Swimcloud

Florida Continues to Lead at Pinch A Penny All-Florida Invite

Florida’s men captured four individual titles and two relay victories, while the UF women won three individual events and two relays, as the University of Florida men’s and women's swimming and diving teams hosted day one (Friday, October 3) of the 2014 Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational in the Stephen O’Connell Center Natatorium in Gainesville. Florida’s men and women currently lead the Invite with 404 and 346 points, respectively.

Individually, the Gator men were led by junior Corey Main, as he won the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 20.30 seconds. In addition, Main was a member of each first place relay team (200 FR, 400 MR). Junior Natalie Hinds matched her classmate, as she won the 50 free in 22.44 seconds and was a member of both first-place relay squads as well.

Throughout the day, the Orange and Blue registered four NCAA ‘B’ provisional times.

Prior to the start of finals, there was a moment of silence and a memoriam video, remembering the life of Florida’s longtime diving coach, Donnie Craine. Click here to watch that video that played. 

Scores: 

Men’s team rankings:
1. University of Florida, 404                             
2. Florida State University, 277
3. Nova Southeastern University, 201 

Women’s team rankings:
1. University of Florida, 346                             
2. California, 245
3. Florida Gulf Coast, 201                                  
4. Florida State, 195
5. Miami (FL), 124                                               
6. Nova Southeastern, 49
7. North Florida, 34

Coach Gregg Troy:

On what he like most from his teams on day one…

“I think what stood out the most, was that we carried a great intensity throughout the entire day. Even when we didn’t have someone from another team to race against, we raced one another and carried a lot of pride with it. Those type of things are really good long-term. A lot of the freshmen stood out and performed well. Mark Szaranek was a bit of a surprise. We had some bright spots, but we definitely have some work to do.”

On the performances he saw today from Corey Main and Jessica Thielmann…

“Individually, those are good swims from both of them. Corey is a lot more experienced and more polished, as he had a great summer internationally and it’s starting to show. The same goes for Jess, she went against some real good competition and performed well.”

INVITE HISTORY

Both the Florida men's and women's squads have defended its crowns in the Stephen O'Connell Center Natatorium since UF won the inaugural All Florida Invitational in the fall of 2010. Each team is looking for its fifth-straight All Florida title this weekend.

ALL-ABOARD

Junior Kahlia Warner continued her early-season success as she won the one-meter dive with a career-best score of 317.93 points. Redshirt junior Zach Hernandez notched his first victory of the year, as he won the three-meter dive, with a score of 313.88.

RELAY MAGIC

UF won all four relay events on day one, beginning with the 200-yard freestyle relay. Juniors Sinead Russell, Natalie Hinds, Lindsey McKnight and Ashlee Linn won the women’s race in a time of 1:30.69. On the men’s side, juniors Corey Main and Pawel Werner, sophomore Jack Blyzinskyj and freshman Caeleb Dressel placed first in 1:20.85. In the final event of the evening that same women’s relay won the 400-yard medley relay in 3:41.26, while the men won the event in 3:14.80 with senior Matt Elliott, freshman Mark Szaranek, Dressel and Main.

GOING THE DISTANCE

Sophomore Mitch D’Arrigo placed first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:24.67) for the men, while junior Jessica Thielmann won the women’s race in 4:47.82.

FREE TIME

Main and Dressel led the men in the 50-yard freestyle as they placed first (20.30) and third (20.53), respectively. Juniors Natalie Hinds and Sinead Russell paced the women in the same event with first (22.44) and fourth (23.17) place finishes. 

IM IN

The UF men finished first, second and third in the 200-yard individual medley as seniors Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (1:47.58) and Matt Elliott (1:47.95) and freshman Mark Szaranek (1:49.62) led the way for Florida, respectively.

POSTSEASON FOCUS

In addition to competing in an identical format to the NCAA meet in March, the Gators had four student-athletes earn NCAA ‘B’ provisional marks on day one.
·         Mitch D’Arrigo (500 Free - 4:24.67)

·         Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (200 IM - 1:47.58)

·         Matt Elliott (200 IM - 1:47.95)

·         Natalie Hinds (50 Free – 22.44)

UP NEXT

The Gators are back in action tomorrow for day two of the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational in the O’Dome Natatorium. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and finals start at 4 p.m. 

 

 

Florida State freshman Natalie Pierce won two races on day two of the Pinch-a-Penny All Florida Invitational on Saturday. The Bloomfield, Mich. native first teamed up with junior Bianca Spinazzola, sophomore Chelsea Britt and senior Kaitlyn Dressel to win the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:40.91. Pierce then won the 100 breast with a time of 1:03.66.
 
“Natalie had a great day,” FSU head coach Frank Bradley said. “That medley relay got the job done and she was in control during her 100. I was very pleased with her effort and I can’t wait to see how she improves this season.”
 
The FSU women remain in fourth place behind Florida, California and Florida Gulf Coast with a total of 460 points.
 
“It’s starting to come together for the women’s team,” Bradley said. “We had some great swims tonight and I think our veterans are really building off last year. We still have some ways to go, there is still that learning curve, but I think we’re taking a step in the right direction.”
 
Sophomore Caroline Neil competed in the top heat of the 400 IM and placed seventh with a final time of 4:33.47.
 
Britt grabbed bronze in the 100 fly with a time of 55.08 ahead of Spinazzola, who was seventh with a 56.31.
 
Dressel placed third in the 200 free (1:50.04) ahead of junior Sami Pochowski who took sixth (1:53.51).
 
Spinazzola and Britt competed in their second ‘A’ final of the night in the 100 back where Spinazzola grabbed sixth place with a time of 56.51, while Britt touched in eighth at 57.88.
 
The 800 free relay was fourth with a time of 7:36.99.
 
The men are in second place with a total of 646 points behind Florida.
Freshman Connor Kalisz placed third in the 400 IM with a time of 4:05.15, out-touching classmate Trevor Hine who was fourth at 4:05.37. Freshman Gavin Colley placed fifth with a time of 4:08.21.
 
Senior Connor Knight won the bronze in the 100 fly, clocking a 48.58 after posting a 47.86 in prelims. Junior Cole Hensley was fifth with a time of 48.95 and senior Cadell Lyons touched in seventh with a 49.79.
 
“Connor had a really nice morning,” Bradley said. “He was a little tired coming back at night and he’s had a long meet, but I was happy with him and those guys in that event.”
 
In the 200 free, senior Kevin Rogers led the way for the Noles, placing fourth with a time of 1:40.77. Freshman Anthony Lyons followed in fifth (1:41.87) and sophomore Jemal LeGrand was sixth (1:41.96).
 
Sophomore Jason Coombs took silver in the 100 breast with a time of 54.97 while freshman Storm Hewitt followed in fifth with a 58.01. Sophomore Jason McCormick placed sixth with a time of 58.76.
 
“Coombs had a rough day yesterday,” Bradley said. “But he rebounded and I was happy with that race of his today.”
 
In the 100 back, senior Josh Friedel finished fifth with a time of 51.23 and Knight contested in his second individual ‘A’ final of the night and took sixth with a 51.74.
 
Rogers was eighth with time of 54.69.
 
“We’re just a young team,” Bradley said. “We have a lot to learn and we’ll get there.”

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