“Triumphant Tides: Women’s Swimming Dominates Vanderbilt as Devereaux and Duncan Shine at Georgia Invitational!”

LEXINGTON, Ky. – During the team’s initial competition of the 2025 year, Kentucky women’s swimming secured a dual meet triumph on the road, defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores, 174-82, on Friday at Centennial SportsPlex.

Wildcat swimmers achieved first place in all 14 events of the day, although the last two were conducted as exhibition-only events for UK and thus were not included in the team’s final score tally.

Junior Grace Frericks excelled for the Cats, clinching two individual victories (100 back, 100 free) and anchoring both of the team’s successful relays (200 MR, 200 FR).

A trio of newcomers accompanied Frericks as Cats achieving multiple individual wins on the day as Katy Jost (500 free, 1000 free), Hayden Penny (200 free, 200 breast) and Billie Sherratt (100 fly, 200 fly), each secured two victories.

This win marks the third of the dual season for the UK women and their initial triumph over a Southeastern Conference rival. The team’s next challenge is a tri-meet with Purdue and Notre Dame on Friday, Jan. 10 in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Kentucky’s divers also participated on Friday, competing in day one of the Georgia Diving Invite at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

Senior Abby Devereaux took second place in the women’s 3-meter springboard, scoring 305.00 in the final, a tally that was surpassed only by four-time national champion, Aranza Vazquez Montano from North Carolina. This score also provided Devereaux with her NCAA zone cut in the event, meaning she has qualified on both the 1-meter and 3-meter this season. Kristy Pfaff (10th) and Claire McDaniels (11th) were also finalists in the competition.

For the men, Sam Duncan reached the final on the 1-meter springboard, going on to post a score of 309.45 to achieve fifth place overall.

The Georgia Diving Invitational will carry on this Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s schedule features the women in platform and the men on the 3-meter springboard.

Kentucky Event Winners –  

• Frericks, Engel, Hanlon, Hartley: 200 MR (1:43.98)
• Katy Jost: 1000 Free (10:19.94), 500 Free (5:00.38)
• Hayden Penny: 200 Free (1:50.40), 200 Breast (2:18.38)
• Grace Frericks: 100 Back (55.74), 100 Free (51.69)
• Bridget Engel: 100 Breast (1:03.41)
• Billie Sherratt: 200 Fly (2:03.68), 100 Fly (56.74)
• Kaelan Daly: 50 Free (24.10)
• Lydia Hanlon: 200 Back (2:02.17)
• Paige Taber: 200 IM (2:07.94)
• Frericks, Hartley, West, Buerger: 400 FR (3:32.39)

 New NCAA Zone Cuts –  

• Abby Devereaux: 3-meter (305.00)

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