ATLANTA (AP) – Even as Georgia got passed on the last lap of the final event, Jack Bauerle began to celebrate on the pool deck.
The coach knew his Lady Bulldogs had locked up another national title.
It was especially sweet for Bauerle, considering he wasn’t around for the last one and never expected this one.
Projected to finish no higher than fourth, the Lady Bulldogs led from start to finish at the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships, claiming the title for the third time in four years Saturday night. They held off Stanford and defending national champion California.
“The kids came together in a magnificent way since October,” Bauerle said. “We were not this team then. Not even close.”