Razorback Swimming and Diving Hits the Road in a Two-meet Road Swing

Courtesy UofA Athletics Department

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 18th-ranked University of Arkansas swimming and diving team (5-1, 2-1 SEC) travels to Columbia, S.C. to face SEC-foe South Carolina and 21st-ranked Florida State in a double-dual meet on Friday at 4 p.m. CT.

The Razorbacks look to continue their momentum after an upset of No. 12 Penn State Saturday on Senior Day, 151.5-146.5. Arkansas also defeated Missouri State 250-50 in the same meet.

Arkansas takes on a South Carolina team (2-4) who is fresh off a 184-115 win at Duke and a Florida State team (10-0) who pulled a big upset over No. 9 Florida, 157-143. Arkansas is currently on a five-meet win streak that dates back to the Razorbacks’ sole loss of the season against third-ranked Georgia.

The Razorbacks are 3-8 all-time against South Carolina and 0-2 all-time against Florida State. 

“We have our work cut out for us by getting on the road here, and I like that because that is where championships are going to be and we have two great opponents here with South Carolina and Florida State so the women are going to have to bounce back,” head coach Sean Schimmel said. “The team has done a nice job so far in training this week and they have to keep that up and be ready to go on Friday. They have to be sharp, take nothing for granted and come together as a team like they did last week. We are only as good as our next performance.”

A win over South Carolina would give Arkansas one of the best conference records in Razorback history. It would match the Razorbacks 3-1 record in the 2008-09 season. In Arkansas’ inaugural SEC season they finished with a 1-0 conference mark.

After the double-dual meet against the Gamecocks and Seminoles the Razorbacks will have a quick turnaround, facing Davidson in a dual meet on Saturday at 10 a.m. in Davidson, N.C.

Coach Schimmel explained the quick turnaround and tough schedule was preparation for SEC and NCAA Championships. 

“It’s a lot about SEC preparation for championships,” he said. “Those days at championships are long and late at night and they have to get up early the next day and so we have a similar situation where we have to be really great on Friday night and get on a bus and do some traveling and get up the next morning early and get ready to go against Davidson. We are looking forward to having the opportunity to race a lot at the end of January.” 

After the Razorbacks’ weekend road swing they travel Kansas for a dual meet on Feb. 2, in the Razorbacks final dual meet of the season. Fans looking to follow the swimming and diving team this weekend can do so by tuning in to the live blog on ArkansasRazorbacks.com and following the Razorbacks on Twitter (@RazorbackSwim). 

For more information regarding Razorback swimming & diving or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.