Tuesday November 5, 2013
Southeastern Conference Names Pair of Gators Athletes of the Week
The Southeastern Conference named Mitch D’Arrigo (Rome, Italy) the SEC Male Freshman of the Week and sophomore Kahlia Warner (Queensland, Australia) the SEC Female Diver of the Week for their performances against Georgia last Friday in the O’Connell Center. The honor marks the second of the year for D’Arrigo and the first of her career for Warner.
The No. 2 Gator men defeated No. 6 Georgia by a count of 179-119. The No. 2 Georgia women defeated the No. 5 Florida women by a score of 162-132, although the Gators won nine of 16 events.
Warner was key to keeping the Gators within striking distance of the Bulldogs throughout the entire meet. At the beginning of the meet on the one-meter, Warner delivered a 299.55, one point below her season best. With the Gators trailing after nine events, Warner stepped up and dove her career best on three-meter, 340.43. Warner has qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships.
D’Arrigo continues to be one of the top newcomers in collegiate swimming. The freshman finished second in the 1000 freestyle in a career best and the nation’s fourth best time of 9:07.54. D’Arrigo returned to the water and went head to with Georgia’s Matias Koski, a 2012 Olympian and 2013 SEC Champion, placing second in the 500 free with the fifth fastest time in the country and an NCAA B cut of 4:24.78
The Gators will next compete in a dual meet as Alabama comes to Gainesville this Thursday. The meet will begin at 7 p.m.
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