Nova Southeastern
The Nova Southeastern swimming and diving teams started off the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Championship Wednesday with the first two distance events. After two strong showings, NSU is in first place on both the men’s and women’s side.
In the 1,000-yard freestyle, the Sharks had three women place in the top-10 with NCAA B qualifying times. Sara Akoubian led the team in third place with a time of 10:21.63. Two places behind her was Jessica Rocheleau with a time of 10:25.33. In ninth place was freshman Brook Munion, who clocked in at 10:32.61.
NSU also had three B-standard times in the men’s event, led by senior Florian Mehlan. He finished in third with a time of
9:22.89. Addison Cates and Cameron Chambers claimed fifth and sixth with times of 9:29.41 and 9:30.28, respectively. Freshman Andrew Pittman fell just short of a qualifying time in seventh place with a time of 9:37.12.
In the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay, the Sharks’ A team claimed a B-standard time of 7:36.65. Third place finish was claimed by the team made up of Emma Lawrenz, Munion, Emma Wahlstrom and Lauren Chapple.
NSU’s A team on the men’s side came just four seconds away from an automatic spot at the NCAA National Championship. The Sharks claimed third and were represented by Oscar Aldabe, Santiago Pombo, Addison Cates and John Michael Hayes.
Tampa
The University of Tampa men's and women's swimming teams are among the top teams following day one of the 2014 Sunshine State Conference Swimming Championships at the YMCA Aquatic Center.
The Spartan women are in second place with 84 points, trailing Nova Southeastern by just three points as the Sharks have 87. Florida Southern (70), Florida Tech (52), Rollins (50), Saint Leo (47) and Lynn (41) are also competing.
Nova Southeastern also leads on the men's side, recording 99 points. Florida Southern (95) and Tampa (85) follow, with Florida Tech (58), Rollins (38) and Saint Leo (36) also among the competitors.
The women's 800 Free Relay team of Alex Hipolito, Briana Murphy, Erin Plachy and Heather Glenday notched a first-place finish, clocking a time of 7:28.67. In the men's 800 Free Relay, the Spartan team of Damen Pheiffer, Martin Hammer, Jeremy Parker and Runar Borgen were second with a mark of 6:34.57.
The first day consisted of four races as the 1,000 Free was also completed.
The championship with last through Saturday, with Thursday's events including the 200 Free Relay, 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free and 400 Medley Relay. The prelims are slated for 10 a.m., followed by the 6 p.m., finals.
Follow live video coverage, check out results and recaps and the full schedule of the 2014 SSC Swimming Championship at the SSC Swimming Championship Central page on SunshineStateConference.com.
Florida Tech
Florida Tech’s men’s and women’s swimming teams are sitting in fourth place following day one of the Sunshine State Conference Swimming Championship on Wednesday at the Orlando YMCA Aquatic Center.
The men have totaled 58 points, which is 29 more than third place Tampa and 20 more than fifth place Rollins. Nova Southeastern is in the lead by just four points over Florida Southern, 99-95.
The women have accumulated 52 points. Florida Southern is in third with 70 points and Rollins is in fifth at 50 points. Nova Southeastern is also holding the top spot on the women’s side with 87 points. Tampa, however, is right behind the Sharks with 84 points.
“I’m very pleased with tonight’s performance by the team,” head coach Jeni Ritter said. “This should give us positive momentum as we continue through the championships.”
Carmen Montalvo set the tone for both teams in the first race, the 1,000-yard freestyle. She shaved 13 seconds off her best time to finish in seventh place at a new program record mark of 10:28.16. Evelyn Stein finished 18th in the race at 10:56.45.
In the men’s event, Matt Colvin, Ferruccio Rossi and Takashi Worrell finished 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively. Colvin clocked in at 9:39.71. Rossi hit the timing pad at 9:43.75 and Worrell was at 9:46.51.
Liana Soileau, Rachel Barczyk, Dar Raz and Bernie Murphy then swam a new program record time of 7:48.89 for fourth place in the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay ‘A’ Final. Their time was 16 seconds faster than the previous best time.
The men also finished fourth in their 800-yard freestyle relay ‘A’ Final as Victor Westerlund, Worrell, Rossi and Oz Wasserman posted a time of 6:58.60.