University of Tennessee Athletics
SWIM CENTRAL: UNC Wilmington
September 24, 2015 | Swimming & Diving
WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Tennessee swimming and diving program opens its 2015-16 schedule Friday with its annual meet against UNC Wilmington.
Friday’s meet starts at 2 p.m. at Seahawks Natatorium. It is a part of Tennessee’s yearly preseason training weekend at Wilmington and Huntington Beach. On Saturday morning, the Vols will race against UNCG in an open water competition on the Atlantic Ocean.
As many as 21 new swimmers and divers could be making their debuts for UT.
Here’s a quick look at the meet matchups:
Previewing the Men's Competition
Tennessee: 0-0 // UNC Wilmington: 0-0
Last Season for UT: Tennessee finished fourth at the SEC Championships and 14th at NCAAs, both improvements from the 2014 postseason. In dual meets, the Vols went an even 6-6. Tennessee won four SEC titles, three of them by returners: Sean Lehane in the 200-yard backstroke (1:39.55), Mauricio Robles in the 1-meter competition (421.15) and Liam Stone on the 3-meter board (463.50). Lehane, now a senior, went on to finish second in the 200 back at NCAAs. The Vols earned 19 All-America honors.
Who's New: Tennessee has eight freshmen on the roster. Three were recently named to the USA Swimming Junior National Team: Kyle DeCoursey, Ethan Browne and Joey Reilman.
Previewing the Women's Competition
Tennessee: 0-0 // UNC-Wilmington: 0-0
Last Season for UT: Tennessee placed fourth at the SEC Championships and 11th at the NCAA meet last year. In dual meets, UT went 6-5-1. The Vols won a pair of medley relay titles at the SEC meet, and they went on to place third in the 200 medley relay at the NCAA Championships. Among the top returners, Amanda Carner placed seventh in the 400 IM at NCAAs, and Faith Johnson was 11th in the 50 freestyle. Johnson also earned Capital One Academic All-America Honors.
Who's New: There are 12 freshman on the women’s side, plus junior transfer Kira Toussaint from Florida Gulf Coast.
This Summer:
This summer, Lehane won the 200-meter backstroke title at the Pan Am Games, breaking a meet record in the process. David Heron took second in the Pan Am Games in the 10K Open Water competition and later scored a pair of top-10 finishes at the FINA World Championships. Stone dove at the world championships, placing 11th in synchro mixed diving and 21st on 3-meter.
On the women’s side, the main highlight was saved for last. Micah Bohon, Molly Hannis, Harper Bruens and former UT star Molly Hannis teamed up to win the 400-meter medley relay at the Phillips 66 National Championships. Among other events, Hannis represented Team USA at the World University Games, placing sixth in the 200 breaststroke.
