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How Did Texas A&M 4-Peat as Women’s SEC Champs Despite a Sprinting Deficit?

2019 SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL TEAM SCORES (WOMEN)

1. Texas A&M University             1107   
2. University of Florida          1023.5
3. Kentucky, University of         927.5   
4. Tennessee, University of, Knox  919.5
5. The University of Georgia       883.5   
6. Auburn University                 883
7. Missouri                          640   
8. University of Arkansas            517
9. South Carolina, University of,    515  
10. Louisiana State University      489.5
11. University of Alabama           429.5  
12. Vanderbilt University             153

Texas A&M won their 4th straight SEC Women’s Championships tonight, fighting off a rebuilt Florida team. This A&M victory is an impressive one, especially considering this team’s weakest points are likely the sprint free events. The Sprint freestyles are commonly thought of as the most beneficial events to a team, due to their double role as relay events, but A&M taught a masters class in how to get around that disadvantage. In total, the Aggies had 2 B finalist and 4 C finalists between the 50 and 100 free combined. Additionally their 200 free relay came in 5th, and the 400 free relay came in 9th. To add to the hurdles for A&M, Sydney Pickrem had to medical-scratch the 400 IM, an event where she was the defending champion.

So the question now is how did they make it past that relatively large disadvantage, and did so fairly easily. The answer is actually pretty straightforward: they have a huge amount of depth. Only 1 swimmer did not score individually for the Aggies. Even more impressively, 18 Aggies scored 20+ inidividual points. That level of depth just wasn’t matched by any other team in the conference. 6 of those swimmers scored 50+ points, while Alais Kalonji scored 49 points and Taylor Pike scored 48.

This is the list of the Aggies top scorers (50+):

  1. Anna Belousova – 79
  2. Claire Rasmus – 68
  3. Haley Yelle – 62
  4. Monika Gonzalez-Hermosillo – 58
  5. Sydney Pickrem – 56
  6. McKenna DeBever – 52

It should be noted that Pickrem would have all but certainly been the team’s top scorer had she swum the 400 IM.

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50_SF
5 years ago

It’s because of recruiting boom there you go

Coach A
5 years ago

In a championship meet, there are 3 diving events, 9 events that are based on 50’s and 100’s, and 9 events based on 200’s and up. Don’t understand the ppint of article or emphasis on sprints. I get that relays are double, but if you finish 5th in a relay and your nearest competitor wins, it’s only 12 points (if you score to 16, not sure about scoring to 24). And really it’s only 4 events. A&M built for championships

Texas A&M Swim Fan
5 years ago

Steve Bultman hardly ever gets that “elite swimmer” but wow he sure develops what he does get!! The women’s SEC swimming championship runs through College Station, Texas. Underdogs going in; champions when it’s over! Time to hang that 4th SEC championship banner from the rafters!! Another championship ring to add to your collection as well!! Way to go Lady Ags!! Gig em forever!!

Thoughts
Reply to  Texas A&M Swim Fan
5 years ago

Anna Belousova was pretty elite coming into the program who won today, so disagree somewhat with this sentiment. Generally speaking, yes he doesn’t get much top 10 recruits.

Jeff
Reply to  Texas A&M Swim Fan
5 years ago

A&M’s success rate of developing ‘average to good college entry’ swimmers to dependable scorers in high level meets as reflected by this championship must be extraordinarily high. How can you not think that this is one of the best mark for a successful college program? Although the program will be fine, I would love it if they a crop of ‘elite swimmers’ to push them to NCAA championship level.

Swimmom1
5 years ago

Actually all three TAMU divers scored. The depth at TAMU is such that there were girls left in College Station who could have scored in individual events. It is an amazing program.

Spencer Penland
Reply to  Swimmom1
5 years ago

I’ve updated it, thank you!

Superfan
5 years ago

I think Tenn is built to be a better ncaa team than TAMU.

dude
Reply to  Superfan
5 years ago

false. But tenn is still good.

Superfan
Reply to  dude
5 years ago

I don’t think tamu’s relays are strong enough at next level

Elmo
5 years ago

One answer. S-T-E-V-E B-U-L-T-M-A-N and Tanika. Ok maybe that’s 2 answers.

MacMachine
Reply to  Elmo
5 years ago

Total TEAM Effort !!

CoachRy
Reply to  Elmo
5 years ago

*Tanica 😉

Vol
5 years ago

Word is at least 4 tennessee swimmers came down with the flu at some point in the meet. Doesnt explain all points lost though, Texas A&M had a great meet

samuel huntington
Reply to  Vol
5 years ago

sounds like a weak excuse to me. Tennessee has nowhere near the depth of A&M, plain and simple.

Vol
Reply to  samuel huntington
5 years ago

“Doesnt explain all the points lost.” Not an excuse at all. Just a note. A&M is a great team, plain and simple.

VFL
Reply to  Vol
5 years ago

Small, Mosely…who else?

HoldYaHead
Reply to  VFL
5 years ago

Stanzi conveniently has the flu at a lot of big meets 🙄

SaintJoseph
Reply to  Vol
5 years ago

I heard it was 11 of the Girlie-Vols and 5 of the Manly-Vols came down with flu and food poisoning.

The michael phelps caterpillar
5 years ago

Incredible, but don’t give them too much praise. When my club team won their fifth straight Age Group title they celebrated, and as a result I made them do 10 x 500s as punishment. Celebration leads to complacency!

John
Reply to  The michael phelps caterpillar
5 years ago

You punishes your swimmers for celebrating…. wow

Thoughts
Reply to  The michael phelps caterpillar
5 years ago

Psycho

Hswimmer
Reply to  Thoughts
5 years ago

That’s probably sarcasm

Zeke4Heisman
Reply to  The michael phelps caterpillar
5 years ago

You’re why kids burn out and hate this sport

Togger
Reply to  The michael phelps caterpillar
5 years ago

Didn’t know Merv Marinovich had a swim team.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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