Oct. 9, 2014
The South Carolina swimming and diving team begins its 2014-15 campaign with SEC action in Lexington, Ky. as the Gamecocks take on the Wildcats.
MEET INFORMATION
Date/Opponent: Fri., Oct. 10 at Kentucky
Time: 5 p.m. (Diving begins at 4 p.m.)
Location: Lancaster Aquatics Center in Lexington, Ky.
Series History
Both the men and women’s teams hold a 7-12 record against the Wildcats. Under head coach McGee Moody the men are 2-1 against Kentucky while the women are 0-3.
The Last Time They Met
The last time South Carolina and Kentucky met in a regular-season dual meet was on Jan. 7, 2011 in Columbia, S.C. The Gamecocks split the meet as the men claimed a 189.5-110.5 victory while the women fell 144-137. The men’s team secured their fifth-straight win of the season and was 5-0 for the first time in school history. They finished the season with a 10-1 record. The women had the upper hand on Kentucky going into the final race of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay, but the Wildcats pulled away early and finished 1.42 seconds ahead of the Gamecocks.
Recapping 2013-14
The Gamecock men went 6-2 a year ago, finished 10th in the SEC and 33rd at the NCAA Championship. The winning record gave South Carolina four-straight winning seasons for the first time since 1983-87 (five-straight). On the women’s side, the Gamecocks were 4-4 and finished 11th in the SEC.
Scouting the Wildcats
The Kentucky men went 2-6 last season, finished eighth in the SEC and 37th at the NCAA Championship. The women posted a 3-5 record, finished 10th in the conference and 28th at the NCAA Championship. The Wildcats return a combined six swimmers, including four All-Americans, who competed at NCAA Championships.
Back in Action
The Gamecocks return a combined 32 men and women from last year’s squad.
Marwan El Kamash
• Currently ranks in the top-10 in school history in five individual events and four relay events
• Member of the Gamecocks’ All-American 800 freestyle relay team at last season’s NCAA Championships
• Gamecocks’ top performer in the 200, 500 and 1000 freestyle events last season
Kevin Leithold
• Holds the school record for 100 breaststroke with a time of 53.57, ranks in the top-five in the 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly and the 200 IM as well four different relays
• Member of the Gamecocks’ All-American 800 freestyle relay team at last season’s NCAA Championships
•Gamecocks’ top performer in four individual events last season
Alex Vance
• Holds the school record for 200 breaststroke with a time of 1:56.47 and the fourth-best time for the 100 breaststroke
Victoria Mitchell
• Holds the school record for 200 backstroke with a time of 1:57.01, ranks in the top-10 in the 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle, 100 backstroke as well as the 800 freestyle relay
• Gamecocks’ top performer in seven different individual events last season
Dive Right In
Seniors Cole Miller and Patricia Kranz will lead the diving squad. The duo owns a combined three school records. The Gamecocks can also expect a significant contribution from sophomore Jordan Gotro, who is the reigning SEC Freshman Diver of the Year.
Gone But Not Forgotten
The Gamecocks lost a fair amount of talent from last season’s team as they said goodbye to Michael Flach, Gerard Rodriguez, Jay Warner, Amanda Rutqvist and Rachael Schaffer. The five former Gamecocks own a combined 18 individual records in the top-10 in school history. Flach and either Warner or Rodriguez were members of every relay team that currently holds the school record. Schaffer and Rutqivst hold two school records each.
New Kids On The Block
South Carolina added a combined 22 new swimmers and divers to this season’s team.
Looking Ahead
The Gamecocks will travel to Atlanta, Ga. on Oct. 17 to take on Georgia Tech, with the women’s team also competing against Notre Dame. On Oct. 31 the women’s team will begin South Carolina’s home slate hosting Florida Gulf Coast.
