Alabama Swimming and Diving Opens Home and SEC Slate Wednesday against Florida
10/23/2017 5:01:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The diving portion of the meet is slated to get underway at 12 p.m. CT while the swimming events start at 2 p.m. CT at the Alabama Aquatic Center
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama swimming and diving teams suit up for action this Wednesday in the Alabama Aquatic Center against Southeastern Conference rival Florida. The diving portion of the meet is slated to get underway at 12 p.m. CT while the swimming events will start at 2 p.m. CT.
"Florida's philosophy is very similar to ours," UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. "They put their emphasis on the championship meets at the end just like we do. So I expect both teams will come into this meet off hard training. I think for us, it's an important challenge to compete with mental toughness, a lot of spirit and a competitive aggressiveness in situations where we might be physically tired."
It will be Alabama's SEC and home opener after starting the season with road victories over Delta State in mid-September. It will also be Alabama's annual Power of Pink meet.
Alabama Athletics' Power of Pink initiative helps raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Prior to the swimming events, the Tide will be giving away Power of Pink t-shirts and pink shakers to the first 75 fans in attendance and the first 100 UA students through the door will receive free pizza.
"This is a way that we can support a vital cause and a worthy message," Pursley said. "I think an event like this helps our student-athletes put things in perspective and hone in on what's really important."
In its season opener, the Alabama women beat Delta State 235-65 while the men tallied a 231-69 win over the Statesmen. The Crimson Tide won 15 of 16 women's events, including both relays and both diving events. The Alabama men won 14 of 16 events, including both relays and both diving events.
While Alabama is coming into its second meet of the season, the Gators have gone through a three-day invitational in September and a double-dual meet against Texas and Indiana last weekend. Florida's men split the double-dual, falling to Indiana and beating Texas while the Gator women fell to the Longhorns and the Hoosiers. Wednesday will be Florida's first road meet of the season.
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