COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 4-ranked Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team will get the 2015 portion of its season underway in a big way with dual meets against SEC foes Tennessee and Alabama and regional rival SMU on Thursday and Friday.
The Aggies, who compiled 5-0 in fall dual meets, take on the No. 11 Lady Volunteers and SMU in a 2 p.m. “double-dual” on Thursday and the Crimson Tide at 12 p.m. on Friday.
Aggies tough to beat in dual meets …
The Aggies are in the midst of an 18-dual meet unbeaten streak that dates back to the 2012-13 season. A&M's last loss was a 158-141 decision to Auburn in College Station on Jan. 12, 2013. The only blemish over the past 17 dual meets was a 150-150 tie with Georgia on Jan. 10, 2014. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012, the Aggies have compiled a 22-1-1 overall dual meet record.
Last time out …
In Texas A&M's most recent action, the Aggies defeated the Rice Owls in a swimming-only dual meet, 167-91, on Dec. 6. The Aggies won 13-of-14 possible races and swept the top two spots in 11 races. Winning multiple individual races were Lili Ibanez (50/100 freestyles), Sarah Henry (200 free/400 IM), Ashley McGregor (200 breast/200 fly) and Laura Norman (100 back/100 fly). Norman earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors for her efforts.
Following the action …
Thursday's double-dual and Friday's dual will be available on SEC Network +. SEC Network + is only available through WatchESPN, accessible through the WatchESPN app and on SECNetwork.com. To access SEC Network + on WatchESPN, fans will need to sign in with credentials from a participating TV provider. For more information or to check your provider log on to secnetwork.com/channel.
Live results from both day's action can be accessed from 12thMan.com's live results link or Meet Mobile:
Thursday: http://www.12thman.com/fls/27300/livestats/swimming/MoStTennSMU2015/index.htm
Friday: http://www.12thman.com/fls/27300/livestats/swimming/Alabama2015/index.htm
Texas A&M Individuals in the NCAA Top 25 …
The Aggies boast 10 swimmers with season-bests that rank among the top 25 fastest in the collegiate ranks. Leading the way is senior Sarah Henry (Garner, N.C.), who has posted top 25 national times in the 500/1,000/1,650 freestyles and the 200/400 IMs. Henry ranks in the top 10 in all five races, including the nation's fastest time in the 400 IM (4:04.92.
Two members of head coach Steve Bultman's 2014 signing class have top 25 times in four events: Beryl Gastaldello (Miramas, France) in the 50/100 freestyles, the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM and Bethany Galat (Mishawaka, Ind.) in the 100/200 breaststrokes and the 200/400 IMs.
50 freestyle:
Sammie Bosma (No. 16, 22.17)
Beryl Gastaldello (No. 18, 22.26)
100 freestyle:
Sammie Bosma (No. 12, 48.27)
Beryl Gastaldello (No. 14, 48.46)
200 freestyle:
Ellen Quirke (No. 20, 1:46.25)
500 freestyle:
Sarah Henry (No. 8, 4:38.99)
1,000 freestyle:
Sarah Henry (No. 3, 9:43.35)
1,650 freestyle:
Sarah Henry (No. 9, 16:02.93)
100 backstroke:
Beryl Gastaldello (No. 22, 52.77)
200 backstroke:
Lisa Bratton (No. 12, 1:53.19)
Claire Brandt (No. 13, 1:53.22)
100 breaststroke:
Bethany Galat (No. 20, 1:00.30)
Sycerika McMahon (No. 21, 1:00.45)
Franko Jonker (No. 24, 1:00.68)
Ashley McGregor (No. 25, 1:00.76)
200 breaststroke:
Bethany Galat (No. 7, 2:09.02)
Ashley McGregor (No. 9, 2:09.17)
100 butterfly:
Beryl Gastaldello (No. 19, 52.69)
200 IM:
Sarah Henry (No. 7, 1:56.40)
Bethany Galat (No. 8, 1:56.51)
Sycerika McMahon (No. 11, 1:57.27)
Lisa Bratton (No. 15, 1:57.54)
Beryl Gastaldello (No. 18, 1:58.10)
400 IM:
Sarah Henry (No. 1, 4:04.92)
Bethany Galat (No. 10, 4:09.58)
Lisa Bratton (No. 14, 4:10.12)
In the rankings…
Bultman's Aggies have been ranked in the top 10 of the College Swim Coaches Association of America throughout the 2014-15 season, including the No. 1 spot for the Nov. 19- Dec. 9 ranking period, and go into this week's action ranked No. 4 by the CSCAA. Tennessee stands at No. 11 in the Dec. 10 edition, while Alabama and SMU are receiving votes but rank just outside the top 25.
CSCAA NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Ranking
(as of December 10, 2014)1. California
2. Georgia
3. Stanford
4. Texas A&M
5. Virginia
6. Texas
7. Florida
8. Michigan
9. Louisville
10. UCLA
11. Tennessee
12. Minnesota
12. Auburn
14. Arizona
15. Indiana
16. Missouri
17. Penn State
18. Southern California
19. Purdue
20. Florida State
21. Louisiana State
22. Wisconsin
22. North Carolina
24. Boise State
25. Kentucky
Also receiving votes: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Southern Methodist, Virginia Tech