No. 12 UK Women’s Swimming & Diving Hosts Ohio for SEC Championship Celebration

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In its first meet of the season at the Lancaster Aquatic Center, the No. 12 University of Kentucky women’s swimming and diving program is set to host Ohio on Friday, Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. ET. 

Prior to the start of the meet, Kentucky will unveil its 2021 Southeastern Conference championship banner while the team will be presented with their commemorative rings. Those in attendance are encouraged to arrive early and fans will have the opportunity to receive T-shirts, pizza, and pompoms. 

Last season was one for the history books for the Wildcats at the SEC Championships, culminating with the team clinching its first-ever title with 1,124 points. Their point total bested the previous record of points scored by 136.5, and UK collected 12 medals at the conference meet — three gold, three silver, and six bronze — in addition to breaking five school records.

Kentucky is in an excellent position to continue making their presence known yet again this season on both the conference and national stage. The women have returned all eight SEC relay swimmers from last season, as well as 18 of the 20 point scorers and 803 of the 874 individual points accumulated a year ago. 

After finishing seventh in the final College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) rankings a season ago, UK recently landed at No. 12 in the preseason poll.

In their season debut on Oct. 6, the Wildcats bested Indiana State, 251-49, while dropping a close 162-138 decision to Indiana in a tri-meet hosted by the Hoosiers. Riley Gaines was a double-event winner, sweeping the 50 free (23.06) and 100 free (49.77) while taking second in the 200 free (1:48.44).

Other individual winners in Bloomington included Caitlin Brooks in the 100 back (54.66), Sophie Sorenson in the 200 back (1:58.18), Gillian Davey in the 200 breast (2:12.36), and Izzy Gati in the 200 fly (2:00.84).

Bailey Bonnett placed second in the 100 breast (1:01.81), 200 breast (2:12.74) and 200 IM (2:00.94), posting the eighth fastest time in the NCAA so far this season in the latter event. Davey and Bonnett currently rank third and fourth in the nation, respectively, in the 200 breast.

Friday’s dual will mark the first meet of the season for Ohio, who finished fourth overall at the Mid-American Conference last season. The Bobcats are led by head coach Mason Norman, who enters his fourth year at the helm.

Returning for the Bobcats this season is sophomore Gabrielle Brust, who earned silver in the 100 fly at the conference meet as a freshman during her freshman campaign. Brust and now-junior Emma Fortman also landed on the All-MAC Second Team.

For the latest on the Kentucky swimming and diving program, follow @UKSwimDive on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.