[su_spacer size=”40″] The No. 1-ranked Georgia women’s swimming and diving team earned its 100th overall and its 99th consecutive victory at Gabrielsen Natatorium with a 173.5-121.5 decision over No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The fourth-ranked Bulldogs also topped the No. 12 Volunteers 165-135.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Lady Bulldogs are 100-1 since Gabrielsen Natatorium opened Nov. 3, 1995. They also extended their UGA all-sports record to 99 straight victories at home dating back to Nov. 8, 1995. They are 8-0 this season and are now 30-0-1 in their last 31 meets.
[su_spacer size=”40″] “It means an awful lot to be a part of such a rich tradition,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “You always have aspirations to do something that can’t always be done so this team and all the teams before them have to feel pretty good. So many kids had a hand in this and that is the great part about it. This brings 20 years worth of teams together. More than a few of these ladies were not even born when this streak started. I’m really proud of the way these teams compete.”
[su_spacer size=”40″] Brittany MacLean was a triple winner for the Lady Bulldogs, claiming the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.29), the 500-yard freestyle (4:45.65) and the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:38.73).
[su_spacer size=”40″] Olivia Smoliga earned two freestyle wins for the Lady Bulldogs, posting times of 22.67 and 49.74 in the 50 and 100, respectively. Hali Flickinger also was a double winner, taking the 200-yard butterfly in 1:56.44 and the 200-yard backstroke in 1:54.96.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Olivia Ball won the 1- and 3-meter springboards with scores of 280.58 and 293.03, respectively. Annie Zhu stopped the clock first in both breaststrokes, taking the 100 in 1:02.74 and the 200 in 2:14.07.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Kylie Stewart won the 100-yard backstroke in 53.53 and Meaghan Raab touched the wall first in the 200-yard individual medley in 1:59.20.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The 200-yard medley relay of Smoliga, Emily Cameron, Stewart and Raab claimed first in 1:39.49. Stewart, Smoliga, MacLean and Flickinger combined for a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay, finishing in 3:19.67.
[su_spacer size=”40″] The Bulldogs were led by Michael Trice, who won the 50-yard freestyle in 19.79 and the 100-yard freestyle in 44.25, and Taylor Dale, who won the 100-yard backstroke in 46.72 and the 100-yard butterfly in 47.15.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Jay Litherland claimed first in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:36.75, while Kevin Litherland won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:10.61.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Pace Clark stopped the clock in 1:44.87 for the 200-yard butterfly win, James Guest found the wall first in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:00.34, and Gunnar Bentz won the 200-yard individual medley in 1:46.40.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Matias Koski, Dale, Clark and Trice won the 400-yard freestyle relay in 1:56.75.
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia’s teams will entertain Wisconsin next Saturday at 10 a.m. in the final home dual meet of the season. Prior to competition, the members of the senior class will be recognized.
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