University of Tennessee Athletics
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Vols Lose to Florida in Dual Meet Finale
January 30, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers lost to a pair of top-10 Florida teams to end the swimming and diving regular season Saturday at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
The Vols lost 185-115 to the No. 3 Florida men and 170-130 to the ninth-ranked Florida women in the last dual meet on the schedule before the SEC championships. The UT men (4-5-1, 2-3 SEC) are ranked 12th and the women (5-6, 3-3) are 13th.
Tennessee honored 19 seniors swimmers and divers and one staff member before their final home meet.
The seniors had a hand in two individual wins and two relay victories. Mauricio Robles won the 1-meter springboard competition and Sean Lehane remained undefeated in the 200-yard backstroke. Faith Johnson and Harper Bruens, who played roles in Tennessee's first NCAA relay titles as freshmen, helped UT to a sweep of the women's relays Saturday.
In all, Tennessee won nine events, five for the men and four for the women.
The Tennessee women kicked off the day by going 1-2 in the 200 medley relay. The team of Kira Toussaint, Colleen Callahan, Madeline Banic and Johnson won with a 1:40.13.
Before the first diving break, Tennessee took another 1-2 finish on the women's side as freshman Meghan Wiggins uncorked an NCAA b-cut time of 1:02.11. Colleen Callahan took second in 1:02.93.
Though Tennessee did not get a victory in the women's 50 freestyle, the team took second through fifth, led by a second-place finish by Johnson (22.49). UT later took second through fourth in the women's 100 freestyle.
After the break, Ryan Coetzee and Kyle DeCoursey teamed up a for a 1-2 finish in the 100 freestyle with Coetzee winning in 44.10. DeCoursey also took second in the 50 freestyle.
Lehane remained undefeated this season in his signature event, the 200 backstroke. He won by more than three seconds in 1:42.04.
Freshman Ethan Brown clocked the best 200 breaststroke time of his UT career, touching the wall in 1:58.90. Freshman Madeline Banic produced another win in the 100 butterfly (53.74).
The Tennessee women closed the day with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay courtesy of Micah Bohon, Bruens, Banic and Johnson (3:19.92).
INSIDE DIVING: Robles and sophomore Liam Stone contributed again to a men's sweep in diving. Robles wrapped up his dual meet career with his 20th win on 1-meter, taking first with 405.83 and followed closely by Stone's score of 397.28. Stone uncorked a 400 score of his own on 3-meter, winning with a score of 405.90.
Freshman Rachel Rubadue took a pair of second-place finishes on 3-meter (304.80) and 1-meter (289.05). Freshman Emily Pelletier had her best day on 3 meter, taking third (273.83). Seniors divers Sarah Chewning and Samantha Lera celebrated their final home meet..
"They're just a phenomenal group of seniors," Tennessee diving coach Dave Parrington said. "It's very emotional on senior days for them to be able to take everything in, and doing everything that comes with a senior day. They've given so much to the program in such a positive manner, and all of the sudden the final home meet is upon them and it's not easy for them. They all did a great job."
THE SEC MEET AWAITS: The championship season is right around the corner. The Vols will compete at the SEC Championships at Missouri from Feb. 16-20.
