University of Tennessee Athletics
2008-09 Swimming Schedule Inaugurates New Allan Jones Aquatic Center
September 04, 2008 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Sept. 4, 2008
The Tennessee men's swimming and diving team has set its 2008-09 schedule, highlighted by the debut season in the newly completed Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
Action begins Oct. 10 when the men's team holds the annual preseason Orange and White Meet. Assistant men's swimming coach Joe Hendee commented on the tradition of this event, "When new swimmers come into the program, they are drafted to the orange team or the white team, and they are a member of that squad for life. The guys take this meet very seriously and are very competitive about it. Although they will forget some things about UT, they will always remember whether they were drafted orange or white."
The regular season begins as the Vols welcome College of the Cumberlands and Louisville to Knoxville for a meet on Oct.16. The Vols pulled out a win (165-130) at Louisville last season. The first meet with College of the Cumberlands will be a shorter format; then the Vols will rest for one hour following that meet in preparation for 2008 Big East Conference runner-up Louisville.
"The first road test and SEC challenge is against the University of Kentucky," said head men's swimming coach John Trembley. "They are a well coached group of swimmers and divers, and we don't take lightly the dangerous waters that could await us in Lexington." The Vols beat Kentucky in last year's meet, 157-141.
Next the Vols host defending ACC champion Virginia. The Cavaliers have only won once in six tries in Knoxville, although that lone victory came in their last meet at UT, in 2005.
On the weekend of Nov. 19-22, UT will host an invitational meet, competing against Kentucky and Virginia Tech. It will be a 31/2-day format that will feature both the men's and women's swimming programs. "It will be a good meet to determine where we stand as a team, and to make our A and B cuts for the NCAA championships," said senior Jonas Perrson.
The team travels to Indiana on Jan. 10 to match up with the host Hoosiers and defending Big Ten Conference champion Michigan. "This meet poses a unique challenge," Trembley said. "The last time we swam against either of these programs, we tasted defeat. Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee all have storied pasts, and each has a national championship."
Then the Vols look to avenge last year's narrow loss to Georgia in Athens (140-160), hosting the Bulldogs on Jan. 24. "Georgia is a respected SEC team," said Trembley. "We always bring out the best in each other. We hope we can hang with them in our home waters."
The Vols wrap up the regular season against Florida in Gainesville on Jan. 30. "This will be a tough meet," said senior Jimmy Dabney. "Last year it was tough, and we look for it to be as challenging again this year." The Vols beat the Gators last season in Knoxville, 160-140.
UT dedicated its brand new swimming facility on Aug. 16.
The aquatic center features an eight-lane, 50-meter by 25-meter competition pool and a separate diving well with five platforms ranging in height from one to 10 meters. In addition to the competition areas, the new aquatic center can accommodate 1,800 spectators.
"To have one complex that includes one outdoor 50-meter pool, an indoor 50-meter pool and the new 50-meter competition pool will, in our opinion, give Tennessee the leading aquatic facility in America," Trembley said. "This in itself is spectacular. But the real measure is the amount of support the athletics department and the community are giving to Tennessee's swimming and diving programs."
Allan Jones, a Cleveland, Tenn., businessman, donated $4 million to the project. Also, more than 50 swimmers, divers and their families posted a combined $450,000 contribution to the effort along with Jones' gift. In addition, 825 other donors provided to the AJIAC through the Athletics Department's STEP UP program -- a campaign for UT Athletic Facilities.
"The great minds on campus, both in athletics and administration, are hard at work so the new facility reflects the generosity of Allan Jones and his family and the swimming tradition that has been established here over the past four decades," Trembley said. "It will be an amazing show with many surprises in store for the community, the UT swimming family and Mr. Jones and his family."
The Vols conclude the season at the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. The Vols finished ninth in last season's final rankings and look to improve on another strong season.
| 2008-2009 Tennessee Men's Swimming & Diving Schedule | |||
| Oct. 10 | Orange & White Meet | Knoxville, Tenn. | 2 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | College of the Cumberlands | Knoxville, Tenn. | 11 a.m. |
| Oct. 16 | Louisville | Knoxville, Tenn. | 1:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 31 | Kentucky | Lexington, Ky. | 3:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 6 | Virginia | Knoxville, Tenn. | 2 p.m. |
| Nov. 19-22 | Tennessee Invitational | Knoxville, Tenn. | 6 p.m., 10 a.m., 10 a.m., 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 3-5 | Tennessee Diving Invitational | Knoxville, Tenn. | 11 a.m., 6 p.m. |
| Jan. 10 | Indiana/Michigan | Bloomington, Ind. | Noon |
| Jan. 24 | Georgia | Knoxville, Tenn. | 11 a.m. |
| Jan.30 | Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | 2 p.m. |
| Feb. 18-21 | SEC Championships | Auburn, Ala. | All Day |
| Feb. 28-March 1 | Last Chance Meet | Athens, Ga. | All Day |
| March 13-15 | Zone B Diving Championships | Knoxville, Tenn. | All Day |
| March 26-28 | NCAA Championships | College Station, Texas | All Day |
Players Mentioned
