< Previous68 @UKFootball L ast year was one for the history books for the University of Kentucky swim- ming and diving program, and the Wildcats are eager to build upon their success as the 2021-22 season is well underway. This season’s schedule features several match- ups with many of the nation's premier programs, exposing the team to high-level talent to prepare them for the end of the season. Prior to the start of the season, the women’s squad landed at No. 12 in the preseason CSCAA poll while the men’s team received votes. Last season saw the Wildcat women clinch their first Southeastern Conference title in program history with 1,124 points, besting the previous record of points scored by 136.5. UK collected 12 medals at the conference meet — three gold, three silver, and six bronze — in addition to breaking five school records. The 800 freestyle relay team of Izzy Gati, Riley Gaines, Kaitlynn Wheeler, and Sophie Sorenson combined to give UK its first SEC relay title since 2007, while Lauren Poole and Gaines were individual champions in the 400 IM and 200 free, respectively. Ten women also landed on All-SEC teams, including five on the first team. The men's team also experienced suc- cess at the conference meet in 2021, finish- ing seventh with 759 points. Their point to- tal surpassed the previous program record of 724 points scored the year prior and was the fifth consecutive year the men's team has bested the school mark. Zane Rosely and Sam Duncan both landed on the All- SEC Freshman Team while Danny Zhang earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team. Kentucky is in an excellent position to continue making their presence known in the SEC yet again. The women's program has returned all eight relay swimmers for the 2021-22 campaign, as well as 18 of the 20 point scorers and 803 of the 874 individual points accumulated a year ago. The men's team is also in a great spot to continue moving up the rankings, as five of the eight relay swimmers, 11 of the 15 point scorers, and 330 of the 559 individu- al points scored are back in Lexington once again. A school-record 14 UK women were invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships en route to besting the previous record of 10 and tying for the third-most swimmers invited. Those 14 Wildcats combined for 35 entries total, which was also a school record. UK finished 11th with 152 points at NCAAs, marking their best team fin- ish in school history as well as the most points scored, and also their fourth-straight year in the top-15. Kentucky collected 23 All-America honors – eight First Team and 15 Honorable Mention – for yet another school record, while the 800 free relay earned silver and Poole took bronze in the 400 IM. On the men's side, two swimmers and three divers were invited to compete at the NCAA Championships for a combined 10 individual entries, finishing 30th with 14 points. Rosely became the first UK male freshman swimmer since 2013 to earn a bid to the national meet while divers Zhang and recent graduate Chase Lane earned All-American Honorable Mention honors. Mason Wilby also claimed the first All-American Honorable Mention of his career by finishing 13th in the 200 fly to break his own school record. While UK boasts ample experience with its returning swimmers and divers, the team also has added plenty of talent with the freshman class. Nineteen newcomers are suiting up in the blue and white for the first time this season, including 12 newbies on the women's team and seven for the men. In total, the freshman class represents 12 different states — Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin — and two countries — the United States and Spain. Additional- ly, just over 20 percent of the new faces are Bluegrass State natives. Leading the newcomers and the re- turners alike are the team captains for the 2021-22 season. For the second straight year, the women's squad will again be led by Bailey Bonnett, Gaines, Gati, Kyndal Knight, and Sorenson. Wilby will captain the men's team for yet another year, joining Duncan and Max Hawton in the role. Swimming & Diving Ready for Another Historic Season By Chandler Brandes UK Athletics Communications and Public Relations70 @UKFootball UK Sports Network Radio Information Market Call Letters Frequency Ashland, KY WCMI 92.7 FM / 1340 AM Ashland/Greenup, KY WLGC 105.7 FM Benton, KY WCBL 99.1 FM / 1290 AM Bowling Green, KY WGGC 95.1 FM Cadiz, KY WKDZ 106.5 FM / 1110 AM Campbellsville, KY WCKQ 104.1 FM Cincinnati, OH WCKY 1530 AM Columbia, KY WAIN 93.5 FM / 1270 AM Corbin, KY WCTT 107.3 FM / 680 AM Dry Ridge, KY WNKR 106.7 FM Elizabethtown, KY WQXE 98.3 FM Flemingsburg, KY WFLE 95.1 FM Grayson, KY WUGO 99.7 FM Harlan, KY WTUK 105.1 FM Hazard, KY WSGS 101.1 FM Henderson, KY WSON 96.5 FM / 860 AM Hopkinsville, KY WHOP 98.7 FM / 1230 AM Jamestown, KY WJRS 104.9 FM Jenkins, KY WIFX 94.3 FM Lancaster, KY WRNZ 105.1 FM Leitchfield, KY WKHG 104.9 FM Lexington, KY WBUL / WLAP 98.1 FM / 630 AM London, KY WWEL 103.9 FM Louisville, KY WHAS 840 AM Madisonville, KY WKTG 93.9 FM Mayfield, KY WLLE 102.1 FM Maysville, KY WFTM 95.9 FM / 1240 AM Monticello, KY WKYM 101.7 FM Morehead, KY WIVY 96.3 FM Morganfield WMSK 101.3 FM Nashville, TN WPRTHD 102.5 HD Owensboro, KY WBKR / WOMI 92.5 FM / 1490 AM Paducah, KY WKYX 94.3 FM / 570 AM Paintsville, KY WSIP 98.9 FM / 1490 AM Pikeville, KY WDHR / WPKE 93.1 FM / 103.1 FM Pineville, KY WRIL 106.3 FM Prestonsburg, KY WQHY / WDOC 95.5 FM / 1310 AM Providence, KY WWKY 104.9 FM Somerset, KY WSEK 93.9 FM / 910 AM Whitesburg, KY WXKQ / WTCW 103.9 FM / 920 AM Williamsburg, KY WEZJ / WEKX 104.3 FM / 102.7 FM 2021 Schedule Sept. 4 ULM W, 45-10 Sept. 11 Missouri W, 35-28 Sept. 18 Chattanooga W, 28-23 Sept. 25 @South Carolina W, 16-10 Oct. 2 Florida W, 20-13 Oct. 9 LSU W, 42-21 Oct. 16 @Georgia L, 13-30 Oct. 30 @Mississippi State L, 17-31 Nov. 6 Tennessee L, 42-45 Nov. 13 @Vanderbilt W, 34-17 Nov. 20 New Mexico State Noon Nov. 27 @Louisville TBA (Don Franklin Auto Countdown to Kickoff begins 2 hours prior to kickoff} UK HealthCare Mark Stoops Radio Show (Mondays 6-7 pm) August 30, 2021 UK Sports Network September 6, 2021 UK Sports Network September 13, 2021 UK Sports Network September 20, 2021 UK Sports Network September 27, 2021 UK Sports Network October 4, 2021 UK Sports Network October 11, 2021 UK Sports Network October 18, 2021 UK Sports Network October 25, 2021 UK Sports Network November 1, 2021 UK Sports Network November 8, 2021 UK Sports Network November 15, 2021 UK Sports Network November 22, 2021 UK Sports Network November 29, 2021 UK Sports Network@UKSportsNetwork 71 UK Sports Network Television Information Monday – Friday at 7:30 pmSaturday at 9:00 am UKATHLETICS.COM UK SPORTS NETWORK KENTUCKY FOOTBALL @UKSportsNetwork @UKFOOTBALL uk_sportsnetwork UKFOOTBALLNext >