University of Tennessee Athletics
Tankers host Florida on Senior Day
February 01, 2008 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The sixth-ranked Tennessee men???s swimming and diving team prepares for its last home meet of the season at the UT Student Aquatic Center when the fifth-ranked Florida Gators visit Knoxville on Saturday. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m.
The meet holds great importance for coaches, athletes, former aquatic Alumni and fans for numerous reasons. The afternoon competition boasts a highly competitive SEC rival Florida, who finished fourth in last year???s NCAA Championships just ahead of current No. 1 Texas.
???Florida, our traditional foe, rolls into Knoxville for a classic confrontation,??? UT head coach John Trembley said. ???They have no weaknesses which makes them a very worthy opponent.???
Saturday???s meet also marks the last home collegiate matchup for seniors Octavio Alesi, Michael Wolfe and Ryan Rincon. A special Senior Day presentation will be made to the departing UT swimmers and Timettes just prior to the meet???s commencement.
In addition, the regular season ends Saturday, leaving the Vols with no other live training opprtunities before the postseason SEC and NCAA Championships.
???This is senior day, so I think the Vols will be more super-charged than usual,??? Trembley said. ???The team is healthy as a whole. This the last meet before the SEC Championships. This will be a great measuring stick for us.???
Furthermore, the contest is scheduled to be the last dual meet in the UT Student Aquatic Center. The new Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, with construction scheduled to be completed by late March, will host next year???s competitions. Tennessee holds a 162-13 record at the UT Aquatic Center, maintained by former UT legend Coach Ray Bussard with a 92-5 record at home and Trembley with a 70-8 record in home waters.
The Vols come off a two-meet losing streak after losing two consecutive weekends to top-10 teams. First No. 7 Indiana knocked off the Volunteers on Jan. 19, and No. 9 Georgia overcame the Vols the following Saturday.
Tennessee leads the all-time series against Florida 19-15. The first meeting occurred in 1936 when the Vols fell to Florida 65-35. The Vols hope to end a five-year losing streak to the Gators after losing last year???s match in Gainesville, Fla., by a score of 132-103. Tennessee???s last victory against Florida took place in Knoxville, when the Vols swam past the Gators 129-110 to conclude the 2001-02 season.
???This is finally the last competition in Ray Bussard Pool,??? Trembley said. ???I???m very proud of senior All-America Octavio Alesi, senior diver Ryan Rincon and senior, All-America captain Michael Wolfe. All of the families will be here, and we look forward to a great competition.???
Next up for the Volunteers, following the Florida meet, is the SEC Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala., lasting from Feb. 20-23.
