Florida Women Top Arkansas To Open Season

Photo Credit: Griffin Scott

GAINESVILLE, Florida, September 27. THE University of Florida women’s swimming and diving team defeated the University of Arkansas, 189.5-110.5, today to open the 2014-2015 season. Natalie Hinds led the way for the Gators with three individual victories.

Florida Press Release

The University of Florida Women’s Swimming and Diving team (1-0, 1-0 SEC) won 12 of 16 events, as the Gators defeated Southeastern Conference-rival Arkansas (0-1, 0-1 SEC), 189.5-110.5, on Saturday in the Stephen O’Connell Center Natatorium. This was each team’s season-opening meet.

The Gators were led by junior Natalie Hinds as she won three individual events and was a member of the first place 200-yard medley relay team. On the boards, UF was led by junior Kahlia Warner as she placed first in both the one-meter (290.55) and the three-meter (336.38) dives.

With the win, the Gators improved to 42-2 all-time in season-opening dual meets and 14-1 in SEC season-opening duals. The women’s team will look to take today’s momentum into next weekend as the Gators host the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational from, Oct. 3-5, in the O’Dome Natatorium. Both the men’s and women’s teams will be looking to win their fifth consecutive title at this meet. The Invite will be the first competition of the season for the men’s squad.

TROY’S TALKING

On the win…

“It’s a great way to open the season. It’s a conference opponent and we were able to give a lot of people some good experience, so that they can find out what it’s like in the SEC. It was a good performance, which is what we, as coaches like to see. We have a lot of work to do, but it’s about getting better every week as we have a long time between now and February.”

On Coach Schultz’s first meet as a Gator and how the divers performed…

“Coach Schultz and I had a great day today. This was a great start for him as a Gator. We won the boards and scored very well, especially against a team that he spent some time with, Arkansas. It was a great opportunity for him to get his feet wet and for our divers to get off on the right foot.”

SCHULTZ’S SPEAKING

On his first meet as a Gator against his former team…

“It was tough because I kept watching the Arkansas divers in the water during warmups and thinking, ‘oh I missed their dive’, but it was good. It’s good to get the first one out of the way with the transition that has happened.”

On Kahlia Warner…

“I was really excited for her. She’s really buying into what we’re doing. We are going to go back to practice and do a lot of board work. She’s still a little out of balance in her front approach. But like I said, she’s doing a great job and we are just trying to get her ready for the season.

SERIES HISTORY

Following today’s 189.5-110.5 victory, UF improved to 6-0 all-time all time against Arkansas.

OPENING DAY SUCCESS

The Florida women’s squad improved to 42-2 all-time in season opening dual meets, and 14-1 SEC season-openers.

ALL ABOARD

In his first meet as the University of Florida head diving coach, Dale Schultz tutored Warner to victories in both the one-meter and three-meter boards with scores of 290.55 and 336.38, respectively.

RELAY MAGIC

The Gator women notched victories in both relay events, as juniors Sinead Russell, Lindsey McKnight, Sierra Kuhn and Hinds won the 200-yard medley relay (1:40.22) and juniors Jessica Thielmann, Ashlee Linn, McKnight and Russell placed first in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:24.14).

GOING THE DISTANCE

Junior Megan Rankin captured her first win of the 2014-15 season, as she won the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:01.89.

BACK IT UP

UF swept the backstroke races as redshirt freshman Georgia Hohmann captured a victory in the 200-yard back (2:00.15), while Russell placed first in the 100-yard back with a time of 54.65 seconds. This was Hohmann’s first race as a Gator.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

The Gators swept the butterfly events as Hinds won the 100-yard fly (54.75) and sophomore Alyssa Yambor-Maul captured the 200-yard fly in 2:03.95.

SET HER FREE

Hinds won both of the sprint events, as she placed first in the 50-yard (22.49) and 100-yard (49.08) freestyle races.

THIELMANN ROUNDS IT OUT

Thielmann placed first in the final individual event of the day, as she won the 400-yard individual medley with a time 4:21.22.

UP NEXT

The Gators are back in action next weekend in the O’Dome when Florida hosts the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational from, Oct. 3-5. Both the men’s and the women’s teams will be competing and looking for their fifth straight titles at this meet.

Arkansas Press Release

Though the University of Arkansas women’s swimming and diving team collected four first place finishes in its SEC season opener, the Razorbacks ultimately fell to Florida 189.5-110.5 on Saturday.

Junior Anna Mayfield and senior Nikki Daniels led Arkansas, posting two individual event wins each. Mayfield was first victorious in the 200 yard freestyle (1:48.93) and then the 500 yard freestyle (4:49.42). Daniels swam two top times in the 100 yard (1:01.63) and 200 yard (2:16.25) breaststroke events.

With a time of 1:43.51, Mayfield and Daniels also teamed with senior Liz Braun and junior Maddie Monroe to claim second place in the 200 yard medley relay.

Junior Nina Drolc and Monroe went two-three in the 50 free with times of 23.16 and 24.12. Freshmen Taylor Weiss and Olivia Weekley also took second and third places in the 200 yard butterfly (56.59 and 57.17).

Despite the overall loss, Arkansas swimmers claimed seven third place finishes. Braun came away with two third places, swimming the 100 yard backstroke in 56.46 and the 200 yard backstroke in 2:02.30. Swimming the remaining third place times were senior Lauren Jordan (1000 yard freestyle in 10:13.47), Weiss (200 fly in 2:05.33), Drolc (100 free in 51.18), sophomore Aiden Lister (500 free in 5:01.25) and freshman Chloe Hannam (400 IM in 4:25.97).

In diving, freshman Nicole Gillis dove to a second place in the three-meter (280.28) while senior Meghan Clark took third in the one-meter (242.18)

To close the day, the 400 yard freestyle relay team of Drolc, Mayfield, Rachel Stoehr and Monroe took second (3:25.33).

Arkansas next hosts Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m.

For more information on Arkansas swimming and diving, follow @RazorbackSD.

Results: Arkansas vs. Florida

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