with a winning time of 1:57.20.
The UK men got their first triumph in the 1,000 freestyle. As Kendal Casey did for the women, Drew Aviotti had to come from behind midway through the swim before winning with his season-best clock of 9:12.33. In addition, Kyle Higgins put the Cats in the win column in the 200 butterfly at 1:47.92. The men’s divers also got a victory as freshman Levi Lindsey notched 349.58 in six efforts from the 3-meter board.
Kentucky honored 12 athletes on Senior Day, including Christina Bechtel, Christa Cabot, Michael Christian, Brent Dillon, Katrina Keirns, Lindsay Keahey, Blair Kuethe, Abby Myers, Robert Resch, Samantha Shaheen, Derrick Smith and Kristen Wilson.
UP NEXT: SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS
After 18 days away from the competition pool, the Wildcats begin postseason play at the SEC Championships. UK will travel to Auburn, Ala., Feb. 17-21 for the annual conference tournament.
