Schimmel announces 2012-13 swim schedule

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Sean Schimmel Introductory Press Conference

2012-13 Swimming & Diving Schedule

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas swimming and diving coach Sean Schimmel announced the schedule for the upcoming 2012-13 season. The Razorbacks have eight regular season competitions, including three home meets scheduled in the Arkansas Natatorium.

“Our focus is always going to be championship season,”­ Schimmel said. “So our focus will be the SEC and NCAA Championships from the beginning.”

The Razorbacks kick off their schedule as host to North Texas, Vanderbilt, SMU and Missouri State in the Razorback Relays.

This year’s schedule will pit the Razorbacks against two top-25 finishers at the 2011-12 NCAA Championships. The Razorbacks will host SEC-foe Georgia in their first home dual meet of the season. Georgia is fresh off a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

“When we go into the season it’s great to start out with the No. 2 team in the country in Georgia,” Schimmel said. “Having the opportunity to be tested in October will prepare us for the fall championship Houston Cougar Invite and prepare us for the back half of the year."

After squaring off with Georgia, the team will travel to Columbia, Mo., to face Missouri, Kentucky and Southern Illinois. Missouri enters the season fresh off of an impressive 14th-place finish at NCAA’s.

Down the stretch the Hogs will compete against Penn State and Missouri State at home in the Arkansas Natatorium. Following that matchup, Arkansas will travel for two away meets, facing South Carolina and Florida State in a dual meet and then traveling to Davidson College for another dual meet the following day.

“Coming into the second half of the year, having these competitive meets, starting with Penn State and going to South Carolina is going to give us a good idea of where we are at going into the SEC Championship,” Schimmel said.

Arkansas will conclude the regular season on the road against Kansas. The Razorbacks will begin their postseason run at the SEC Championships beginning on February 19th.

Last season the Hogs finished with a 3-3 dual meet record and a sixth place finish in the SEC. Senior Chelsea Franklin garnered All-America honors after her performance in the NCAA Championships in the 1,650 freestyle.