UALR Trojans Swimming and Diving Returns Home to Host Henderson State Saturday at 10am

Courtesy UALR Athletics Department

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Fresh off a trip to Florida over winter break, the UALR swimming and diving team returns to action Saturday (Jan. 12) when it hosts the Henderson State Lady Reddies at 10 a.m.

The Trojans are coming off spending the New Year holiday in Tampa, Fla. The week concluded with the Tampa Relays on Saturday (Jan. 5).

“We had a great training trip in St. Petersburg and were able to race some different teams at the Tampa Relays,” head coach Amy Burgess explained. “Coming off of the holiday break, the team needed to step it up to make up for lost time. That was the focus of our trip south: to build back up and get ready for our final stretch of the season. The team put in a lot of work with double swim practices most days, as well as weights and some beach workouts.

“By the end of the week, they were back on track. We anticipate great things for this next phase of the season,” Burgess added.

UALR finished fifth as a team with its highest finish coming in the 200 free relay. The team of junior Kara Raney, freshman Valeriya Teplova and seniors Rebecca McEachern and Amber Kelly finished with a time of 1:41.75, the fifth-fastest mark of the season.

Saturday will prove to be the grudge match between the two squads.

Both teams took part in the Hendrix Classic and Relays back in October 2012 before UALR claimed the 2012 Henderson Invitational on Nov. 9-10. While the Trojans claimed the win at HSU, the Lady Reddies beat UALR at the Donaghey Center Natatorium when they took the UALR Christmas Invitational crown.

“Coming off two weeks of intense training, this weekend’s meet verse Henderson State is all about racing. Our training focus over break has been building up endurance and this meet is a good way to test where our speed is. We look forward to welcoming the Lady Reddies and anticipate an exciting meet,” Burgess said.

After the battle with HSU, UALR will wrap up its home schedule when it hosts Hendrix and Rhodes for its annual senior meet. First event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. next Friday (Jan. 18) at 6:30 p.m.