NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The first of potentially three postseason events for the Vanderbilt swim team gets underway Tuesday with the start of the SEC Championships.
Texas A&M will play host at the Rec Center Natatorium in College Station, with all preliminary and finals sessions set to air on SEC Network+.
“It [the postseason] is finally here, everyone is really excited,” said head coach Jeremy Organ. “We had a great week of practice, our preparation has been going really well. I’m looking forward to watching these student-athletes compete this week in College Station.”
The Commodores enter the competition with eight individuals who have achieved a B Standard to qualify for the CSCAA National Independent Championships in March. Kailia Utley leads Vandy having achieved the feat in four events, with Faith Knelson and Mercedes Traba meeting the standard in three races each. Ellie Taliaferro has a pair of qualifying marks, and the trio of Emma Dalton, Gabriela Pierobon Mays, Maddie Smith and Taylor Ward have met the standard during the 2022-23 season as well.
In addition to that group, Alison Bauer, Eleanor Beers, Kendall Hall, Chantal Jordan, Ella Platek, Jenna Ravarino and Natalie Van Noy have earned individual victories throughout the season.
Traba had a record-setting performance in the 1,000 free in the Dores’ first home meet against Auburn, while Taliaferro set the school freshman record in the 200 IM at the Gamecock Invitational in November as she would qualify on Vanderbilt’s all-time performer list in four events during the course of the season. Knelson moved into the top five in the school’s record books in the 100 and 200 breast as well as the 200 IM.
Tuesday’s schedule features time trials in the morning session, and finals of the 200 medley and 800 free relays at night.