AUBURN, Ala. – Both Texas A&M swimming and diving teams stand in sixth place after the first day of the 2015 Southeastern Conference Championships on Tuesday at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center on the Auburn University campus.
The No. 5-ranked Texas A&M women scored 132 points on the strength of a pair of runner-up finishes in the two relay races, while the No. 14 men's squad scored 127 points with 47 coming from the dive crew. LSU was the first-day leader on the women's side followed by Georgia, Kentucky and Florida, while Auburn grabbed day one lead followed by Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.
The women's team were second in the 200-yard medley relay and the 800 freestyle relays. The medley relay foursome of senior Kelli Benjamin, sophomore Sycerika McMahon, freshman Beryl Gastaldello and senior Sammie Bosma touched in a season-best time of 1:36.22 but couldn't catch Tennessee (1:35.31). The Aggie quartet's time made them the fourth-fastest relay in school history. The Aggies' 800 free relay of sophomore Sarah Gibson, senior Ellen Quirke, junior Meredith Oliver and senior Sarah Henry made a run at breaking the seven-minute mark but finished just shy with a time of 7:00.17, which made them the third-fastest foursome in school history.
The Aggie women received 20 points from sophomore diver Maddie Hudkins, who placed ninth in the three-meter dive with a score of 317.30.
The Aggie men's dive crew received points from a trio of divers in the one-meter dive with freshman Tyler Henschel leading the way with a ninth place effort and a 319.55 point total. Also chipping in points were sophomore Colton Haffey (12th, 311.30) and sophomore Zachary Stockton (295.65, 15th).
The men's squad logged a pair of ninth place finishes in the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay. The medley relay of junior Jacob Wallace, freshman Mauro Castillo, freshman Justin Morey and junior Cory Bolleter touched in 1:27.34, while the 800 free relay of senior Luke Shaw, junior Antoine Marc, junior Hunter Funk and senior Hayden Duplechain finished in 6:24.65.
The SEC Championships continue on Wednesday with 10 a.m. prelims and 6 p.m. finals.