Gamecocks Host Missouri for Senior Day
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Swimming and Diving will conclude its home season Saturday with a dual meet against No. 10/18 Missouri. The Gamecocks will face the Tigers at 10 a.m. at the Carolina Natatorium. Prior to the meet, the team will recognize its 17 seniors with a ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m.
“This is a special weekend that we look forward to every year as an opportunity to recognize our seniors in their last home dual meet competition of the year,” said head coach Jeff Poppell. “This is a really good group of seniors who have had to overcome quite a bit over the last several years, dealing with a pandemic in addition to a coaching change leading into their senior year. I just give them an enormous amount of credit for the way that they’ve handled it, the way they’ve embranced a new coaching staff. This entire group of seniors has played a major roll in helping to lay the foundation for where we want to go with this program in the years to come.
“Competing against Missouri is going to be a fantastic competition to end the regular season. Missouri’s teams are ranked in the top-25 on both the men’s and the women’s side. I think the competition will be fantastic for us as we prepare for the upcoming SEC Championships.”
During the Gamecocks’ last competition, the team swept the UNCW Seahawks. South Carolina’s women dominated the meet, winning 14 of their 16 events. Senior Haley Arner achieved a new personal-best time in the 1000 free, and sophomore Riley Parker set a new personal best in the 200 free.
The Gamecock divers swept the top spots of the springboard events. Freshman Sophie Verzyl achieved a new personal best in the 1-meter dive ,while sophomore Abby Gray earned her first NCAA Zone qualifying score in the 3-meter dive.
South Carolina’s men also won 14 of their 16 events. The seniors made a strong showing with Rafael Davila winning both the 500 and 1000 freestyle races and achieving a new season-best time in the 1000. Phil Costin also earned two wins on the day in both the 100 and 200 free. Diver Alex Claus swept the springboards with NCAA Zone qualifying scores in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
Missouri’s No. 10 men are 4-1 on the season and its No. 18 women are 5-1 on the season. Both teams’ only loss came against Michigan. Ten Tigers hold national top-25 times with senior Danny Kovac holding the third-fastest time in the nation in the 200 fly. The Tigers are undefeated on the road this season.
South Carolina’s men are 1-2 all-time versus Missouri while the women are 2-1. The two teams last faced off in 2018 in Columbia, MO. The Gamecock women won 171-129 while the men had a narrow loss 154-144.
Admission to Saturday’s meet is free with competition getting started at 10 a.m. and senior recognition beginning at 9:30 a.m. Live results will be provided by subscription through MeetMobile.
The University of South Carolina requires face coverings to be worn inside all campus buildings, including athletics facilities.
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