Alabama
SEC Swimming & Diving Championships (M. Swim)
Alabama Men’s Swimming Opens SEC Championships with Relay Medal
2/23/2021 7:04:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
The quartet of Matt Menke, Derek Maas, Colton Stogner and Matt King took silver in the 200 medley relay
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Alabama swimming and diving opened the men's swimming portion of the 2021 Southeastern Conference Championships by taking silver in the 200 medley relay at the Mizzou Aquatic Center in Columbia, Mo., Tuesday night.
Matt Menke, Derek Maas, Colton Stogner and Matt King combined to post a 1:23.28 in the 200 medley relay to take second place. It was the Crimson Tide's sixth SEC podium finish in the 200 medley relay over the past seven years and fourth top-two finish over that span.
The Crimson Tide also posted a season-best 6:23.29 in the 800 freestyle relay to close out the championship's first night, with Nicholas Perera, Liam Bell, Matt Menke & Cam Auerbach taking eighth place, its best finish since 2017.
Interim Head Coach Ozzie Quevedo
"What a great swim to open the meet. We lost last year's lead off, Zane Waddell, the World Champion in the 50 backstroke, to graduation, and yet we continue to make noise in the 200 medley relay. In fact, every leg of that relay changed since last season and yet we continue to earn a spot on the podium. There's a saying at Alabama, 'Tradition Never Graduates,' and I think that's so true, and we certainly have created a tradition of excellence when it comes to relays. Now we have to continue to build off this start and scrap for every point as we move into the week."
Other Notes from Day One
- With tonight's second-place finish, Alabama's men have earned 22 SEC relay medals since 2015 with six coming in the 200 medley relay, including tonight's silver-medal showing
- Freshman Matt King had the second fastest anchor split of the night, going 18.61
- Prior to the start of the meet, Cole Brown was named to the 2021 Men's SEC Swimming and Diving Community Service Team
Up Next
- Wednesday marks the first full day of competition, with prelims starting at 10 a.m. CT and finals getting underway at 6 p.m. CT
- The Crimson Tide has the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle as well as the 200 freestyle relay on day two of the men's swimming events
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Players Mentioned
