Players Mentioned
No. 17/21 Aggies Hit the Road to Athens for SEC Championships
Feb 16, 2025 | Swimming and Diving
ATHENS – The No. 17/21 Texas A&M swimming & diving team is set for action at the SEC Swimming & Diving Championships, running Feb. 17-22 at Gabrielsen Natatorium on Georgia's campus. Last year, the Aggie women's team placed third overall and the men's squad is looking to improve upon a fourth-place finish. The Maroon & White earned a total of 18 medals at SECs a year ago, including gold in five different events.
Baylor Nelson will compete for his third consecutive SEC Championship's Commissioner's Trophy, awarded to the highest point-scorer in the meet. Last season, Nelson added a silver medal in the 200 breast, becoming the first SEC swimmer to sweep the IM events in back-to-back seasons since 1993-94. Nelson's season-best time of 3:39.35 in the 400 IM currently stands as the third-fastest in the nation this year.
Chloe Stepanek returns to the SEC Championships for the fifth time in her career, where she has totaled five medals. The Northport, New York native added two bronze medals last season in the 200 free and as a member of the 400 medley relay. Stepanek's season-best time of 1:43.98 in the 200 free ranks as the fastest on the team and No. 22 nationally.
Alex Sanchez aims to return to the podium once again for the Maroon & White after claiming gold in the 200 breast and silver in the 100 breast a year ago. His season-best time of 1:51.87 in the 200 breast ranks No. 10 nationally and third among all SEC swimmers, and his time of 52.07 in the 100 breast stands in the top-30 nationally.
After earning bronze in the 100 fly (44.76) last season, Connor Foote returns to his third SEC Championship meet. The junior from San Antonio currently holds national top-20 times in the 100 fly (45.17), 50 free (19.10), and 100 free (41.99).
For the third time in her career, Giulia Goerigk will attempt to medal in the 400 IM after earning bronze in consecutive seasons. Goerigk's best time of the season sits at 4:10.11 and ranks in the top-35 nationally. Hayden Miller looks to build off success last season where she made her podium debut with a third-place finish in the 1650 free with a time of 16:02.35.
Olivia Theall is seeking the first individual medal in her career at SECs, after earning her first bronze medal last season as a member of the 400 medley relay team. Theall's times in the 100 fly (51.51) and 200 fly (1:54.09) currently rank No. 12 and 17 in the country, respectively.
On the diving end, Allen Bottego and Rhett Hensley look to improve on their performances from last year at SECs. Hensley claimed silver on the 1-meter (381.60) and Bottego took bronze on the 3-meter (421.05). On the women's side, Else Praasterink and Mayson Richards suit up with a chance to earn their first medals at SECs. Praasterink earned a career-best score on the 3-meter this season against LSU (348.08) and Richards added key points for the Aggies at the championship a year ago with a pair of top-10 scores on the springboards.
Live results for each day of the meet can be found on the Meet Mobile App and diving results can be found here. All streaming and results links can be found here.
Complete Schedule:
All times Central (CST)
Monday, Feb. 17
Diving Prelims - 11 a.m.
Finals (Women's 1-meter) – 4:10 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Diving Prelims – 11 a.m.
Finals (Men's 3-meter, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay) - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Prelims – 8:30 a.m.
Diving Prelims – 11 a.m.
Finals (500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, women's 3-meter, 200 free relay) - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 20
Prelims – 8:30 a.m.
Finals (400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, men's 1-meter) - 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 21
Prelims – 8:30 a.m.
Diving Prelims – 10:30 a.m.
Finals (200 fly, 100 back, 100 breast, women's platform, 400 medley relay) - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 22
Prelims – 8:30 a.m.
Finals (200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 1650 free, men's platform, 400 free relay) - 4 p.m.
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