Returning to the water following an eight-week hiatus, the University of Georgia swimming and diving team closed its 2020-21 home schedule with a dominant sweep of South Carolina Saturday at Gabrielsen Natatorium.
In the women’s session, the third-ranked Georgia women (4-0) topped South Carolina, 184-116, followed by a 179.5-103.5 victory for the No. 2 men (4-0) in the afternoon session. Overall, the Bulldogs earned first-place finishes in 26 events, along with the fastest time in three men’s exhibition events.
Prior to the women’s meet, the program recognized the 17 members of this season’s senior class, with the men making their final appearance at Gabrielsen. The women’s team will remain home for the upcoming SEC Swimming Championships on Feb. 17-20.
Fittingly, five Georgia senior swimmers were victorious on Saturday, highlighted by three victories for senior Courtney Harnish. Harnish took first in the 100 freestyle (49.45), 100 backstroke (54.33), and 100 butterfly (53.33), earning the win in her first backstroke race of the season.
Senior Jack Dalmolin swept the breaststroke events, along with Greg Reed prevailing in the 1,000 freestyle. In the women’s 1,000, Olivia Anderson earned her third victory of the season in the event, while Sammie Burchill picked up her first win of the season in the 400 IM. In exhibition competition, Camden Murphy posted the fastest overall time in the 100 butterfly at 47.55.
At the well, senior diver Zach Allen pulled off a sweep, taking the 1-meter with a score of 330.60, followed by a mark of 343.43 on the 3-meter. Junior Tally Brown also won both of her events, finishing first on the 1-meter with a score of 281.25, as well on the 3-meter with a mark of 323.18, the top score for a Georgia woman this season.
Saturday’s meet also marked the debut for three new members of the Bulldogs. Freshman Wesley Ng placed first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 48.19 and posted the second-fastest time, 49.76, in the 100 butterfly. Fellow first-year Tommy-Lee Camblong earned two second-place finishes in the 500 freestyle (4:27.80) and 1,000 freestyle (9:16.96). In the women’s meet, Iowa transfer Millie Sansome finished fourth in the 200 backstroke and fifth in the 100 backstroke.
Elsewhere for the Bulldogs, freshman Jake Magahey continued his outstanding rookie campaign with wins in the 50, 200, and 500 freestyle, with fellow freshman Maxine Parker winning the 50 and 200 freestyle. Sophomores Zach Hils (100 freestyle) and Ian Grum (200 backstroke) earned wins, while Jillian Barczyk notched her first collegiate individual win in the 500 freestyle. Additionally, juniors Andrew Abruzzo and Dakota Luther picked up first-place finishes in the 200 butterfly.
Georgia will close out its regular season next Saturday with a matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.