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Dressel gets third SEC Swimmer of Meet Award

By Randy Lefko and excerpts from Gatorzone.com and Swimswam.com
Posted 2/21/18

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Florida men and Texas A&M women are the winners of the 2018 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships held Feb. 16-18 at Texas A&M’s Rec Center Natatorium.

The Aggies …

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Dressel gets third SEC Swimmer of Meet Award


Posted

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Florida men and Texas A&M women are the winners of the 2018 SEC Swimming & Diving Championships held Feb. 16-18 at Texas A&M’s Rec Center Natatorium.

The Aggies earned their third consecutive SEC title in women’s swimming & diving with a final score of 1,319 points. Georgia came in second with 1,030 points. The Gators won its sixth consecutive and 39th overall title in men’s swimming & diving with a total score of 1,237 points. Texas A&M finished second with 994 points.

Florida senior Caeleb Dressel, a Clay High graduate, ended his illustrious career with his third SEC Male Swimmer of the Meet Award.

For the individual awards, Dressel was joined by Tennessee’s Erika Brown and Texas A&M’s Sydney Pickrem in receiving the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy as the high-point scorers of the meet. Dressel and Brown were also named the Men’s and Women’s Swimmers of the Meet. Juan Celaya Hernandez of LSU was chosen as the Men’s Diver of the Meet, and Brooke Schultz of Arkansas was selected as the Women’s Diver of the Meet.

Dressel delved into a few new events; the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke; winning both with American records.

“Ever since high school, I always thought I had a little bit of IM in me and I wanted to go for it since this is probably the last chance I was going to have to do it,” said Dressel. “It feels good to get it and it was just a fun swim. I am still figuring out the IM, but I had fun and was happy with it.”

In his final individual swim, Dressel won the men’s 100 freestyle for the third consecutive year with his SEC meet record time of 40.01. Dressel’s time, 41.01, was the fastest split he’s ever had at the SEC championships.

In the 4 x 100 free relay, Dressel broke the SEC meet record as leadoff with a 40.87 after a turn split of 19.45. Dressel took a commanding lead from the start, beating the rest of the field by .77 seconds. This is his third consecutive year winning the 100 free title and he now owns six of the nine fastest times in the history of the event.Dressel also won gold in the 100 breaststroke with a new American, NCAA, US Open, SEC Meet, Florida and pool record in 50.03.

In the 200 individual medley, Dressel set another American, NCAA, US Open, SEC Meet and pool record in winning in 1:38.13.

“Caeleb’s 200 IM was tremendous tonight. To break the American record by over a second is something really special,” said Florida coach Gregg Troy. “He is a special athlete who knows how to focus in.”

Dressel was also on three gold medal relay teams; 400 free, 400 medley and 200 medley.

With his three individual SEC Championships during the meet, Dressel finishes with 10 in his career – the most by any male swimmer in UF’s history.

Dressel passed Marcin Cieslak (2010-14), Tom Dioguardi (1965-67), Martin Zubero (1988-91) and Ryan Lochte (2003-06) who all earned eight individual titles in their careers.

“I have the best training group in the world with the teammates around me,” said Dressel. “Believe it or not, those IM guys kick my butt in practice everyday.”

Dressel also set two American records during the meet in the 100 breast and 200 IM

Dressel currently holds American records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 200 IM and 100 breast.

“We had talked about the switch from the 50 free to the 200 IM, it was all part of the plan.” said Troy. “He wanted to do it and he has been a staple to what we have been able to accomplish, so if he wanted the opportunity, we were going to give it to him.”