University of Tennessee Athletics
Swimmers Take To Pool With O&W Meet
October 11, 2007 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The Tennessee men???s swimming and diving team???s annual Orange and White Meet kicks off the 2007-08 season Friday at 3 p.m. White leads the series 16-14 and hopes to tally another victory as both teams prepare for battle at the UT Student Aquatic Center.
The teams are divided by a draft. The Orange and White teams draft newcoming swimmers, and once a Vol is drafted, he is on that team for the rest of his career.??
On Friday, the Vols will toss a coin to determine sweat-suit colors, home and away benches, locker rooms and lane selection.
UT head coach John Trembley looks forward to a balanced match, which has been lacking in years past, as one team seemingly dominates the meet.
???We are very excited to contest the orange and white intrasquad meet,??? Trembley said. ???First and foremost, it will give an opportunity to see the team as a whole in meet format. Secondly, we are excited to watch our 12 new Volunteers, who make up half of our team. Finally, this will be the first joint Vols and Lady Vols Orange and White meet. Also, there are some other exciting elements to this meet, including the debut of our 2007-08 Timette group and the appearance of some guest diving judges.???
Coach Trembley joins the dive coaches in judging the one- and three- meter events.??
The Volunteers welcome 10 freshmen to the team this year along with redshirts Michael DeRocco and Jonas Persson, all of whom play a part in the team???s fate this season. Five of eight Volunteer All-Americas return from last season and hope to improve upon last year???s 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minn.??
The Vols begin the regular season on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. in Louisville, Ky., as the swim squad competes against the Louisville Cardinals.??
