The Alabama women’s swimming team travels to Missouri to take on the rest of the SEC at the championship meet. Over the last few seasons, the team has been on the rise, but lately, it has been finishing meets even better. 

“Our meets have been closer than they’ve ever been,” sophomore Mia Nonnenberg said. “We’re really competing with teams in the SEC that we’ve never really been able to compete against before.”

The Crimson Tide finished ninth overall in last year’s SEC championship, but the team is confident that it can finish in the top seven this year.

“I think we’ve taken the momentum from last year’s SECs and increased it,” junior Bridget Blood said. “I think this year we are better prepared.”

The team has stepped up its training and expectations from previous seasons.

“We had a good training trip in Boca over Christmas break,” Blood said. “There’s just this level of fire and intensity that we’ve never had before.”

The Georgia Tech meet was a big stepping stone for the team at the end of the regular season. Nonnenberg said finishing the season on a high note is a source of confidence as the team moves on.

The team chemistry is also at new-high for the team. Relays are good events to pick up points at championship meets, and chemistry is important for the four girls working together.

“There are only four girls racing, but then every other girl that’s put in work this season is behind that group four girls,” Blood said..

Senior Emma Saunders said that the SEC Championship is a week to remember.

“[The] atmosphere and the team getting together and cheering on the sidelines [stands out],” Saunders said. “It doesn’t matter about the time, it’s just seeing everyone is what you remember.”