Georgia Falls to the Gators in Home Opener

Friday, October 26

Athens, Ga.

11:00 A.M.

University of Georgia

Florida

October 26, 2018 | Swimming & Diving

UGA v. UF Results

ATHENS, Ga. – The Georgia swimming and diving teams fell against the Florida Gators on Friday at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

The No. 11-ranked Lady Bulldogs (1-1, 1-1) dropped a 158-142 decision, while the No. 9 Bulldogs (0-1, 0-1) lost 166-132.

"We raced well. They're a good team and their men's team is top three," said Georgia's Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach Jack Bauerle. "We swam well, that was our first meet so I think for swimming our first meet for the year we did a heck of a job. The ladies were so much better than they were in Arkansas. We don't like losing here but that's the way it is."

Sophomore Courtney Harnish led the women with three first-place finishes on the meet. She claimed in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:56.58), the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.09), and the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.14). Freshman Dakota Luther had two first-place finishes for the women as well.

Senior James Guest paced the men with three top spots, one in the 100-yard breaststroke (54.44), the second in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:57.92), and the third in the 400-yard IM (3:50.47). Sophomore diver Zach Allen took both springboards for the men as well, while sophomore Greg Reed (8:59.13) marked a career-best first-place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle.

Georgia started strong with two first-place finishes in the 1000-yard freestyle by Harnish and Reed. Success continued for the Lady Bulldogs in the 200-yard freestyle with Harnish taking first again, and Veronica Burchill (1:48.17) nabbing second. By event five, the Lady Bulldogs pulled ahead of Florida 33-22.

The Georgia women continued to stay on top, grabbing the top three spots in the 200-yard butterfly. Luther (1:56.08), freshman Olivia Carter (1:56.30), and senior Caitlin Casazza (1:59.10). Sophomore Camden Murphy (1.46.19) also snared the first-place spot in the same event for the men.

At the diving well McKensi Austin scored on the 3-meter (331.73) and Allen on the 1-meter (341.78) notched victories. Allen secured another first-place finish on 3-meter (356.78) as well.

After the first intermission, Burchill scored nine first-place points (49.68) in the 100-yard freestyle.

Florida came within one point of the Lady Bulldogs, but another win by Harnish in the 500-yard freestyle continued the Georgia lead. First-place finishes continued with Luther (53:96) notching her second of the afternoon in the 100-yard butterfly.

Florida surged back in the women's 400-yard IM to take the lead from the Lady Bulldogs. With a top spot in the final 400-yard relay, Florida edged the Lady Bulldogs 158-142. The men had a first-place finish in the 400 yard IM by Guest and won the 400-yard freestyle relay but dropped the final 166-132 decision.

Georgia stays home against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens.

####