Feb. 19, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt swimming and diving team opens up postseason play this week as it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.
“We’re looking to continue to improve our times,” Vanderbilt swimming and diving head coach Jeremy Organ said. “The girls are rested up. They’re really excited to go down to Tuscaloosa to compete in the meet. We’re looking to have our best swims of the year and come together as a team and do the best we can.”
The SEC stands as one of the top swimming and diving conferences in the country. In the latest poll released by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America, four SEC teams were ranked in the top 10. Georgia was ranked first, followed closely behind by Florida at No. 3, Auburn at No. 5 and Tennessee at No. 7. Also making an appearance in the poll was No. 17 LSU, while Arkansas and Kentucky were receiving votes.
The Commodores enter the meet led by freshman Leigh-Ann Axt. She has won 13 individual races on the year, has set a new school record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 56.42, and set a new pool record at the Hilltopper Invitational in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:04.45. Axt won at least one individual race in all but one meet in the regular season.
Another Commodore that enjoyed a good regular season was freshman Jennifer Molchan. Molchan had two second-place finishes in Vanderbilt’s home meet against Miami (FL) and placed third in two events in the regular season finale at Arkansas.
Competition at the Alabama Aquatic Center begins Wednesday at noon and continues until Saturday.