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saul young/news sentinel

Tennessee senior captain Michael Wolfe practices the breaststroke Wednesday at the Student Aquatic Center.

It was like thousands of other practices held at Ray Bussard Pool.

Only this time, years of memories were starting to get to University of Tennessee men's swimming coach John Trembley.

Today will be that much tougher.

Trembley will say goodbye to three seniors and No. 6-ranked UT will say goodbye to the Student Aquatic Center with a 1 p.m. meet against No. 5-ranked Florida.

It's the final home swim meet in the old pool before the Vols take up training in the new Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center in March.

"It'll be emotional," Trembley said. "I started to tear up (Thursday) on the pool deck recounting all the memories, all the competitions and training.

"I was actually thinking about the first time I went into the Aquatic Center during my recruiting trip in April of 1970. It's the end of an era which has been very good to all of us."

Since competition began at the Aquatic Center, UT is 162-13 at home. Legendary coach Ray Bussard was 92-5 and Trembley goes into the Florida meet with a 70-8 home record.

Making it even harder on Trembley is a Senior Day ceremony scheduled for Michael Wolfe, Octavio Alesi and diver Ryan Rincon.

"It's a bittersweet moment," Trembley said. "We as coaches spend a lot of time with the guys and we're kind of parents on location for them. Senior day arrives very quickly.

"We know the end is near, but the good news is we know it's time for the end to be near. They're ready to go out into the world."

Wolfe definitely qualifies. The team captain from Bartlesville, Okla., has grown into a leader for a Vols' team hoping for momentum going into the SEC meet (Feb. 20-23) at Alabama.

"Florida's a big rival, but they're a respected rival," Wolfe said. "It'll be an awesome time because my parents and some other relatives will be there.

"It's the last dual meet in this pool and my last dual meet so it will be pretty intense."

Wolfe exemplifies the kind of intensity Trembley craves from his athletes. Wolfe already has qualified for this summer's Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 butterfly, and 100 and 200 backstroke.

"Michael Wolfe came in as a boy and he is leaving here a man," Trembley said. "His physique has changed dramatically. I was looking at him last week at the Georgia meet and I couldn't believe how big and how strong he is now.

"Emotionally, he's not running around pool tables anymore. He has been a phenomenal senior captain."

Wolfe tore his knee running around a pool table as a sophomore. Now he focuses on swimming and earning a degree in mechanical engineering.

Like Trembley, Wolfe heads into the meet against the Gators with a touch of bittersweet emotion.

He had hoped the new pool would be open in time for his final home competition, but if anyone on the team understands the delays, it's Wolfe.

"You really can't help being disappointed, but you can't be resentful," he said. "I understand there are difficulties in construction, believe me. I'm in mechanical engineering and some of my projects always have delay, delay, delay and little snafus. That happens."

The Vols just don't want any snafus today.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.