by Peter Baugh, Swimming World College Intern
There were 11 SEC teams who competed at women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Here’s a look at each team’s most successful athletes:
Georgia (First overall) – Olivia Smoliga
Smoliga took first in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle at the meet, tallying 49 points for the first place Bulldogs. She set a NCAA record in the 50 free, posting a time of 21.21. The previous record was Arizona’s Lara Jackson’s 21.27 from 2009. Though she missed the championship final in the 100-yard backstroke, her time in consolations would have taken second overall. The junior was also on the Bulldogs 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.
Texas A&M (Fourth overall) – Lisa Bratton
Photo Courtesy: Reagan Lunn/Georgia Tech Athletics
Bratton scored 40.5 points for the Aggies. She placed fifth in the 200-yard individual medley and seventh of the 400-yard individual medley. Her highest finish was in the 200-yard backstroke, in which she placed fourth overall. Only a sophomore, Bratton will be a force in the next two years for the Aggies. She was also on Texas A&M’s 400-yard medley relay.
Missouri (11th overall) – Katharine Ross
After taking first place in the 100-yard breaststroke at Southeastern Conference Championships, Ross continued to thrive at NCAAs. The junior took fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke to earn first team All-America honors. She was also ninth in the 200-yard breaststroke and 21st in the 200-yard individual medley.
Tennessee (13th overall) – Kira Toussaint
Toussaint picked up big individual points for the Volunteers, and was an integral part of the team’s relays. The junior took eighth in the 100-yard backstroke and 10th in the 100-yard freestyle. She also helped Tennessee to a second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay and an eighth place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Florida (19th overall) – Kahlia Warner
In her last NCAA Championships, Warner excelled in the diving well for the Gators. The senior took sixth place in the 1-meter competition and third in the 3-meter. She also competed in the platform diving event.
Kentucky (22nd overall) – Danielle Galyer
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Galyer became the Wildcats first ever national champion with a win in the 200-yard backstroke. The junior touched first with a time of 1:49.71. She also was 12th in the 100-yard backstroke and helped Kentucky to a 15th place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay.
Louisiana State (27th overall) – Cassie Weil
Weil led the Tigers with a fifth place finish in the platform diving competition. The senior also competed in the the 3-meter event, placing 17th.
Alabama (28th overall) – Bridget Blood
Blood picked up seven points for the Crimson Tide, placing 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke. The junior also helped the team to a 13th place finish in the 400-yard medley relay.
South Carolina (29th overall) – Julia Vincent
Photo Courtesy: Reagan Lunn/Georgia Tech Athletics
Vincent excelled for the Gamecocks on the diving board. She took fourth overall in the 1-meter competition to score 15 of the team’s 18 points.
Auburn (33rd overall) – Annie Lazor
A breaststroke specialist, Lazor touched 13th in both the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke. The senior also competed on the Tigers’ 400-yard medley relay.
Arkansas (no team points) – Anna Mayfield
Mayfield, a senior, rounded out her career with a 21st place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. She also competed on two relays for the Razorbacks.