The UConn swim and dive team is off to New Haven to compete against Southern Connecticut and Yale. These in-state opponents have some history with the Huskies, who will be facing both of them for the first time since 2021. UConn currently holds an even 2-2 record against Yale, and a flawless 5-0 streak versus Southern Connecticut.
Coming off a seventh-place team finish at the Iowa Invitational, UConn will be hungry when they hit the water. The invitational brought the toughest competition they’ve faced this season, but the Huskies rose to the occasion, logging many seasonal best-times and even returning to Storrs with two school-records to celebrate. Sophomore Jessica Sheng claimed the 50-yard freestyle record (22.56 seconds), and Rhian Russel, Sydney Perkins, Maggie Rhodes and Sheng set a new standard for the 200-yard medley relay (1:39.32 seconds).
Excellence in breaststroke has been a constant theme for UConn this season, which can be credited to Perkins, the sophomore phenom. This season, Perkins holds personal bests of 1:01.28 in the 100-yard breast, and 2:12.60 in the 200-yard breast. Yale senior Jessey Li has competitive seasonal records of 1:00.14 in the 100 and 2:13.62 in the 200. The two will most likely battle it out for the first-place finishes, but it’s looking to be an even split for the pair. Regardless, this faceoff makes for today’s can’t-miss events.
Southern Connecticut is led by junior Molly Kennedy and senior Kali Dominguez. Kennedy is a sprinter who competes in freestyle and butterfly, and Dominguez is a distance swimmer who specializes in the 1000-yard free and the mile. In the Owls’ last competition, Dominguez placed first in the 1650 free event.
This fall, senior captain Norah Rome is a standout performer for UConn. Her distance freestyle events have made her a contender against all opponents, and she’s delivered remarkable performances in the 500-yard, 1000-yard and 1650-yard events. Like Perkins, Rome will also face a difficult head-to-head contest: Caroline Riggs, the junior who is highly accomplished in her time at Yale. She’s on a victorious run in the 1000-yard free, earning first place each time she’s competed this season. Rome and Riggs are setting off to have some hard-fought battles of their own, adding a few more races to the must-watch list.
As always, UConn can expect Sheng to bring in points for the Huskies as one of their most consistent athletes. Momentum is on her side following her record-breaking night in Iowa, and this is still the beginning of what’s in store for her this season.
The meet kicks off at 4 p.m. at Southern Connecticut’s Hutchinson Natatorium.