Combined Georgia Swimming Teams Dominant at SEC Meet
Georgia swimming coach Jack Bauerle has built a dynasty and the Big Dawg once again led the Georgia women to a Southeastern Conference Championship.
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The Georgia women’s swimming and diving team claimed its sixth straight Southeastern Conference Championship on Saturday in Auburn.
The championship is Georgia’s 12th overall, all under Coach Jack Bauerle.
The six consecutive championships is a new school record. Georgia won five straight from 1997-2001 and extended the one that began in 2010. The Lady Bulldogs also won in 2006.
Take off your shoes and socks. That’s SEC swimming and diving championships for Georgia in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
In the 19 seasons since the dedication of the Gabrielsen Natatorium in January of 1996, the Georgia women have failed to win the SEC Championships seven times.
Facilities matter, but coaches matter more. Coach Jack Bauerle lead every Georgia womens swimming and diving SEC championship team.
“I’ve said it many times, but it bears saying again: This is a feeling that never gets old,” Bauerle told Georgiadogs.com. “But at the same time, every championship has its own unique qualities. Every team puts its own stamp on a championship and this team is no different. We’ve been able to develop depth this year, so we’re getting points up and down the lineup. This feels great. We’re going to enjoy this one.”
Georgia Bulldogs
The Lady Bulldogs rolled up 1,450 points over the five-day meet, outdistancing Texas A&M (1,166) and Florida (963.5). Next month, the Lady Bulldogs will be vying for their third consecutive and seventh overall national championship.
“I’m glad that my class wasn’t the one to break the streak. That would not have been good,” senior Amber McDermott told Georgiadogs.com. with a laugh. “This is an amazing feeling. I’m so proud of all my teammates. We have great chemistry on this team and everyone did her job this week. That’s what it takes to win a title.”
McDermott led the Lady Bulldogs’ effort in the 1,650-yard freestyle on Saturday as she placed second in 15:49.79. Brittany MacLean took fifth in 16:09.15, while Rachel Zilinskas came in sixth in 16:14.49 and Stephanie Peters claimed 16th in 16:27.84.
On the men’s side, the Bulldogs came in second for the 17th time in school history but their first since 1998. The Bulldogs had been third four of the past five seasons. The Bulldogs posted 1,134.5 points to trail only Florida’s 1,314.5 Auburn was third with 1,084.
“This was a big meet for Georgia,” Georgia swimmer Chase Kalisz told Georgiadogs.com. . “The guys are really proud of our women, but we’re proud of what we did too. It shows that we’re making progress and that we’re getting where we want to be.”
The first- and second-place efforts gave Georgia the best combined program at the meet.
Hali Flickinger and Kalisz earned the Commissioner’s Trophy for high-point honors. Flickinger finished first in the 400-yard individual medley and second in the 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard butterfly. Kalisz won the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley and came in fourth in the 200-yard individual medley.
The Bulldogs earned seven victories: Kalisz in the 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard individual medley, Koski in the 200- and 1,650-yard freestyle, Fink in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, and Stewart in the 200-yard individual medley.
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