Oct. 26, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina swimming and diving prepares for another challenging mission as the Gamecocks host ranked SEC opponents, Kentucky and Tennessee on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Carolina Natatorium. The Tennessee women and men are ranked No. 14 and 15 respectively, while the UK women are No. 18 and the men are No. 23 according to the most recent collegeswimming.com polls. Admission to the meet is free.

The USC women are 2-1 and 1-1 in the SEC, while the men are 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference action. Should either Gamecock team record a win, it would be the first over a ranked team this year.

“I look for both squads to continue to improve and learn from past performances,” said head coach Don Gibb. “We’re very motivated to go head to head with Kentucky and Tennessee now and at the conference meet in February. We have trained hard consistently for the last nine weeks, so those efforts should pay off.”

Strong competitors for the Gamecocks include sprint freestyler Sharntelle McLean, who currently has the fifth fastest time in the SEC in the 50 free. All-American Christy Williams holds a top 10 time in the 200 butterfly, as does Amanda Dunnigan in the 200 IM and in the 1000 free.

On the men’s side, Leopoldo Andara currently has the second fastest time in the 200 butterfly and the sixth fastest time in the 200 breast in the conference, while Dominique Lendjel is seventh in the 200 IM and ninth in the 200 backstroke. The men’s 200 free relay is second.

On the diving side, Lyndsey Havens leads the conference on both boards, while David Ovelson is second on the three-meter and 10th on the one-meter.