The University of Florida men’s and women’s swimming & diving team (M: 1-0, 1-0 SEC; W, 2-0, 2-0 SEC) won a combined 23 of 32 events, as the Gators defeated Southeastern Conference-rival LSU (M: 0-1, 0-1 SEC; W: 1-1, 0-1 SEC), 162.5-122.5 (men) and 166-134 (women), respectively, on Friday in the Stephen O’Connell Center Natatorium. UF is now a combined 36-0 all-time against the Tigers (M, 22-0, W, 14-0).
Freshman Caeleb Dressel led the men’s team, as he captured a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (48.39) and 50-yard freestyle (19.94). Dressel’s time in the 50 Free was an NCAA ‘B’ standard time. In the three-meter dive, redshirt junior Zach Hernandez won the event and scored an NCAA provisional mark of 352.88 points.
The Gator women were led by junior Jessica Thielmann, as she won two individual events and was a member of the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay team. On the boards, UF was led by junior Kahlia Warner, as she placed first on the one-meter dive with a score of 289.05 points.
Florida now has a quick turnaround, as both the men's and women's teams will compete at Kentucky on Thursday, October 16 at 7 p.m. in Lexington, Ky. This will be the women's teams’ third SEC dual meet, while that meet will be the second for the UF men's squad.
TROY’S TALKING
On the team preparation that led to today’s performance…
“We had a really good week of training leading up to today. We were extremely aggressive with what we did this past week and we like to see how different people respond depending on how we train. But it’s all about getting better throughout the year.”
On what individuals stood out…
“Corey Main continues to impress me with what he’s doing. First meet for Dan Wallace being back, so obviously he’s a little rusty, but his technique looked good. On the women’s side, Lindsey McKnight continues to impress me and Jessica Thielmann had a really good week of training and for her to come in today and do what she did was great.”
SCHULTZ’S SPEAKING
On the diver’s performance…
“I thought we dove well. I put a little bit of a challenge on Kahlia Warner, as I had her do a front and reverse three-and-a-half pike, just to put a little pressure on her and we’ve got to have some practice on those dives. However, I’m just trying to get her ready for NCAA’s and that’s our focus for all our divers. It was a big improvement from last week, as we had more consistency across the board. We still have a long way to go, but we are getting pretty consistent and I’m happy with that.”
Diving Coach Dale Schultz
SERIES HISTORY
Following today’s victories, UF is now a combined 36-0 all-time against the Tigers. (M, 22-0, W, 14-0).
RELAY MAGIC
Florida notched three relay victories tonight and were led by the women, as juniors Sinead Russell, Lindsey McKnight and Natalie Hinds won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:41.17. The also women took home first-place in the 400-yard freestyle relay, as sophomore Alyssa Yambor-Maul, Hinds, McKnight and Thielmann clocked a time of 3:23.97.
For the men, junior Corey Main, redshirt freshman Enzo Martinez-Scarpe and freshmen Erik Kahr and Mark Szaranek won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:29.34.
GOING THE DISTANCE
Thielmann swept the distance events, winning the 500-yard freestyle in 4:49.02 and the 1,000-yard free in 9:55.52. Sophomore Mitch D’Arrigo and redshirt sophomore Nicholas Alexiou placed first each of those same two events for the men, with times of 4:29.43 and 9:30.87, respectively. The win was Alexiou’s first individual victory as a Gator.
BACK IT UP
The Florida women took home both backstroke races, beginning with Russell in 100 (54.18) and junior Ashlee Linn and redshirt freshman Georgia Hohmann tied for first in the 200 with an NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:58.08. Sophomore Jack Blyzinskyj won the 100 back for the men in 48.67 seconds.
I BELIEVE I CAN FLY
The Gator men won both 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly events, as Dressel won the 100 (48.39) and senior Matt Elliott placed first in the 200 with a time of 1:48.55.
FREESTYLING
Florida’s women won all three sprint events, as Hinds placed first in the 50-yard (22.66) and 100-yard (49.47) freestyle races and McKnight won the 200-yard free in 1:48.74. Both of Hinds’ times were NCAA ‘B’ standard marks.
The Gator men swept the same three events beginning with Dressel in the 50 (19.94), junior Corey Main in the 100 (44.81) and ending with junior Pawel Werner in the 200 (1:39.04).
BREASTSTROKE
Seniors Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez and Dan Wallace won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke races in times of 54.87 seconds and 2:04.32, respectively. Solaeche-Gomez’ time was an NCAA ‘B’ standard mark.
DOING IT ALL
Senior Carlos Omana placed first in the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 1:51.11.
POSTSEASON FOCUS
In addition to an outstanding night of first-place finishes, UF recorded seven NCAA ‘B’ standard marks throughout the dual meet.
· Caeleb Dressel (50 Free, 19.94)
· Zach Hernandez (Three-meter, 352.88)
· Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (100 Breast, 54.87)
· Natalie Hinds (50 Free, 22.66; 100 Free, 49.47)
· Georgia Hohmann (200 Back, 1:58.08)
· Ashlee Linn (200 Back, 1:58.08)
Sophomores Kara Kopcso and Colleen O’Neil each won two events but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Florida Gators on Friday afternoon in the O’Connell Center Natatorium. The Florida men defeated the Tigers 166-134 while the Lady Tigers suffered a 122.5-162.5 loss to the women’s team.
Kopcso notched wins in the 200 fly (1:58.34) and the 200 IM (2:01.63). The Mandeville native also finished second in the 100 fly with a time of 55.35. O’Neil swept the breaststroke events on the women’s side. In the 100 breast she finished with a time of 1:02.52 and finished in 2:18.34 in the 200 breast.
“It was a solid meet for our women and I'm proud of how they raced through the entire meet,” LSU Swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “Heading into the meet we knew where our strengths were in our line up and where there's were. We definitely left some points out there that would have made this meet really interesting.”
Junior Cassie Weil and transfer Andrew Suchla also took home wins on three-meter and one-meter respectively. Weil won three-meter with a score of 318.68 and finished second on one-meter with a final score of 269.56. Suchla finished second on three-meter (315.00) and finished with a score of 308.40 on one-meter, which is enough to qualify for NCAA Zones.
“I was really proud of how we competed today,” LSU Diving coach Doug Shaffer said. “Cassie had a great showing on three-meter and missed a couple of dives on one-meter. I also liked how Andrew performed in his first dual meet for us with an NCAA zone score.”
In the women’s swimming events, Amber Carter finished first in the 100 fly (53.89). The senior also touched the wall second in the 50 and 100 free with times of 22.91 and 50.29.
Sophie Weber also provided two quality second place finishes in the 200 fly (1:59.88) and 200 IM (2:02.04).
Junior Caley Oquist finished second in the 100 back with a time of 54.89 and third in the 200 back with a time of 1:58.31.
“To come into Gainesville and swim against a traditionally strong program like Florida definitely sets the tone for upcoming meets for us,” Geyer said. “There are some details within our races that will certainly be ironed out for future meets that only competition can show.”
Brandon Goldman notched the only win for the men’s team in the 200 back with a time of 1:49.48. The sophomore finished second in the 200 IM (1:53.07) and third in the 200 fly (1:49.78).
“Brandon put together three great races for us and it's fun that he's growing into a new event with the 200 fly,” Geyer added.
Senior Frank Greeff finished second in the 200 fly with a time of 1:48.97. The captain also finished third in the 100 fly with a time of 49.89.
Alex Linge finished second in the 100 free (46.20) and freshman Damen Pheiffer provided a nice second place finish in the 200 free with a time of 1:41.92. Marco Gonzalez also finished second in the 50 free (20.97) and third in the 100 free (46.78).
Senior Michael Young touched the wall second in both backstroke events with times of 49.98 and 1:49.80.
The women’s team returns to action next week when they travel to Dallas, Texas for the SMU Classic. The men’s team takes a couple weeks off before traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama with the full squad to take on Auburn and Alabama.
