The SEC is where the big boys play, and the 2015 Swimming & Diving Championship will bring some of the biggest and baddest swimmers and divers together for a five day slugfest in Auburn. The Florida Gators took the lead on day three last year and never looked back on their way to back-to-back conference crowns. Auburn is hoping some home cooking will make the difference in regaining the top spot on Saturday night, while strong squads from Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama are looking to play spoiler and knock the Tigers and the Gators down a few notches. Don’t blink or you might just miss something awe inspiring (and record breaking) off the blocks or on the boards.
Florida
Head Coach: Gregg Troy 2014 Finish: 1st
The Gators aim for the three peat having graduated main sprint catalyst Bradley deBorde, but Coach Troy’s crew added quite the bullet to put back in that chamber. Caleb Dressel is a title threat in the 50 & 100 free as well as the 100 fly and will be counted on as a relay ace. Dan Wallace returns after taking the 500 free title and the 400 IM runner up spot in 2014. Sophomore MItch D’Arrigo will be tired of being the bridesmaid after three (200, 500, Mile) second place finishes last year. Arthur Frayler bested D’Ariggo in the mile and will not give up that crown easily. Eduardo Solache-Gomez is a talented breaststroker and IMer. Corey Main is as versatile as they come, from his sub 19 free relay split to his 1:40 200 back. Pawel Werner could be on the verge of a breakout meet.
Auburn
Head Coach: Brett Hawke 2014 Finish: 2nd
After years of conference domination, Auburn is searching for the key to return to the top of the SEC pecking order. Kyle Darmody defends his 100 back title and could add a sprint free win to his resume in either the 50 or 100 free. Fellow sophomore Joe Patching leads the way in the 200 back. Improving his 3 B final finishes from 2014 to A final results will greatly bolster the Tigers title hopes. A third sensational sophomore, Michael Duderstadt, is the Tigers top breaststroker. Fraser McKean returns having come ever so close to a platform win last year. He should contend again on all three boards. Arthur Mendes will take on a bigger role as a senior, both with his individual contributions in the butterfly races and as a key component on relays.
Georgia
Head Coach: Jack Bauerle 2014 Finish: 3rd
Georgia enters this meet with their eyes on the big prize. Chase Kalisz ripped off a huge NCAA and American record in the 400 IM last March, and now has an evenly more beastly IM group to train with to get better. Nic Fink defends his crown in the 100 breast and looks to add the 200 to his trophy case after missing out by mere tenths last year. Matias Koski has always been a distance free championship threat, but this season he has added much needed sprint power to his list of other duties as assigned. Highly touted freshman Gunnar Bentz has been as good as advertised. Junior Michael Trice anchors relays and could be the biggest key to the Bulldogs’ overall finish. Taylor Dale (#1 100 back) and Ty Stewart (#2 200 back) prove that Georgia’s talent runs deep.
Alabama
Head Coach: Dennis Pursley 2014 Finish: 4th
The Crimson Tide were the revelation of the 2014 SEC meet. Anton McKee secured Alabama’s first individual swimming title since 2007 with his win the in 200 breast, and his medley relay splits were second only to Fink. Kristian Gkholomov provided a 50 yard preview of what was to come one month later in Austin, and has yet to lose a 50 free race this year. Connor Oslin holds top ten positions in both backstroke races and is well within scoring range in the 200 fly. Brett Walsh is another main sprint cog on both fly and free duties for Alabama. Pavel Romanov has the ability to join McKee in both breaststroke A Finals.
Missouri
Head Coach: Greg Rhodenbaugh 2014 Finish: 5th
The Show Me State Tigers had another awesome home invitational performance this season, and replicating those results would turn the conference race upside down. Sam Tierney leads the nation in the 100 breast and heads the conference in the 200. Breaststroke running buddy Igor Kozlovskij was fourth in the 200 a year ago. Michael Chadwick and Mathew Margritier have made the Missouri sprint corps a group to be reckoned with and make up half of the top ranked 200 free relay. Butterfly strength comes from the tandem of Mack Darragh and Andrew Sancoucie. Mizzou continues to produce quality divers with Clark Thomas the latest in line to challenge for SEC supremacy on the boards.
Tennessee
Head Coach: Matt Kredich 2014 Finish: 6th
The Tennessee men have been gliding under the radar for most of this year, which means we may be in store for a Volunteer volcano of speed in Auburn. Shawn Lehane knows how to win SEC gold, taking the 200 back title in 2014. He is joined this year by headliner freshman Sam McHugh who is capable of scoring in variety of events depending on how Coach Kredich chooses to use him. Another youngster, Evan Pinion, sits atop the mile rankings. Maurcio Robles was .05 from the one-meter title to go along with his three-meter runner up finish in 2014. New Zealander Liam Stone joins him as a one-two diving scoring punch. Veteran Troy Tillman provides leadership and relay versatility.
Texas A&M
Head Coach: Jay Holmes 2014 Finish: 7th
The Aggies struggled finding a consistent breaststroker both for individual and relay events the past two years, but freshman Mauro Castillo-Luna has quickly rectified that with top eight times in both distances. Freshman Tyler Henschel joins 2014 SEC Diver of the Meet Ford McLiney to give A&M a strong presence on all three boards. Senior Luke Shaw has had an outstanding dual meet season, and will need to be at the top of his game along with Cory Bolleter and Jacob Gonzalez for the Aggie freestyle relays to have a chance at a podium finish.
Kentucky
Head Coach: Lars Jorgensen 2014 Finish: 8th
Kentucky hasn’t just played their cards close to the vest this year. They have put their cards inside the vest, and then put on a wool sweater, and covered that with a parka. They enter the meet last in all five relays and have only one top 10 event rank. Kyle Higgins is that guy, sitting 10th in the 200 fly and also in scoring position in the 100. Brandon Flynn returns after an eighth place mile finish last year. Drew Aviotti is also a returning distance free scorer. Freshman diver Levi Lindsey paces the Wildcat diving crew.
LSU
Head Coach: Dave Geyer 2014 Finish: 9th
The last of the Tiger teams to review is led into battle by Senior Frank Greff, a returning A finalist in both butterfly events. Silas DeJean has taken over as the main breaststroker, having already matched or surpassed his lifetime bests this year. Marco Gonzalez, Alex Linge, and Logan Rysemus all have finals experience across multiple events. The diving duo of Daniel Helm and Andrew Suchia are consistent and capable on all three disciplines.
South Carolina
Head Coach: McGee Moody 2014 Finish: 10th
Kevin Leithold is the main cog for the Gamecocks squad, and Coach McGee Moody has plenty of event options he can chose for Leithold depending on where he thinks the most points lie. Jonathan Boland sits in the 13th position entering the meet for both backstroke events. Nils Wich-Glasen broke the school record in the 200 breast in November and will be in the mix for a podium spot. Diver Cole Miller is primed to improve on his 62 point effort from 2014.
