Georgia swimmer Olivia Carter has been chosen as the 2019 Southeastern Conference Freshman Swimmer of the Year, according to an announcement by the league office on Wednesday.
Carter, a native of Greensboro, N.C., had an impressive inaugural season as a Lady Bulldog. At the SEC Championships, she captured the 200 butterfly title and finished sixth in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 200 individual medley, while helping four relays finish in the top nine. During the NCAA Championships, Carter earned All-America designations in the 100 and 200 butterfly and on the 200 and 800 freestyle relays. Carter holds the third-fastest 200 butterfly time in school history and is No. 6 on the 100 butterfly list.
Carter is the 10th SEC Freshman of the Year in Georgia history, joining swimmers Maritza Correia (2000), Mary DeScenza (2003), Kara Lynn Joyce (2004), Jessica Cole (2006), Allison Schmitt (2009), Jana Mangimelli (2010), Amber McDermott (2012), and Olivia Smoliga (2014), and diver Olivia Ball (2015).
“I am very proud of Olivia,” said Jack Bauerle, Georgia’s Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach. “As soon as she walked in this fall, she established herself as one of the great racers on our team. She understands how to race and what it’s all about. She was pivotal not only in the individual events but also on the relays. She’s a true Bulldog. She is joining an elite list of former SEC Freshmen of the Year, and I think her career is probably on the same track as theirs. I think the best is yet to come for her.”
Carter was joined by eight of her teammates earning All-SEC recognitions. Camden Murphy and Courtney Harnish joined Carter on the All-SEC First Team. Murphy won the 200 butterfly at the SECs, while Harnish took the 500 freestyle title. Javier Acevedo, James Guest, Veronica Burchill, Sofia Carnevale, and Dakota Luther picked up Second-Team designations. Andrew Abruzzo, Carter, and Luther were named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.
The First Teams are made up of the top finisher in each event at the SECs, while the Second Teams consist of the second- and third-place finishers. The All-Freshman Teams highlight any true or redshirt freshman who finished either in the top eight or was the highest-scoring freshman in the event, excluding relays, during the SECs.