South Carolina Shines on Day 3 of SEC Championships with Gold, Records, and Standout Performances
ATHENS, Ga. – The South Carolina swimming & diving team delivered an electrifying performance on the third day of the SEC Championships, securing one gold medal, two school records, and 10 finalists in individual events. The Gamecock women climbed to fifth place in the standings with 273 points, while the men hold the 10th spot with 152 points.
Breckin Gormley Makes History in the 500 Freestyle
Breckin Gormley set the tone early, becoming the first South Carolina woman to break the 4:40 barrier in the 500 freestyle, clocking a school-record 4:39.03 in prelims. This blazing time secured her a B-finals top seed, where she ultimately finished 14th overall.
Freshman Nora Fluck also made waves, earning a spot in the 500 free finals with a personal best of 4:43.36. She took her performance up a notch in the C final, shaving off nearly three seconds to clock a 4:40.68—the second-fastest time in program history—in a thrilling battle where she finished just .04 seconds behind Megan Barnes.
Connor Fry Cracks Gamecock Record Books
On the men’s side, Connor Fry became the first Gamecock this season to break into the program’s all-time top 10 in the 500 free, posting a career-best 4:17.47 in prelims. In the finals, he swam a 4:20.50, securing a 23rd-place finish.
Gamecock Trio Impresses in the 200 IM
A trio of Gamecock women advanced to the 200 IM finals, led by Greta Pelzek, who finished 13th overall with a season-best 1:57.39—just shy of her personal record. Delaney Franklin (1:58.02) and Annaliese Streeter (1:58.35) also set personal bests in prelims, with Streeter later lowering her time to 1:57.88—the fourth-fastest in program history.
For the men, Linus Kahl put on a show in the 200 IM, breaking the 1:44 mark for the first time in his career. His 1:43.69 in finals now stands as the second-fastest time in Gamecock history, falling just shy of the school record.
Peyton Curry Dominates the 50 Freestyle
Peyton Curry delivered a record-breaking performance in the 50 freestyle, rewriting the school record three times in a single day. She started with a 22.07 in prelims, then 22.04 leading off the 200 free relay, and finally 22.01 in the championship final—securing fifth place overall.
Teammate Dylan Scholes also reached the finals, placing 20th with a time of 22.35 after setting a personal best of 22.27 in prelims.
Relay Teams Make History
The women’s 200 free relay team of Curry, Scholes, Aubrey Finn, and Amy Riordan nearly broke the school record, posting a 1:28.59—the second-fastest time in program history—for a ninth-place finish.
On the men’s side, Quinn Buck, Ryan Hufford, Eldor Usmonov, and Michael Laitarovsky set a season-best 1:17.94, marking the sixth-fastest time in school history and finishing 10th overall.
Sophie Verzyl Captures Gold in 3-Meter Diving
The night’s biggest moment came from Sophie Verzyl, who was unstoppable in the 3-meter diving final, securing the SEC Championship with a dominant score of 392.15. Verzyl’s near-flawless performance featured five dives scoring over 60 points, capped by a breathtaking 78.20 final dive on a 5154B forward 2 ½ somersault 2 twist pike at a 3.4 difficulty level.
“I’m happy with how I did,” said Verzyl. “I had a goal, and I achieved it, and I was just having a great time doing the sport I love with the team that I love. It was just a great time.”
What’s Next?
The SEC Championships continue with day four action, featuring events in the 400 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Free, and men’s 1-meter diving. Fans can follow the action live via streaming and updates on GamecocksOnline.com and @GamecocksSwmDive on social media.
Finals Results:
Women’s 200 Free Relay
9th – Curry, Scholes, Finn, Riordan – 1:28.59
Men’s 200 Free Relay
10th – Buck, Hufford, Usmonov, Laitarovsky – 1:17.94
Women’s 500 Freestyle
14th – Breckin Gormley – 4:40.04
18th – Nora Fluck – 4:40.68
Men’s 500 Free
23rd – Connor Fry – 4:20.50
Women’s 200 IM
13th – Delaney Franklin – 1:58.59
15th – Greta Pelzek – 2:00.02
20th – Annaliese Streeter – 1:57.88
Men’s 200 IM
19th – Linus Kahl – 1:43.69
Women’s 50 Freestyle
5th – Peyton Curry – 22.01
20th – Dylan Scholes – 22.35
With gold medal performances, school records, and rising stars, South Carolina is making waves in the SEC Championships. Stay tuned for more standout moments as the Gamecocks continue their pursuit of greatness!
