GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida No. 7 men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams host Tennessee on Saturday (Jan. 31) at 11 a.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The Vols bring to Gainesville their 11th-ranked men’s team and No. 10 women’s squad, according to the latest CSCAA poll.
Florida’s women have had tremendous success against Tennessee, as the Gators hold the all-time series lead 26-2. Meanwhile, UF’s men will look to create a little separation from UT, with UF holding the slight series edge, 21-20 entering Saturday.
UF and UT last met a season ago on Feb. 1 in Knoxville, Tenn. when Florida’s men completed its perfect dual meet season for the third-straight year with a 179-121 win over Tennessee. On the women’s side, the Gators fell to the Volunteers for just the second time in program history, 152-148.
UF’s men dominated the meet with wins in 10 of the 16 events and were led by Brad deBorde, as he swept the sprint events (50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races) and led off the Gators’ first place 400-yard freestyle relay team. On the women’s side, Florida tallied just five event wins.
Both teams are coming off dual meet wins over Auburn, as the Gators won a combined 21 of 32 events and defeated the Tigers, 158-142 (men) and 152-148 (women), respectively. The win for the Gator women marked their first at Auburn since 2009.
| BROADCAST INFORMATION | |||||
| Meet Time | Live Stream | Live Stats | |||
| TENNESSEE | FLORIDA | 11:00 a.m. | SEC Network + | Meet Mobile | ||
TENNESSEE AT FLORIDA | FLORIDA MEET NOTES
TENNESSEE | SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 | STEPHEN C. O’CONNELL CENTER | 11 a.m.
- 2014-15 Tennessee Dual Record: W: 6-3-1 | M: 6-2
- Series Record: Florida leads: W: 26-2 | M: 21-20
- Last Meeting: 2014 in Gainesville: W: 179-121 | M: 148-152
TROY’S TALKING
On Tennessee…
“We’ve got another tough SEC opponent this week, going against Tennessee at home on our Senior Day. This meet gives us an opportunity to do our final tune-ups as we look towards the conference meet.”
On Senior Day…
“This is always a big meet for the entire team. Everyone wants the seniors to go out on the right note, especially in their last meet at home. It will be a great competition on Saturday.”
Head Coach Gregg Troy
SENIOR DAY HONOREES
Saturday marks the last meet of the regular season and the last time that UF’s seniors will dawn the Orange & Blue in the O’Dome. In the pool, Florida’s 2014-15 seniors have combined for a total of 20 All-SEC selections and 33 All-America honors, while in the classroom, this group has earned 12 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections.
For the women, Shelby McLean (Orlando, Fla.), Jordan Smith (Orlando, Fla.), Summer Stephens (Louisville, Ky.) and Julia Hackett (Sunrise, Fla.) will all be recognized.
On the men’s side, Matt Curby (Orlando, Fla.), Matt Elliott (Peoria, Ill.), Colin Hamilton (Jacksonville, Fla.), Christian Homer (Trinidad and Tobago), Ricky Munch (Clifton, Va.), Carlos Omana (Miami, Fla.), Billy Silva (Gainesville, Fla.), Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (Madrid, Spain), Thomas Veale(Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Dan Wallace (North Berwick, Scotland) will be honored as well.
AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
This season, Florida’s men have had six individuals record a combined 11 NCAA top-10 times across eight events. For the women, UF has had two individuals record a combined five NCAA top-10 times across five events.
MEN: WOMEN:
50 Free 50 Free
— Caeleb Dressel, 4th – 19.31 — Natalie Hinds, 8th – 22.07
100 Free 100 Free
— Caeleb Dressel, 4th – 42.91 — Natalie Hinds, 6th – 47.98
200 Free 500 Free
— Mitch D’Arrigo, 2nd – 1:33.10 — Jessica Thielmann, 6th – 4:37.82
500 Free 1,000 Free
— Mitch D’Arrigo, 3rd – 4:14.35 — Jessica Thielmann, 8th – 9:45.23
— Dan Wallace, 4th – 4:14.53 1,650 Free
1,000 Free — Jessica Thielmann, 3rd – 15:50.74
— Arthur Frayler, 6th – 9:03.96
— Mitch D’Arrigo, 10th – 9:05.91
1,650 Free
— Mitch D’Arrigo, 5th – 14:54.21
— Carlos Omana, 9th – 14:56.61
200 IM
— Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez, 7th – 1:44.16
400 IM
— Dan Wallace, 8th – 3:44.12
TOP RELAY’S
The Gators rank in the top-eight of six relays, including four on the men’s side and two on the women’s.
POSTSEASON QUALIFIERS
Florida notched numerous NCAA ‘B’ provisional marks throughout the season and has clocked five NCAA ‘A’ automatic times thus far, including:
- Women’s 200 FR (Russell, McKnight, Linn, Hinds – 1:28.94)
- Women’s 400 FR (McKnight, Russell, Hinds, Linn – 3:16.07)
- Caeleb Dressel (50 Free – 19.31)
- Jessica Thielmann (1,650 Free – 15:50.74)
- Dan Wallace (500 Free – 4:14.53)
O’DOME DOMINANCE
UF’s men’s team has experienced great success at home since 2010, as the Gators are unbeaten in their last 19 dual meets in the O’Dome, including 2-0 this season. Meanwhile, Florida’s women’s squad has posted a solid 14-4 mark over the past four seasons in Gainesville. Saturday marks the final dual meet of the season, as the Gators host Tennessee.
PARKING
General Parking is available in the main O’Connell Center garage on a first-come, first-serve basis. These spaces fill up quickly! If you’re unable to secure a spot in the garage, a complimentary parking shuttle will transport fans from the UF Commuter Lot on Gale Lemerand Drive to the O’Connell Center.
MARKETING & PROMOTIONS | FLORIDA vs. TENNESSEE
- First 300 fans in attendance will receive a free swimming & diving t-shirt
- All fans can enter to win a free Keurig Brewing Machine
- UF students can enter to win a free Speedo Backpack
- Rowdy Reptile Rewards Check-in: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. for three points
NEXT UP
Florida will head back to Auburn Ala. for the Southeastern Conference Championships which begin on February 17th and conclude on the 21st.