University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Tony Walsh/UGAAA
October 24, 2026 | Swimming & Diving, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
There were lights and smoke and a drone soaring above the action, and even a DJ. There were players doing synchronized dances in the staging area before they were introduced prior to each race. And most importantly, there was world-class competition in Bauerle Pool.
Welcome to the College Swimming League's first appearance at Gabrielsen Natatorium. Friday night's meet between Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama was the regular-season finale for the startup in-season competition, and it was the CSL's first sellout.
"Selling out a building in October is not something college swimming does. Athens did it. The audience for this sport has always existed, and this is what it looks like when you give it a real reason to show up," CSL chief operating officer Kyle Sockwell said in a social media post Friday announcing the sellout.
The 1,500 or so fans brought noise and energy, and the swimmers produced some excellent performances. Georgia sophomore Kennedi Dobson certainly delivered, setting an SEC record in the 500-yard freestyle.
"It was really exciting. I don't really have a voice anymore; it was a lot of fun cheering for everyone and just being able to experience this for the first time," Dobson said afterward. "I didn't know that I had the SEC record until probably 10 minutes ago, when I looked at my phone. ... When you're in the pool and there's water in your ears and you finish a race, and all the adrenaline, you kind of tune everything else out."
Dobson, the SEC Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year last season, finished third in the 500 free at the NCAA's and second at the SEC Championships. On Friday, she got off to a strong start, with teammate Marie Landreneau just behind. Dobson's lead was almost two seconds by the halfway point and nearly five seconds heading into the final 100 yards.
When she touched the wall, Dobson had broken her school record with a time of 4:30.48, just surpassing her previous best of 4:30.70. It was also a new SEC record, edging Jillian Cox of Texas' time of 4:30.53, set at last spring's SEC meet. Landreneau held off Tennessee's Ella Jansen to place second in a personal-best time of 4:37.27.
"I know everyone was super excited for me, so I had a feeling (about setting the SEC record)," Dobson said. "I'm just so excited, and I could not imagine doing it at a different pool than right here. I'm super excited; racing here in Athens is always so much fun. The crowd here tonight was incredible."
It was rapid-fire action in the meet, with one event quickly following another in the single-heat competition. A few minutes after they went 1-2 in the 500, Landreneau and Dobson swam the final two legs of the 200 freestyle relay, helping Georgia to a third-place finish. Later, but not much later, Dobson
Dobson didn't just win the 500, she also won the 200 freestyle in a personal-best time of 1:42.06. In addition, Dobson placed third in the 200 individual medley, posting a season-best time of 1:57.08.
On the men's side, junior Jacob Johnson won the 100 and 200 butterfly races. He won the 200 in 1:41.66, nearly two seconds ahead of second place, and out-sprinted Tennessee's Lucio Paula to win the 100, finishing in 45.30, just touching the wall ahead of Paula (45.87).
Sophomore Hayden Meyers also had a strong showing, winning the 200 backstroke and placing second in the 100. Senior Tomas Koski also had a win for the Bulldogs, capturing the 200 freestyle in 1:33.26, more than a second ahead of everyone else after a lightning-fast final 100. Earlier in the meet, he placed second in the 500 free, with teammate Sean Green placing third.
The College Swimming League is an in-season competition similar to the NBA Cup. It allows teams to experience a different type of competition apart from regular-season action. One of the things that makes it unique is that while the men and women don't race against each other, their performances count together in the team competition.
There were 30 different events in the meet, with each of the four schools putting two competitors in each individual race and two teams in each relay. The Bulldogs put together a lot of firsts, seconds and thirds in the meet, a good sign as they head toward some big meets ahead.
Some Georgia swimmers will compete in the U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials on Wednesday in Westmont, Ill., and the teams will be back in action in Bauerle Pool next Friday against Florida.
Staff Writer
There were lights and smoke and a drone soaring above the action, and even a DJ. There were players doing synchronized dances in the staging area before they were introduced prior to each race. And most importantly, there was world-class competition in Bauerle Pool.
Welcome to the College Swimming League's first appearance at Gabrielsen Natatorium. Friday night's meet between Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Alabama was the regular-season finale for the startup in-season competition, and it was the CSL's first sellout.
"Selling out a building in October is not something college swimming does. Athens did it. The audience for this sport has always existed, and this is what it looks like when you give it a real reason to show up," CSL chief operating officer Kyle Sockwell said in a social media post Friday announcing the sellout.
The 1,500 or so fans brought noise and energy, and the swimmers produced some excellent performances. Georgia sophomore Kennedi Dobson certainly delivered, setting an SEC record in the 500-yard freestyle.
"It was really exciting. I don't really have a voice anymore; it was a lot of fun cheering for everyone and just being able to experience this for the first time," Dobson said afterward. "I didn't know that I had the SEC record until probably 10 minutes ago, when I looked at my phone. ... When you're in the pool and there's water in your ears and you finish a race, and all the adrenaline, you kind of tune everything else out."
Dobson, the SEC Women's Freshman Swimmer of the Year last season, finished third in the 500 free at the NCAA's and second at the SEC Championships. On Friday, she got off to a strong start, with teammate Marie Landreneau just behind. Dobson's lead was almost two seconds by the halfway point and nearly five seconds heading into the final 100 yards.
When she touched the wall, Dobson had broken her school record with a time of 4:30.48, just surpassing her previous best of 4:30.70. It was also a new SEC record, edging Jillian Cox of Texas' time of 4:30.53, set at last spring's SEC meet. Landreneau held off Tennessee's Ella Jansen to place second in a personal-best time of 4:37.27.
"I know everyone was super excited for me, so I had a feeling (about setting the SEC record)," Dobson said. "I'm just so excited, and I could not imagine doing it at a different pool than right here. I'm super excited; racing here in Athens is always so much fun. The crowd here tonight was incredible."
It was rapid-fire action in the meet, with one event quickly following another in the single-heat competition. A few minutes after they went 1-2 in the 500, Landreneau and Dobson swam the final two legs of the 200 freestyle relay, helping Georgia to a third-place finish. Later, but not much later, Dobson
Dobson didn't just win the 500, she also won the 200 freestyle in a personal-best time of 1:42.06. In addition, Dobson placed third in the 200 individual medley, posting a season-best time of 1:57.08.
On the men's side, junior Jacob Johnson won the 100 and 200 butterfly races. He won the 200 in 1:41.66, nearly two seconds ahead of second place, and out-sprinted Tennessee's Lucio Paula to win the 100, finishing in 45.30, just touching the wall ahead of Paula (45.87).
Sophomore Hayden Meyers also had a strong showing, winning the 200 backstroke and placing second in the 100. Senior Tomas Koski also had a win for the Bulldogs, capturing the 200 freestyle in 1:33.26, more than a second ahead of everyone else after a lightning-fast final 100. Earlier in the meet, he placed second in the 500 free, with teammate Sean Green placing third.
The College Swimming League is an in-season competition similar to the NBA Cup. It allows teams to experience a different type of competition apart from regular-season action. One of the things that makes it unique is that while the men and women don't race against each other, their performances count together in the team competition.
There were 30 different events in the meet, with each of the four schools putting two competitors in each individual race and two teams in each relay. The Bulldogs put together a lot of firsts, seconds and thirds in the meet, a good sign as they head toward some big meets ahead.
Some Georgia swimmers will compete in the U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials on Wednesday in Westmont, Ill., and the teams will be back in action in Bauerle Pool next Friday against Florida.
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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