Matias Koski reacts after winning the 1,650-yard freestyle during the NCAA men’s swimming and diving championships, Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Georgia swimming & diving teams will kick off the 2016 portion of their schedule in earnest this weekend with a swing through the Lone Star State.
Georgia will take on Texas A&M in College Station on Friday at one p.m., followed by a meet in Austin against Texas on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
In the latest CSCAA women’s rankings, Georgia is No. 2, Texas A&M is No. 5, and Texas is No. 6. On the men’s side, Texas is No. 1 and Georgia is No. 3 while Texas A&M is unranked.
“We are going to be tested this weekend, and we welcome the challenge,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “This is where you find out what you’re made of. When you face quality opponents, especially in back-to-back days, you get pushed to your limits. We’re closing in on the championship portion of our season and meets like these can only help us get better.”
Each Georgia squad is off to a 5-0 start, including 2-0 marks in the SEC. The Lady Bulldogs also sit at 27-0-1 in their last 28 dual meets.
Friday’s meet will air on SEC Network + while Saturday’s action can be seen on the Longhorn Network.
The head coaches for the Lady Bulldogs’ foes this weekend – Steve Bultman at A&M and Carol Capitani at Texas – are former Georgia assistants.
Georgia’s Hali Flickinger and Olivia Smoliga own top times in the nation. Flickinger is No. 1 in the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly, No. 3 in the 500 freestyle and No. 6 in the 200 backstroke. Smoliga is No. 1 in the 50 and 100 freestyle and No. 3 in the 100 backstroke.
Brittany MacLean is second in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle and No. 5 in the 200 freestyle, while Emily Cameron and Megan Kingsley are third in the 400 individual medley and 200 butterfly, respectively.
The Lady Bulldogs also have the nation’s fastest times in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
The Bulldogs are led by Matias Koski, who is ranked first in the 200 freestyle as well as sixth in the 100 freestyle and seventh in the 500 freestyle, and Jay Litherland, who is No. 1 in the 400 individual medley and No. 9 in the 200 individual medley. Taylor Dale is No. 2 in the 100 backstroke and No. 10 in the 200 backstroke. Pace Clark stands second in the 200 butterfly and No. 7 in the 100 butterfly. Gunnar Bentz is second in the 400 individual medley and No. 3 in the 200 individual medley. Kevin Litherland is No. 4 in the 500 freestyle, Ty Stewart is No. 5 in the 200 individual medley and Michael Trice is No. 5 in the 50 freestyle.