University of Tennessee Athletics
In the Archives: The 1996 SEC Championships
February 13, 2012 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 13, 2012
The Tennessee Lady Vols are hosting the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships for the fifth time in program history beginning Feb. 15 at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. In the four days leading up to the meet, here is a summary of the previous championships in Knoxville.
UTLadyVols.com
Eight years removed from last hosting the Southeastern Conference Swimming & Diving Championships, an experienced Tennessee squad was afforded the advantage of hosting the league meet, as the team returned six All-Americans and 22 letterwinners from the 1995-96 season.
The Lady Vols claimed third at the SEC Championships in 1995, rebounding from back-to-back sixth-place finishes the previous two seasons. The Student Aquatic Center provided the Big Orange with plenty of practice for the conference championships with UT having five home dual meets on the schedule.
Even with the home advantage, the Lady Vols would face tough competition, as seven of the nine conference schools finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships in 1995.
"One of the fine traditions at the University of Tennessee is the tremendous community support that all the athletic teams receive," third-year head coach Dan Colella stated prior to the start of the season. "When we host SECs, I feel that the community support will continue, giving the Lady Vols a home pool advantage."
Though the end result was the same as in '95, the Lady Vols captured fourth at the '96 conference championships with 472 points, which was the highest score since the 1990 squad that tallied 722 points.
Nicole deMan became just the second Lady Vol to capture back-to-back SEC titles, as the senior won the 50y free for the second straight year. In the process she also broke a Student Aquatic Center pool record.
Kathy Pesek was the second-consecutive UT diver to claim SEC gold in the 3-meter competition, following Tracy Bonner who won the conference title in the event year prior.
Junior Tori DeSilvia and freshman Sarah Nichols each notched runner-up finishes at the meet, as DeSilvia took second in the 100y fly, while Nichols placed second in the mile.
UT's 200y medley relay, Emily Plummer in the 100y back and DeSilvia in the 200y fly all added third-place finishes.
The meet was won by Florida with 685 points, followed by Georgia's tally of 632.5 points.
A month later, deMan would go onto win the 50y free at the NCAA Championships held on the campus of the University of Michigan, becoming the second Lady Vol to win a national title. She joined Pesek, who claimed the top spot in the 3-meter competition at NCAAs in 1995.
Final 1996 SEC Standings
1. Florida 685
2. Georgia 632.5
3. Tennessee 472
4. Alabama 426
5. Auburn 421
6. Kentucky 402
7. Louisiana State 324
8. South Carolina 204.5
9. Arkansas 156
