Kentucky Set to Host Eastern Michigan on Saturday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky swimming and diving program will host its second consecutive home meet on Saturday afternoon as Eastern Michigan visits Lancaster Aquatic Center. Diving will begin at noon ET, while the swimming events will kick off at 1 p.m.
“It was great to swim against an SEC team in Vanderbilt last week, but it’s nice to have both teams back in action this week,” said head coach Lars Jorgensen. “Eastern Michigan is a perennial powerhouse in the MAC, and it will be a really good meet.”
The meet will be the first of the season for the UK men’s team, while the No. 15 women’s squad opened its 2017-18 campaign on Oct. 4, with a dominant 187-72 victory over Southeastern Conference foe Vanderbilt.
The stars in the women’s season-opening victory were senior Morgan Belli and sophomore Asia Seidt. Belli swept the breaststroke events for the Wildcats, while Seidt had three individual victories in the 50- and 200-yard freestyle as well as the 100 butterfly.
Fans caught a glimpse of the men’s team at the Blue-White Intrasquad on Sept. 29. Sophomores Glen Brown and Peter Wetzlar each had pair of wins in the meet, while senior captain Isaac Jones also recorded two victories.
On the diving end, both the men and women dove exhibition at the Vanderbilt meet. For the women, Emma Dellmore took the victory on three-meter, while Courtney Clark was the top-finisher on one-meter. Sophomore Kevin Frebel swept both boards for the men.
This season’s captains for the women’s team are Bridgette Alexander, Geena Freriks, Paige Kelly and Ann Davies. Leading the men’s team will be Isaac Jones, Seb Masterton, Josh Swart and Jarod Kehl.
Admission to Saturday’s meet, as well as all home meets, will be free for all spectators. Fans who arrive early will also receive free pizza and a chance to catch a free t-shirt from the swimming and diving student-athletes.
DIVING IN: EASTERN MICHIGAN
The EMU men’s team opened its season with a 153-141 victory over Northwestern on Oct. 11, while the women’s team has not yet competed. The men’s team claimed its third consecutive Mid-American Conference Championships title last season, while the women finished runner-up at the league championships.
ON DECK: TENNESSEE/INDIANA DOUBLE DUAL
Both squads will head to Knoxville, Tennessee, Oct. 27 for a double dual with Indiana and Tennessee. All four opposing teams are ranked inside the CSCAA Preseason Top 25. The Hoosier men are ranked No. 6, while the women are No. 10. For the Vols, Kentucky will face the No. 18 men’s team and No. 14 women’s squad.
WILDCATS ON THE WORLD STAGE
Three Kentucky swimmers competed on the world stage this summer, as Seidt and Alexander represent Team USA at the World University Games in Taipei and Wetzlar competed for his home country of Zimbabwe at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
A native of Harare, Zimbabwe, Wetlzar made history as the first male swimmer from the country to qualify and compete at the event.
Alexander picked up the bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the World University Games, while Seidt took fourth. Seidt also helped the United States pick up the silver in the 4×200 freestyle relay. The two were named to the 2017-18 National Team roster. UK head coach Lars Jorgensen and assistant coach Allison Reed were also named U.S. National Team coaches for the upcoming year.
For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter, on Facebook at Facebook.com/UKSwimDive, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
