As the Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams take on Tennessee in their last dual meet of the regular season, two undefeated streaks will be on the line.
Starting tonight in Knoxville, the women’s team (9-2, 3-1 SEC) will try to stay unbeaten against Tennessee. As of now, the Gators women are 23-0 against the Volunteers.
“It’s motivation,” sophomore Teresa Crippen said. “We always try to race and touch the wall first.”
Crippen and junior men’s swimmer Conor Dwyer are coming off stellar performances against Auburn that earned them CollegeSwimming.com’s Counsilman Hunsaker Division I National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week honors.
When the UF men’s team (8-0, 3-0 SEC) competes in its meet Saturday afternoon, the team will attempt to finish the regular season with an unblemished record.
It would mark the first time the Gators men’s team has completed the regular season undefeated since the 1987-88 season, when Florida finished 7-0.
Standing in the way of the UF men’s squad will be No. 11 Tennessee, which has an undefeated streak of its own to maintain.
Since the Vols’ men began competing in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in August 2008, they have been undefeated at home.
This streak includes a 6-0 dual-meet record as well as wins in two Tennessee Invitational meets.
“We’ll get a little taste of the same thing that Auburn saw when they came here. It’ll be their senior week,” UF coach Gregg Troy said. “They’ve got a pretty big senior class on the men’s side, so I expect to see a real enthusiastic group.
“I’m sure we’ll get their best shot, and it’ll be another great opportunity to see where we are.”
Even with the great performance last week against Auburn, Troy made it clear to his swimmers that the Auburn meet was done with, and now it’s time for Tennessee.
“You’re only as good as your last performance,” Troy said. “Next week, no one’s going to care about the Auburn dual meet.”
