Swimming and Diving Faces Auburn on the Plains Friday
11/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
The Alabama swimming and diving team takes on No. 1 ranked Auburn 6 p.m. Friday (Nov. 21) in Auburn at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.
It will be the first Southeastern Conference road meet for the Crimson Tide, and its biggest test of the season to date. And while it won't be Eric McIlquham's first trip down to Auburn with Alabama, it will be his first as the Tide's head coach.
"It's going to be a great test for us," McIlquham said. "Auburn is ranked No. 1 on both the men and women's side. But we're going down there to race hard and come away with some good swims."
Alabama (4-0 overall, 1-0 SEC for both the men and women) returns to action after a three-week break in the meet schedule. Both the men and the women made short work of Delta State, La.-Monroe and Drury on a Halloween road trip. Alabama opened its season at home with decisive wins over SEC foe LSU.
And while Auburn will provide arguably the Tide's toughest test to date, McIlquham and company aren't facing the Tigers empty handed.
Freshman Arlene Semeco has been red-hot over the first part of the season and could be the most dangerous freshman in the league. The sprinter is ranked among the nation's best in the 50 and 100 freestyle and provides and impressive relay leg.
And while Semeco is providing new heat, diver Lane Bassham, a fifth-year senior, is well known to the Tigers. The three-year All-American was third at the NCAA Championships off the three-meter board last season and is undefeated this year.
On the men's side, freestylers James Willcox and J.T. Jones have helped lead the Tide in the early goings. Willcox, a senior, has been a mainstay in the 200 freestyle, while Jones, a sophomore, has been holding up the distance end of the spectrum.
Off the boards, the Tide has looked to two-year All-American Stewart Smith, who has been sharp to this point in the year.
