Friday October 10, 2014
Gators Stay Perfect Against LSU
Gainesville, Fla.
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.”
Head Coach Gregg Troy
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)
