By Kramer
Last season saw the first ever SEC Swimming and Diving Championship meet with newcomers Missouri and Texas A&M in the fold, and the competition delivered all the fast swimming, outstanding diving and excitement fans expected. One month later the SEC went on to grab three of the four team trophies handed out at the NCAA Championships with the University of Georgia bringing home the main prize. The Bulldogs will play host to the 2014 SEC meet, and, with an All-Star list of returners coupled with a host of new athletes looking to break through on the college stage, expect another 5 days of fireworks, records and fun in Athens.
Georgia
Head Coach: Jack Bauerle 2013 Finish: 1st
Georgia is once again ready to defend its conference crown, and despite losing the likes of Megan Romano and Allison Schmitt to graduation they are still primed with talent up and down the roster. Melanie Margalis has been as good as any swimmer in the country so far this year, with a top two conference ranking in both breaststroke and IM events. Shannon Vreeland will contend for titles in all of her freestyle events while continuing to be a powerful presence on multiple strong relays. Freshman Olivia Smoliga has already made an impact in the 100 back and on medley leadoffs, as well as in the sprint freestyles. Amber McDermott and Brittany McLean can and will gobble up points in the distance freestyles. Laura Ryan is as good an all-around diver as any in the nation and is a threat to win on any board she contests.
Texas A&M
Head Coach: Steve Bultman 2013 Finish: 2nd
Texas A&M grabbed seven titles (six individual and one relay) at the 2013 meet, including a sweep of all the swimming events on day four. They return everyone who contributed to that total in 2014. Just as she did in 2013, Breeja Larson once again tops the 100 and 200 breaststroke lists entering the championship meet. Cammile Adams and Paige Miller also sit atop the rankings in the 200 fly and 100 back, respectively, and look to defend their titles with wins in their signature events this year. Sarah Henry is the defending champion in the 500 and 1650 freestyles, a remarkable feat in arguably the best distance swimming conference in the country. Juniors Sammie Bosma and Lili Ibanez lead an Aggie sprint group that could be A&M’s best yet. Platform runner-up Jessica Macaulay leads a talented but young group of Aggie divers.
Florida
Head Coach: Gregg Troy 2013 Finish: 3rd
The Gators appear to be fully loaded to take their shot at knocking Georgia off the top spot in the conference. Elizabeth Beisel concludes a sparkling career in Gainesville and as always is the woman to beat in the 400 IM. Natalie Hinds has talent and speed to spare in the free, fly, and on relays. Elise Zalewski blistered the 100 fly at the Ohio State Invitational and is tied for the top time in the conference and the country with Missouri’s Dani Barbiea. Sinead Russell stands nearly three seconds ahead of the rest of the conference in the 200 backstroke, and also possesses the sprint speed necessary to pace both Florida medley relays to conference best times so far this season. Not to be outdone, the distance crew led by senior Alicia Mathieu has posted six of the top 12 conference times in the 500 free and six of the top nine times in the 1650. Diver Kahlia Warner scored points on all three boards in 2013.
Tennessee
Head Coach: Matt Kredich 2013 Finish: 4th
Tennessee has once again kept their cards close to the vest, choosing a different path in the fall that did not include a taper meet with numerous NCAA qualification level times. But that path served the Volunteers well last year, and, led by do it all freestyler Lindsey Gendron, expect them to be in the hunt for several individual titles as well as team title contention. Like Gendron, fellow All-American Molly Hannis has title aspirations in multiple events and poses perhaps the biggest threat in the country to Larson’s dominance in the 100 breast. Diver Tori Lamp is strong on the springboards and lights out on the tower. Faith Johnson, the co-champion in the 50 free from 2013, is the sprint freestyle hammer for the Vols. Watch for freshman Heather Lundstrom to make an impact as well in her SEC meet debut.
Auburn
Head Coach: Brett Hawke 2013 Finish: 5th
The absence of defending NCAA 100 fly champion Olivia Scott is a tough blow but the Auburn Tigers look to fight their way back to the top of the SEC pack led in part by a formidable backstroke group featuring three women in the top 10 of both the 100 and 200 yard distances. Emily Bos is Auburn’s top ranked swimmer in the 100 and also shines in the sprint freestyles, while senior Aubrey Peacock is a top contender for the 200 title. Freshman Allyx Purcell appears to be the next star in the long line of Auburn sprint greats. Cinzia Calabretta heads a diving contingent hoping to score critical points to move the Tigers up the final standings.
Arkansas
Head Coach: Sean Schimmel 2013 Finish: 6th
Coming off a sixth-place finish in 2013, the Razorbacks will rely on a core group of returners and solid relays to repeat or improve their place this year. Sophomore Anna Mayfield continues to improve, pacing the Hogs in four different events and providing both freestyle and backstroke relay power. Nikki Daniels returns with ‘A’ final potential in both breaststroke events, and senior Nicole Menzel enters her last SEC meet as someone to watch in the mid and distance freestyle events. Sprinter Nina Drolc holds a big key to the success of the Arkansas medley relays. Senior diver Kesha Naylor returns having made the ‘A’ final on all three boards last year.
LSU
Head Coach: Dave Geyer 2013 Finish: 7th
LSU’s strength begins in the diving well. The duo of sophomore Cassie Weil and junior Alex Bettridge combined for 110 points in 2013 and, based on their form this year, are on pace to equal or better that performance. Amber Carter brings speed for the Tigers in freestyle and butterfly. Canadian freshman Leah Troskot is in individual scoring range in all of her freestyle events and will see heavy relay duty in Athens. Fellow freshmen Kara Kopcso has already stepped up with lifetime bests in the 100 & 200 fly, with breaststroke and IM power the domain of senior Torrey Bussey.
Missouri
Head Coach: Greg Rhodenbaugh 2013 Finish: 8th
Missouri’s Dani Barbiea had a breakout first half of the season. Not only did she nearly break through the 51-second barrier in the 100 fly, she is also the Tigers’ top ranked swimmer in the 50 and 100 freestyles as well as the 100 back. Loren Figueroa is back off a fifth-place NCAA finish on the one-meter and is hungry to show she again belongs with the nation’s best in February and March. Freshman Katherine Ross broke the school record and the one-minute mark in the 100 breast in November and combines with Barbiea for a powerful middle combination on medley relays. Freestyle specialist Anna Patterson is capable of reaching multiple ‘A’ finals and is a key to Mizzou’s quest for a top five conference finish.
Kentucky
Head Coach: Lars Jorgensen 2013 Finish: 9th
Tina Bechtel heads up a rejuvenated Wildcat squad, sitting within striking distance of a conference title in both butterfly races. Abby Myers is not far behind Bechtel on those lists and Kentucky needs both to be at their best in order to improve on last year’s finish. Another impact freshman, Kendal Casey, has designs of breaking up the usual list of names atop the distance freestyle results. Diver Christa Cabot returns after an ‘A’ final appearance in College Station.
Alabama
Head Coach: Dennis Pursley 2013 Finish: 10th
The Crimson Tide welcomes back fly specialist Kristel Vourna to the fold after she had to miss the 2013 meet. She provides a huge relay boost as well as significant individual point opportunities. Freestyle imports Emma Saunders and Bonnie McDonald both have the ability to shake up the status quo in their primary events. Paige McCleary is the top returning diver with a three-meter ‘A’ final finish on her resume.
South Carolina
Head Coach: McGee Moody 2013 Finish: 11th
Senior Amanda Rutqvist, South Carolina’s lone NCAA competitor last year, will take one more shot at bringing home a conference title in the 200 breaststroke. Multifaceted junior Victoria Mitchell brings scoring potential in the distance free, backstroke and IM disciplines for the Gamecocks. Another senior, Abby Galbreath, will be counted on to produce solid points in the IM races.
Vanderbilt
Head Coach: Jeremy Organ 2013 Finish: 12th
Vanderbilt returns all three of its individual scorers from last year. The Commodore faithful can look forward to the fact that everyone in the group is anchored down for at least one more year of competition as well. Backstroker Chrissy Oberg, breaststroker Elly Faulkner, and butterflyer Lauren Torres are joined by freshman Kayla Moran as the strongest chances for Commodore event finalists.
