UF's men swimming and diving team will open its Southeastern Conference schedule with a matchup against Georgia in the O'Connell Center on Friday.
After defeating two nonconference opponents on the road, UF looks forward to competing in a facility it knows very well.
"It's always good to be at home," Florida coach Gregg Troy said. "The O'Connell Center is probably one of the fastest facilities in the country."
Troy added that because the meet tends to fall around the time of the Florida-Georgia football game, there is some added excitement.
"I really would like to swim the meet in Jacksonville on Saturday morning, but I haven't been able to sell them on doing that," Troy said.
Senior Omar Pinzon said the team has done a good job in the pool and in dry-land training, so now he is looking forward to the challenge of defeating Georgia and protecting the Gators' home.
"We have to defend our home," he said. "The fact that we are racing Georgia is enough to motivate (us)."
Pinzon added, "I've trained here for almost four years, so I love it here. It's a really good pool to set good times, maybe towards NCAA."
For UF's women's squad, the matchup against Georgia will be the team's second duel against an SEC opponent this season.
After defeating SEC foe Arkansas (175-133) and Kansas (205-103) in a double-dual meet last weekend, the Gators are ready to compete in front of the home crowd against the Bulldogs.
"Everytime we face Georgia, it's gonna be tough," senior diver Kara Salamone said. "We know that they are gonna come out and bring their 'A' game every time.
"They're always one of the best women's teams in the country, (but) I think we're one of the best women's teams in the country too, so we (have to) know that we are right up there with them."
Salamone said she will savor this weekend's meet, and she added that the crowd and the atmosphere will be a plus for UF.
"It's my last, first home meet," she said. "After this it's the real world, so I'm gonna enjoy it as much as I can."
