Four Swimmers and Divers Earn SEC Honors
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
March 1, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alabama had four swimmers and divers earn All-Southeastern Conference honors following the recent league championships.
Sophomore BJ Hornikel led the way for the Crimson Tide, earning a pair of runner-up finishes in the SEC's premiere events, the 100 and 200 freestyles, which earned him second team All-SEC honors. After turning in career-best times of 42.98 in the 100 freestyle and 1:34.81in the 200 freestyle, Hornikel is ranked second all-time for Alabama in both events, just behind four-time Olympic gold medalist Jon Olsen.
"BJ did a great job at the SEC Championships, and really all season long," UA head coach Eric McIlquham said. "To come in as a sophomore and take second in two of the marquee events in this league really says something about the kind of competitor he is and it's just exciting to know that he's only going to get better from here."
Diver Jordan Lesser earned a place on the SEC All-Freshman team after turning in the league's top rookie finish off the platform, where he scored 346.45 points and took fourth place.
On the women's side of the slate, breaststroker Kaylin Burchell and diver Angley Martinez also earned a place on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Burchell took the rookie honor after finishing sixth at the SEC Championships in the 100 breaststroke, where she is ranked second all-time for UA with a time of 1:00.53, just behind Olympic bronze medalist Anne Poleska. Martinez earned her spot on the list by taking sixth off the platform with 251.70 points.
"Jordan, Kaylin and Angley have all gotten their collegiate careers off to a great start," McIlquham said. "Now it's a matter of building on these performances as we move forward."
Over the last two years, Alabama has accrued nine spots on the SEC All-Freshman list between the men's and women's team.
Players Mentioned
