ATHENS, Ga. – The Kentucky swimming and diving program will travel to Athens, Georgia for the 2025 Southeastern Conference Championship, which is held at the Gabrielsen Natatorium from Feb. 17-22.
Last season, the Wildcats posted 15 new top 10 times and 44 personal best times at the 2024 SEC Championship. Levi Sandidge took home bronze as a sophomore in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 14:44.24. This podium finish led the Kentucky men to a 10th place position overall, with the women finishing at 9th.
Sandidge looks to lead the men’s team with his SEC Championship experience, having won the bronze last year and gold in the same event in 2023. Sandidge now ranks No. 19 in the SEC in the 500 freestyle, No. 6 the 1000 and 1650 free, and No. 8 in the 400 IM. Carson Hick also comes into the championship with lots of personal bests on the season. As just a sophomore Hick has broken the school record in the 1650 freestyle twice now this season and finished fifth in the same event last year at the SEC Championship as freshman. Hick comes into the championship at No. 13 in the 500 freestyle, No. 5 in the 1000 free, and No. 3 in the 1650 free within the SEC.
Ryan Merani, a junior, placed fifth last year in the 200 fly and has swam with great strength to get back to the finals once again coming in sitting at No. 13. The team captain, Nick Caruso is also one to watch out for as he finished ninth in the 1650 freestyle at the 2023 SEC Championship, but did not compete last year due to injury. Lastly, freshman Adomas Gatulis comes in ranking No. 16 in the SEC in the 100 breaststroke, hoping to prove himself as he has all season.
The women’s team leans on fifth-year Bridget Engel who was a three-event scorer last year at the SEC Championship. Engel ranks No. 7 in the 200 breaststroke and No. 11 in the 100 this season among the SEC. Additionally, Grace Frericks looks to make it back to the A-Final in the 200 backstroke where she finished seventh in 2024 and currently sits at No. 17 in the SEC. Fifth-year Torie Buerger scored in three events of her own a year ago, contributing to the team’s ninth place finish. Freshman Sammie Hamilton also looks to succeed at her first career SEC Championship, coming in at No. 21 in the 500 freestyle.
On the boards, fifth-year Sam Duncan looks to better his finish from last year, earning top 10 spots in both the 1-meter and 3-meter finals. Avery Giese comes into the conference championship ranked No. 10 in the 1-meter, hoping to continue her successful freshman season.
The Wildcats are in a great position for success in the upcoming week in Georgia, hoping to come away with new personal bests, school records, and more. To read further information about the 2025 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship, click here.
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