For the first time this year the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving team (M: 1-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference; W: 2-0, 2-0 SEC) will hit the road to face off against Kentucky (M: 0-1, 0-1 SEC; W: 1-0, 1-0 SEC) tonight at 7.
The Gators are coming off a win against LSU last Friday after claiming 23 of 32 total events.
The Wildcats have only had one meet so far this season against South Carolina with the men coming up short while the women came away victorious.
UF remained undefeated all-time against LSU at a combined 36-0 after last week’s meet, and Florida looks to do the same against UK as it boasts a 25-0 all-time record (14-0 M, 11-0 W).
The last time Florida and Kentucky met was Nov. 8, 2007 when the men won 165-129 and the women 167-132.
Florida features three players coming off SEC weekly honors as Jessica Thielmann was named SEC Female Swimmer of the Week, the first of her career, while Kahlia Warner was awarded her third career SEC Female Diver of the Week accolade.
Men’s freshman Caeleb Dressel earned the first honor of his college career after earning the SEC Male Freshman of the Week.
Dressel already has three individual victories this season and has been a part of five winning relay teams through two meets.
Coach Martyn Wilby has been pleased with what he has seen so far early into this season.
"The freshman men were very impressive can’t single any one of them out," Wilby said. "But as a group, they are starting to understand what college dual meets are about and what college swimming is about. Anybody that was there (against LSU), the final event coach Troy set up the relays for the men by class and there was a lot of talk back and forth between the classes about who was going to win and the freshman men didn’t back down. They certainly knew what racing was all about."
As for the first road meet of the season for this Gators team, it will be the first for the freshmen class, which means a learning experience.
"The freshmen have never traveled before...both sides," said Wilby. "So it’s a matter of explaining to them what’s expected...little things. You pack your swimsuit in your carry-on, don’t put it underneath the plane, it might not get there. Just little things like that, that we now take for granted but the freshmen don’t know how to do it."
While Florida will take its talented squads on the road for the first time, it will be the first test for the new class away from home and for coaches Gregg Troy and Martyn Wilby, how they respond and compete is how they will be evaluated.
Follow Aaron Friedland on Twitter @aafriedland
Freshman Caeleb Dressel jumps into the pool at the start of the 200-yard breaststroke event during Day 3 of the 2014 Pinch A Penny Invitational
