The 2026 SEC Championships are set to take place from February 16 to 21 at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. With the release of the post-cut psych sheets, teams must now reduce their rosters to a maximum of 22 athletes, with swimmers and divers each counting as one spot. This year's defending champions are Texas, who will be looking to defend their title.
The psych sheets reveal some interesting choices, including:
- Luca Urlando (Georgia): The U.S. Open Record holder in the 100-yard backstroke won't swim the 100-backstroke, instead focusing on the 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard IM, and 200-yard backstroke.
- Will Modglin (Texas): The versatile swimmer, who has raced the 100-breaststroke, will now test the 100-fly, potentially deciding between the two in the new format.
- Rex Maurer (Texas): The junior, who finished second in the 1650-yard freestyle at last year's NCAA Championship, won't swim the 1650-yard freestyle this season, indicating a shift towards middle-distance events.
Other notable entries and non-entries include:
- David Johnston (Texas): Hasn't raced since October, raising questions about his participation.
- Drew Hitchcock (Georgia): Won't swim the 100-fly, focusing instead on the 200-fly, 400-IM, and 200-IM.
- Campbell Stoll (Texas): A junior who has narrowed her lineup, dropping top 10 seeds in the 100-backstroke and 200-breaststroke.
The SEC Championships will feature a range of events, including the 200-medley relay, 800-free relay, 200-fly, 100-fly, 400-medley relay, 200-free relay, 200-IM, 200-back, and 400-free relay. The championship promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and strategy, with swimmers and teams making crucial decisions to optimize their performances.
