University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, February 24
Auburn, Ala.
10:30 a.m. (Prelims) | 3:30 p.m. (Mile Heats) | 6:30 p.m. (Finals)
University of Georgia
vs
SEC Swimming & Diving Championships
Photo by: Auburn Athletics
Men Finish Third, Women Fifth as Bulldogs Close Out SECs
February 24, 2024 | Swimming & Diving, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
AUBURN, Ala. – A gold medal in the mile and four school records highlighted the final day of competition for the University of Georgia swimming and diving teams at the 2024 Southeastern Conference Swimming & Diving Championships Saturday at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center.
In the final standings, the Georgia men finished third with 1,042 points, their highest finish since placing second in 2021. The Georgia women finished fifth with 822 points, besting last year's sixth-place finish and placing in the top-five for the 43rd time in program history. Florida repeated as league champions in both the men's and women's races.
Junior Abby McCulloh, one day after being named SEC Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, won her first conference title in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a personal-best A-cut of 15:40.96, besting the field by nearly 14 seconds with the nation's top time this season. In another instance of the Bulldogs' distance prowess, all five mile swimmers scored, including a fifth PB of the week for sophomore Shea Furse.
Following McCulloh's victory, graduate Bradley Dunham won the silver medal in the 200y backstroke with a school-record time of 1:37.80, surpassing teammate Ian Grum's mark by nearly a half-second. Dunham and Grum were two of five Bulldogs to finish in the top 10, helping the team secure its third-place finish for the meet.
Junior Reese Branzell also entered the history books during Saturday's prelims when he tied Luca Urlando's school record of 41.71 in the 100y freestyle. Branzell would go on to finish fifth in the final with a time of 41.86, his second-fastest time as a Bulldog. Four Bulldogs, including graduate Dillon Downing, fifth-year Zach Hils, and freshman Tomas Koski, joined Branzell in posting program top-10 times during the 100y free prelims. In the women's 100y freestyle, freshman Helena Jones also finished fifth at 48.27.
Branzell then broke the record as he led off the men's 400y freestyle relay with an A-cut time of 41.44 leading to a school-record time of 2:48.62, with the Bulldogs bested by just one-hundredth of a second. The women's 400y freestyle relay earned a bronze medal as Jones joined juniors Briana Roberson and Eboni McCarty and fifth-year Zoie Hartman to finish third with an A-cut time of 3:12.12. Jones set a new PB with her leadoff time of 48.10.
In the 200y breaststroke, Hartman earned the bronze medal with a B-cut time of 2:07.26, finishing her Georgia career with 21 SEC medals, tied for eighth in school history. On the men's side, senior Connor Haigh finished second in the 200y breaststroke consolation final with a PB of 1:55.05, the eighth-fastest time in program history.
At the diving well, senior Meghan Wenzel won the platform consolation title with a core of 261.35, while sophomore Hannah Stumpf took 16th overall with a score of 200.55. For the week, the Georgia women's divers scored 102 points, improving from 63 in 2023 and topping 100 points for the first time since 2014. Counting both the men's and women's teams, Georgia divers tallied 182 points, the most for the team since racking up 186 in 2018.
In other results Saturday, sophomore Emma Norton finished 21st in the women's 200y backstroke with a PB of 1:56.15, her fourth top time of the week, while graduate Millie Sansome took 22nd with a B-cut of 1:56.22. Roberson placed 15th in the 100y freestyle with a B-cut of 49.00, while Hils and Downing took 13th and 15th respectively in the men's sprint.
Georgia returns to action this coming weekend with the annual Bulldog Invitational Last Chance Meet this Saturday and Sunday at Bauerle Pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium.
For all news and updates about Georgia swimming and diving, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@UGASwimDive), Instagram (@ugaswimdive), and Facebook (UGA Swimming and Diving).
STANDINGS
Men
1. Florida, 1,584
2. Auburn, 1,104
3. Georgia, 1,042
4. Texas A&M, 1,006.5
5. Tennessee, 992
6. LSU, 553
7. Alabama, 527.5
8. Missouri, 513
9. South Carolina, 442
10. Kentucky, 433
Women
1. Florida, 1,391.5
2. Tennessee, 1,190
3. Texas A&M, 926.5
4. Auburn, 879.5
5. Georgia, 822
6. Alabama, 686
7. South Carolina, 629
8. LSU, 579
9. Kentucky, 446
10. Arkansas, 373
11. Missouri, 332.5
12. Vanderbilt, 194
RESULTS
Women's 1,650y Freestyle
Gold: Abby McCulloh, Georgia – 15:40.96
Silver: Emma Weyant, Florida – 15:54.62
Bronze: Hayden Miller, Texas A&M – 16:02.35
--
18. Jillian Barczyk – 16:26.18
20. Shea Furse – 16:31.84
21. Mia Abruzzo – 16:35.35
24. Heidi Stalkfleet – 16:41.95
Men's 1,650y Freestyle
Gold: Andrew Taylor, Florida – 14:38.41
Silver: Giovanni Linscheer, Florida – 14:38.78
Bronze: Levi Sandidge, Kentucky – 14:44.24
Women's 200y Backstroke
Gold: Bella Sims, Florida – 1:49.04
Silver: Josephine Fuller, Tennessee – 1:49.75
Bronze: Miranda Grana, Texas A&M – 1:51.06
--
21. Emma Norton – 1:56.15
22. Millie Sansome – 1:56.22
Men's 200y Backstroke
Gold: Jonny Marshall, Florida – 1:36.68
Silver: Bradley Dunham, Georgia – 1:37.80
Bronze: Aidan Stoffle, Auburn – 1:38.78
--
4. Ian Grum – 1:39.36
6. Ruard van Renen – 1:41.12
8. Sam Powe – 1:41.52
10. Mitchell Norton – 1:40.76
Women's 100y Freestyle
Gold: Camille Spink, Tennessee – 46.69
Silver: Micayla Cronk, Florida – 47.61
Bronze: Brooklyn Douthwright, Tennessee – 47.76
--
5. Helena Jones – 48.27
15. Briana Roberson – 49.00
Men's 100y Freestyle
Gold: Josh Liendo, Florida – 40.82
Silver: Jordan Crooks, Tennessee – 40.90
Bronze: Guilherme Santos, Tennessee – 40.99
--
5. Reese Branzell – 41.86
13. Zach Hils – 42.70
15. Dillon Downing – 43.16
Women's 200y Breaststroke
Gold: Mona McSharry, Tennessee – 2:03.84
Silver: Emelie Fast, Tennessee – 2:07.02
Bronze: Zoie Hartman, Georgia – 2:07.26
Men's 200y Breaststroke
Gold: Alex Sanchez, Texas A&M – 1:50.36
Silver: Aleksas Savickas, Florida – 1:50.42
Bronze: Baylor Nelson, Texas A&M – 1:53.19
--
10. Connor Haigh – 1:55.05
13. Arie Voloschin – 1:55.94
Women's Platform Diving
Gold: Camyla Monroy, Florida – 312.70
Silver: Monserrat Lavenant, LSU – 304.80
Bronze: Ashlynn Sullivan, Auburn – 273.85
--
9. Meghan Wenzel – 261.35
16. Hannah Stumpf – 200.55
Women's 400y Freestyle Relay
Gold: Florida – 3:08.00
Silver: Tennessee – 3:08.97
Bronze: Georgia – 3:12.12
Men's 400y Freestyle Relay
Gold: Florida – 2:45.31
Silver: Tennessee – 2:46.11
Bronze: Alabama – 2:48.61
--
4. Georgia – 2:48.62
In the final standings, the Georgia men finished third with 1,042 points, their highest finish since placing second in 2021. The Georgia women finished fifth with 822 points, besting last year's sixth-place finish and placing in the top-five for the 43rd time in program history. Florida repeated as league champions in both the men's and women's races.
Junior Abby McCulloh, one day after being named SEC Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, won her first conference title in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a personal-best A-cut of 15:40.96, besting the field by nearly 14 seconds with the nation's top time this season. In another instance of the Bulldogs' distance prowess, all five mile swimmers scored, including a fifth PB of the week for sophomore Shea Furse.
Following McCulloh's victory, graduate Bradley Dunham won the silver medal in the 200y backstroke with a school-record time of 1:37.80, surpassing teammate Ian Grum's mark by nearly a half-second. Dunham and Grum were two of five Bulldogs to finish in the top 10, helping the team secure its third-place finish for the meet.
Junior Reese Branzell also entered the history books during Saturday's prelims when he tied Luca Urlando's school record of 41.71 in the 100y freestyle. Branzell would go on to finish fifth in the final with a time of 41.86, his second-fastest time as a Bulldog. Four Bulldogs, including graduate Dillon Downing, fifth-year Zach Hils, and freshman Tomas Koski, joined Branzell in posting program top-10 times during the 100y free prelims. In the women's 100y freestyle, freshman Helena Jones also finished fifth at 48.27.
Branzell then broke the record as he led off the men's 400y freestyle relay with an A-cut time of 41.44 leading to a school-record time of 2:48.62, with the Bulldogs bested by just one-hundredth of a second. The women's 400y freestyle relay earned a bronze medal as Jones joined juniors Briana Roberson and Eboni McCarty and fifth-year Zoie Hartman to finish third with an A-cut time of 3:12.12. Jones set a new PB with her leadoff time of 48.10.
In the 200y breaststroke, Hartman earned the bronze medal with a B-cut time of 2:07.26, finishing her Georgia career with 21 SEC medals, tied for eighth in school history. On the men's side, senior Connor Haigh finished second in the 200y breaststroke consolation final with a PB of 1:55.05, the eighth-fastest time in program history.
At the diving well, senior Meghan Wenzel won the platform consolation title with a core of 261.35, while sophomore Hannah Stumpf took 16th overall with a score of 200.55. For the week, the Georgia women's divers scored 102 points, improving from 63 in 2023 and topping 100 points for the first time since 2014. Counting both the men's and women's teams, Georgia divers tallied 182 points, the most for the team since racking up 186 in 2018.
In other results Saturday, sophomore Emma Norton finished 21st in the women's 200y backstroke with a PB of 1:56.15, her fourth top time of the week, while graduate Millie Sansome took 22nd with a B-cut of 1:56.22. Roberson placed 15th in the 100y freestyle with a B-cut of 49.00, while Hils and Downing took 13th and 15th respectively in the men's sprint.
Georgia returns to action this coming weekend with the annual Bulldog Invitational Last Chance Meet this Saturday and Sunday at Bauerle Pool at Gabrielsen Natatorium.
For all news and updates about Georgia swimming and diving, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter (@UGASwimDive), Instagram (@ugaswimdive), and Facebook (UGA Swimming and Diving).
STANDINGS
Men
1. Florida, 1,584
2. Auburn, 1,104
3. Georgia, 1,042
4. Texas A&M, 1,006.5
5. Tennessee, 992
6. LSU, 553
7. Alabama, 527.5
8. Missouri, 513
9. South Carolina, 442
10. Kentucky, 433
Women
1. Florida, 1,391.5
2. Tennessee, 1,190
3. Texas A&M, 926.5
4. Auburn, 879.5
5. Georgia, 822
6. Alabama, 686
7. South Carolina, 629
8. LSU, 579
9. Kentucky, 446
10. Arkansas, 373
11. Missouri, 332.5
12. Vanderbilt, 194
RESULTS
Women's 1,650y Freestyle
Gold: Abby McCulloh, Georgia – 15:40.96
Silver: Emma Weyant, Florida – 15:54.62
Bronze: Hayden Miller, Texas A&M – 16:02.35
--
18. Jillian Barczyk – 16:26.18
20. Shea Furse – 16:31.84
21. Mia Abruzzo – 16:35.35
24. Heidi Stalkfleet – 16:41.95
Men's 1,650y Freestyle
Gold: Andrew Taylor, Florida – 14:38.41
Silver: Giovanni Linscheer, Florida – 14:38.78
Bronze: Levi Sandidge, Kentucky – 14:44.24
Women's 200y Backstroke
Gold: Bella Sims, Florida – 1:49.04
Silver: Josephine Fuller, Tennessee – 1:49.75
Bronze: Miranda Grana, Texas A&M – 1:51.06
--
21. Emma Norton – 1:56.15
22. Millie Sansome – 1:56.22
Men's 200y Backstroke
Gold: Jonny Marshall, Florida – 1:36.68
Silver: Bradley Dunham, Georgia – 1:37.80
Bronze: Aidan Stoffle, Auburn – 1:38.78
--
4. Ian Grum – 1:39.36
6. Ruard van Renen – 1:41.12
8. Sam Powe – 1:41.52
10. Mitchell Norton – 1:40.76
Women's 100y Freestyle
Gold: Camille Spink, Tennessee – 46.69
Silver: Micayla Cronk, Florida – 47.61
Bronze: Brooklyn Douthwright, Tennessee – 47.76
--
5. Helena Jones – 48.27
15. Briana Roberson – 49.00
Men's 100y Freestyle
Gold: Josh Liendo, Florida – 40.82
Silver: Jordan Crooks, Tennessee – 40.90
Bronze: Guilherme Santos, Tennessee – 40.99
--
5. Reese Branzell – 41.86
13. Zach Hils – 42.70
15. Dillon Downing – 43.16
Women's 200y Breaststroke
Gold: Mona McSharry, Tennessee – 2:03.84
Silver: Emelie Fast, Tennessee – 2:07.02
Bronze: Zoie Hartman, Georgia – 2:07.26
Men's 200y Breaststroke
Gold: Alex Sanchez, Texas A&M – 1:50.36
Silver: Aleksas Savickas, Florida – 1:50.42
Bronze: Baylor Nelson, Texas A&M – 1:53.19
--
10. Connor Haigh – 1:55.05
13. Arie Voloschin – 1:55.94
Women's Platform Diving
Gold: Camyla Monroy, Florida – 312.70
Silver: Monserrat Lavenant, LSU – 304.80
Bronze: Ashlynn Sullivan, Auburn – 273.85
--
9. Meghan Wenzel – 261.35
16. Hannah Stumpf – 200.55
Women's 400y Freestyle Relay
Gold: Florida – 3:08.00
Silver: Tennessee – 3:08.97
Bronze: Georgia – 3:12.12
Men's 400y Freestyle Relay
Gold: Florida – 2:45.31
Silver: Tennessee – 2:46.11
Bronze: Alabama – 2:48.61
--
4. Georgia – 2:48.62
Players Mentioned
Fly / Back / IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Back / Free / IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Breast / IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast / IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back / IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Fly
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free / Fly / IM
/ Swimming & Diving
Free / Back / Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Swimming & Diving
Diving
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