Men’s Swimming’s Hick, Sandidge and Merani Selected to NCAA Championships

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Three Kentucky men’s swimmers have been selected to compete at the 2024 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships, it was announced on Wednesday by the selection committee.

Carson Hick, Levi Sandidge and Ryan Merani all earned invitations to the meet, set to be held at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event is hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indiana Sports Corporation from March 27-30.

Sophomores Merani and Sandidge, a former First-Team All-American in the 1650 freestyle, return to the national competition for the second year, while the freshman Hick makes his NCAA debut at this year’s championship.

UK’s three swimmers combine for eight total entries at the 2024 Championship. Hick and Sandidge qualified in both the 1650 and 500 freestyle. Sandidge and Merani are both set to compete in the 400 Individual Medley, with Merani earning bids in the 200 butterfly and 200 IM as well.

Sandidge and Hick enter NCAA’s with the 11th and 19th best times in the nation in the 1650 freestyle, an event in which Sandidge placed sixth overall at last year’s competition. Merani holds the 30th spot nationally in the 200 fly, where he placed 38th in the 2023 Championship.

Last season, the Wildcats placed 28th with 13 points, the most since the 2019 event. Kentucky is coming off a 10th place finish at the SEC championship, where Sandidge earned the Bronze medal in the 1650 freestyle.

Divers at the 2024 NCAA Championship will be determined by performances at the Zone C Diving Championships at the University of Louisville on March 14-16th.

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