Kentucky swim and dive earned a statement win over Cincinnati on senior day in what could be described as a moment that saw the sun shine over the Cats after weeks of clouds and rain.
The win was the first dual meet win of the season for the Cats and came only a week after a crushing loss to in-state rival Louisville with the Cats experiencing a blowout on both the men’s and women’s sides.
It isn’t often athletes are able to keep their heads held high with a confident and determined mindset after such a daunting loss, yet that’s precisely what the Wildcats did.
In fact, what could have typically torn a team down only encouraged it to improve on its times and show up to compete at its best.
The twenty-five total individual wins, three relay wins, four podium sweeps in the pool and the Wildcat divers claiming first, second and third in all four events had Kentucky shining in a light that hasn’t been seen at all this season.
Head coach Bret Lundgaard credited the team’s mentality going back to its very first meet.
“Whether we win or lose, we’re gonna learn,” he said. “I think they really embrace that and now we get to do that again as we prepare for the next meet.”
The final score of the night favored the Wildcats heavily on both sides with the men tallying a win of 186-111 while the women kept the Bearcats in double digits with a final score of 207-93.
The seniors took care of business on their “Senior Day”, a tribute paid to the group of athletes who would be competing at home for the final time in their college career.
“It was fun to honor the seniors,” Lundgaard said. “I think that they really had a great experience.”
The results were highlighted by Sam Duncan’s first-place finishes in the one-meter and three-meter dives, marking his sixth first-place finish of the season and his second time sweeping gold in both events.
Luckily for Duncan – one of the thirteen seniors being honored by the program – his near perfect performance at home was not going to be his last as a Wildcat.
He announced his return to the program by taking his fifth year of eligibility with his reasoning for coming back came down to his love for the program and the people in it.
“(Diving coach) Ted (Hautau) and our environment here has been so great,” Duncan said.
Looking toward the stands, one could easily recognize the sheer volume of fans piled into Lancaster Aquatic Center to honor and celebrate the senior athletes.
“I’ve grown so much as a person and learned so much as an athlete and without Ted and Seb (Masterton), our old diving (graduate assistant). I wouldn’t be who I am without them,” he said.
He isn’t the only veteran coming back for year five, though, as fellow diver Claire McDaniels and swimmers Max Berg and Torie Buerger also announced their returns.
For the ones not returning to the blue and white, the meet only meant that much more.
As Anna Havens Rice concluded her final home meet as a Wildcat, the emotions started to truly set in.
“It really means a lot to have gotten to swim in the LAC one last time with my teammates,” she said.
In her eyes, the ups and downs of the season never discouraged the team; the most brutal losses and the most exciting performances were always treated with the same effort.
“Win or lose, we were just having a lot of fun at every meet this season,” she said. “This is just another one of those times where we were all leaning on each other and hyping each other up.”
She recognized the program as part one of her most notable senior memories.
“Definitely the new coaching staff and having such an awesome group of men and women competing together is amazing,” she said,
Havens Rice took a moment to reflect on the season and couldn’t help but smile as one of her teammates hugged her.
“It’s really the team that made this my most special year,” the senior concluded before exiting the competition pool deck one final time.
Only one meet stands between Kentucky and its trip to the plains of Auburn, Alabama, to battle for the SEC title – one of the most anticipated conference championships ever.
The Wildcats will travel again to Louisville to compete in their “first chance meet” on Thursday, Feb. 15, and Friday, Feb. 16. Preliminary races will begin at 10 a.m. and finals will occur at 6 p.m.
