Women’s Swimming Visits Vanderbilt, Diving at Georgia this Weekend
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky swimming & diving begins the new year on the road as the team splits for competition this weekend. The women’s swimmers head to Vanderbilt for a Friday dual in Nashville, while the Wildcat divers will compete Friday through Sunday at the Georgia Diving Invite inside UGA’s Gabrielsen Natatorium.
Returning to the water for the first time since Dec. 13, the UK women’s swimming contingent will aim for their third dual meet victory of the season when they take on the Commodores on Friday. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. local time and 1:30 p.m. E.T. with streaming available on SEC Network+.
Thus far this season, nine women have achieved NCAA B-standard times in a combined 13 events. Samantha Hamilton, Grace Frericks, Bridget Engel and Hayden Penny lead the way for the Cats with two cuts apiece.
Vanderbilt enters the dual with an 0-5 record this season including losses to fellow SEC foes, South Carolina and Georgia. The team most recently finished sixth among 10 teams at the midseason Gamecock Swimming Invitational.
NCAA B-Standards this season:
- Lauren West – 200 free
- Libby Grether – 500 free
- Samantha Hamilton – 500 free, 1650 free
- Grace Frericks – 100 back, 200 back
- Torie Buerger – 200 back
- Bridget Engel – 100 breast, 200 breast
- Billie Sherratt – 200 fly
- Hayden Penny – 200 IM, 400 IM
- Fernanda de Goeij – 400 IM
On the boards, Kentucky’s divers will pay visit to the site of the 2025 SEC Championships as they descend upon Gabrielsen Natatorium for three days of competition.
Both the men and women will have the chance to partake in the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards, as well as platform diving. Prelims will begin at 11:30 a.m. each day, with qualifying divers advancing to finals in the afternoon. Steaming is available on SEC Network+, while live results can be found on DiveMeets.
On the season, seven of Kentucky’s 10 divers already own at least one NCAA zone cut, while Sam Duncan, Avery Giese and Kristy Pfaff are qualified for zones in two events.
Georgia Diving Invite Schedule:
Friday, Jan. 3
- Women 3-meter
- Men’s 1-meter
Saturday, Jan. 4
- Women’s Platform
- Men’s 3-meter
Sunday, Jan. 5
- Women’s 1-meter
- Men’s Platform
NCAA Zone Cuts this season:
- Sam Duncan – 1-meter, 3-meter
- Gavin Hang – 3-meter
- Devynn Bishop – 3-meter
- Abby Devereaux – 1-meter
- Avery Giese – 1-meter, 3-meter
- Claire McDaniels – 1-meter
- Kristy Pfaff – 1-meter, 3-meter
For the latest on UK Swim & Dive, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKSwimDive, and on Facebook at Kentucky Swimming and Diving.
