Florida’s men’s swimming and diving team fell nine points short against Auburn a season ago. At the time, coach Gregg Troy said that “too many little mistakes” accumulated, costing his men’s team the victory.
This season, the men’s team is looking for revenge.
Saturday, it — along with the women’s team — will be tested against a talented Auburn Tigers squad.
Fresh off a loss to the No. 2 Texas Longhorns last week, the Tigers will also look to avenge their most recent defeat.
Released on Wednesday, the CSCAA/TYR poll had both the Gators men’s and women’s swim teams remain inside the top 25 at No. 10 and No. 20, respectively. But the Tigers enter this weekend’s competition ranked higher than the Gators, with the men’s team at No. 6 and the women’s team at No. 11.
Auburn’s Julie Meynen, who was named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Week, poses a threat to the Gators women’s team. Last week in Auburn’s loss to Texas, Meynen won the 50 free in 22.75 seconds, barely out-touching her Longhorns opponent Rebecca Millard by .01 seconds. She also won the 100 free in 49.89 seconds, out-touching second-place by .09 seconds. Meynen’s victory in the 50 free was her fourth of the year.
The Gators men’s team will also have its hands full this Saturday in Auburn, Alabama.
Auburn standouts Peter Holo and Zach Apple had strong performances against one of the best teams in the nation last week in Texas. Holo, one of Auburn’s strongest swimmers, won both the 50 free and 100 free, beating out his teammate, Apple, in both events.
The Gators, who haven’t had a meet in two weeks, will look to use their fresh arms and legs as an advantage and hope rust hasn’t settled.
Contact Sean Denison at sdenison@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @seandenison.
UF coach Gregg Troy encourages his swimmers during Florida’s meet against Auburn on Jan. 23, 2016, in the O’Connell Center.
