Kentucky Women Beat Georgia in Dual Meet for First Time in Program History, 166-134

KENTUCKY vs GEORGIA (WOMEN’S DUAL)

• Monday, December 19, 2022
• Lancaster Aquatic Center, Lexington, KY
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results

TEAM SCORES

1. Kentucky – 166
2. Georgia – 134

MEN’S RECAP

Kentucky hosted Georgia for an SEC dual meet on Monday, splitting with the Bulldogs. The Wildcats won the women’s meet by a 166-134 decision, marking the first time in Kentucky women’s program they beat Georgia in a dual meet.

Fifth year Izzy Gati was critical in Kentucky beating Georgia, winning all three of her individual events and helping a Wildcats relay to victory. Gati kicked off her day with a decisive victory in the women’s 200 free, swimming a 1:47.85. She even-split the race, swimming a 53.90 on the first 100 then coming home in 53.95.

Gati then had a solid performance in the 200 fly, swimming a 1:59.13 to touch as the only swimmer in the field under 2:00. Unlike the 200 free, this time Gati established the early lead, posting the fastest split in the field on both the first and second 50s of the race.

She had one more individual win in her on the day, getting out to the lead in the 500 free and holding it through the back half of the race. Gati swam a 4:50.81, leading a pair of Wildcats, Abigail McCulloh (4:52.66) and Dune Coetzee (4:52.81).

Gati capped off her meet by leading off Kentucky’s ‘A’ women’s 400 free relay in 50.66, putting the Wildcats in the lead heading into the second leg. Tori Buerger went next, splitting 51.04, then Kaelan Daly was 51.74 on the third leg, and Grace Freriks anchored in 50.25. Kentucky finished in 3:23.69, beating Georgia by over a second.

Kentucky senior Caitlin Brooks won a pair of events as well. She kicked things off with a win in the 100 back, swimming a 53.07. She pulled away from the field on the back half of the race to get the job done.

Brooks then went on to win the 100 fly in a tight race with Georgia’s Callie Dickinson. Just as she’s done in the 100 back, Brooks pulled into the lead on the second 50 of the race. She finished in 54.22, edging out Dickinson’s 54.52.

Brooks also took second in the 200 back, swimming a 1:56.98. Beating Brooks was freshman teammate Lydia Hanlon, who put together an excellent swim. Hanlon posted a 1:55.49, using a fantastic third 50 split of 29.24 to pull firmly into the lead.

Another Kentucky veteran, senior Gillian Davey, put on a show in the 200 breast, roaring to a 2:09.18. She put together a well-split race, going 30.37 on the first 50, then 32.64, 32.98, and 33.19 on the following three 50s. Not only is 2:09 a very good dual meet performance, Davey won the race by over three seconds with her swim.

Georgia’s Eboni McCarty was on fire in the sprint events, winning both the 50 and 100 free. McCarty kicked things up with a 23.03 in the 50 free, leading a 1-2 charge by the Bulldogs. Teammate Julianna Stephens came in second, swimming a 23.28.

McCarty then clocked a 50.29 to win the 100 free, again leading a 1-2 punch by Georgia. This time, Sloane Reinstein came in second, touching in 50.92.

Bulldog Zoie Hartman put up a speedy 1:58.76 to win the 200 IM. Hartman was particularly great on the backstroke leg of the race, where she split a 29.52, which was the fastest back split in the field by over a second. She also won the 100 breast in 1:01.26.

Abigail McCulloh picked up another win for Georgia, swimming a 9:52.15 to win the 1000 free.

Georgia had begun the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay. Marie Schobel (25.23), Hartman (27.76), Dickinson (24.65), and McCarty (22.69) teamed up for a 1:40.33.

Diving Winners:

• 1-meter: Meghan Wenzel (Georgia) – 301.65
• 3-meter: Kyndal Knight (Kentucky) – 363.00