Press Release courtesy of Georgia Athletics.
The Georgia swimming teams will open the 2017-18 season on Wednesday with a relays-only meet at Emory University in Atlanta.
The meet at Madeleine Jude Brown Aquatic Center will begin at 4 p.m. There is no fee for admission.
Wednesday’s meet will have an unusual format as it will feature relays only. The only standard relays will be the 200 medley and the 200 and 400 freestyles. Additional relays will be crescendo (covering 500 yards), 300 butterfly, 200 mixed freestyle, 300 backstroke, 300 breaststroke and 400 mixed individual medley.
“I think this is a great way to kick off the year,” said Jack Bauerle, Georgia’s Tom Cousins Head Swimming and Diving Coach. “Our swimmers have been working really hard and this gives them the opportunity to stand up and race against someone. And having just relays allows us to put a great deal of focus on starts and exchanges. I’m excited to see us in a competitive situation. We’ve got high expectations for our teams this season, and it all starts on Wednesday.”
The Bulldogs will be led by 2017 All-Americans Javier Acevedo, Gunnar Bentz and Jay Litherland, while the Lady Bulldogs’ returning All-Americans include Chelsea Britt, Veronica Burchill, Megan Kingsley, Meryn McCann, Meaghan Raab and Kylie Stewart. Bentz, Jay Litherland, Kevin Litherland, Raab and Stewart recently were named to the United States National Team.
Bauerle is entering his 39th season as head coach of the women’s team and 35th of the men’s squad. He has led the Lady Bulldogs to 318 dual-meet victories (joining Tom Groden of Boston College as the only members of the 300-wins club), seven national championships and 12 SEC titles during his tenure. Counting his 228 wins as the Bulldogs’ coach, Bauerle has an overall record of 546-126-3. That figure ranks first among active NCAA coaches, first all-time in the SEC and third on the all-time list.
Bauerle is a perfect 40-0 in his career against the Emory squads and he has led the Lady Bulldogs to 15 straight season-opening wins.
A video stream of Wednesday’s meet will be available here.
Georgia will open the home portion of its schedule against North Carolina on Friday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m.