Florida Tops Florida State in Sunshine Showdown

Sinead Russell qualifies third in the 200 backstroke.

Photo Credit: Peter H. Bick

TALLAHASSEE – The University of Florida swimming and diving teams raced to a sweep of in-state rival Florida State in the Sunshine Showdown on Saturday afternoon, with the men earning a 173-126 victory and the women taking a 185-115 win. Lindsey McKnight won three events for the Gators, while Jessica Thielmann, Arthur Frayler, Sinead Russell and Corey Main each won two. Chelsea Britt and Connor Knight doubled for the Seminoles.

Florida Press Release

The University of Florida’s No. 4-ranked men’s swimming & diving teams defeated No. 22 Florida State, 173-126. Meanwhile, UF’s No. 7 women’s squad down the 20th-ranked Seminoles, 185-115, on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida’s men and women continued its great success over FSU, as the men now lead the Seminoles 54-23-1 and the Gator women lead Florida State 41-3 all-time.

Junior Corey Main led the men’s team, as he swept the sprint events by placing first in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle races in times of 20.29 and 44.97 seconds, respectively. The Auckland, New Zealand native also finished runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle with a mark of 1:39.83.

The Gator women were led by junior Jessica Thielmann, as she won the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle events in 4:50.50 and 9:48.94, respectively. On the boards, UF was led by junior Kahlia Warner, as she placed first on the three-meter dive with a score of 334.42 points.

Overall, the Gators captured 19 first place finishes and registered eight NCAA ‘B’ standard times throughout the dual meet.

UF’s men now sport a 4-1 dual meet record, while the Gator women are a solid 4-2 so far this season.

Florida next competes at No. 10 Auburn on Jan. 24, before returning home a week later on Jan. 31 to finish off its regular season against No. 15 Tennessee in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Natatorium.

TROY’S TALKING

On his overall thoughts about the meet…
“It’s always good to come away with a victory. We raced very well throughout the meet and won a lot of close races. However, we still have plenty of things to clean up and improve upon going forward.”

GATOR DEBUTS

Four individuals made their Gator debuts today for UF’s women’s squad, including Sophia Batchelor, Georgia Marris, Amelia Maughan, Theresa Michalak.

GOING THE DISTANCE

In addition to Thielmann in the distance events, junior Arthur Frayler won the men’s 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle races in times of 4:26.36 and 9:03.96, respectively.

BACK IT UP

The Florida women took home both backstroke races, as junior Sinead Russell won each race with times of 54.77 (100-yard) and 1:58.74 (200-yard), respectively.

For the men, senior Christian Homer won the 100-yard backstroke in a time of 48.81 seconds and sophomore Jack Blyzinskyj placed first in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:50.21.

FREESTYLING

Florida’s women won two of three sprint events, as junior Natalie Hinds placed first in the 50-yard freestyle (23.10) and classmate Lindsey McKnight clocked the fastest mark in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.86).

The Gator men swept all three events with Main winning the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events and sophomore Mitch D’Arrigo taking home first place in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.21).

BREASTSTROKE

Seniors Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez and Matt Elliott won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke races in times of 55.00 seconds and 1:59.41, respectively. Meanwhile for the women, McKnight placed first in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:18.21.

DOING IT ALL

McKnight captured a first place finish in the 200-yard individual medley with a mark of 2:02.28.

POSTSEASON FOCUS

In addition to an outstanding night of first-place finishes, UF recorded eight NCAA ‘B’ standard marks throughout the dual meet.

· Matt Elliott (200 Breast)

· Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (100 Breast, 200 Breast)

· Natalie Hinds (100 Free)

· Georgia Hohmann (100 Back)

· Ashlee Linn (200 Back)

· Sinead Russell (100 Back, 200 Back)

Florida State Press Release

The (No. 22/20) Florida State swimming and diving teams fell to 1-3 for the 2014-15 season after dropping the Sunshine Showdown to (No. 4/7) Florida on Saturday at the Bobby E. Leach Center. The Gators took the men’s meet 173-126 as well as the women’s, 185-115.

“It’s a rivalry meet,” FSU head coach Frank Bradley said. “Each team comes in here wanting to win and it’s a battle from start to finish. I thought we competed well for this time of year and with the type of training we’re enduring. It’s tough but we’re focused on the end of the season and I’m really liking where we are right now.”

The women opened the meet with a victory in the 400 medley relay after a strong back half with the team of Bianca Spinazzola, Natalie Pierce, Chelsea Britt and Kaitlyn Dressel who posted a time of 3:40.79. Britt posted a 53.22 fly leg, which was almost five seconds faster that Florida’s ‘A’ team. Dressel also out split her opponent with a mark of 48.71.

“This is a great relay,” Bradley said. “Chelsea had a big fly leg and Kaitlyn looked very strong on the end. This race gave us some great confidence today and those ladies had great days all around.”

After the Gators swept the 1000 free they came back with a one-two punch in the 200 free as Josie Cuda was third with a time of 1:51.79. Once again, Florida held on to place first and second in the 100 back and Spinazzola followed in third at 55.41.

Pierce held off UF’s Theresea Michalak in the 100 breast, winning with a time of 1:03.38, while Pochowski finished third at 1:03.98.

Britt added another win for the Seminoles by posting a 1:58.26 in the 200 fly.

Dressel fell just shy of a win in the 50 free with a time of 23.12 as UF’s Natalie Hinds won with a 23.10, but she came back after the break and won the battle in the 100 free with a 49.46.

“She had a great meet,” Bradley said. “She was a little disappointed that she didn’t win the 50, but she came back and had a great 100. I like where she is heading into the post season.”

Florida would put the meet away after sweeps in the 200 back, 200 breast and 500 free before Britt cruised to a win in the 100 fly with a 53.98.

“Chelsea was dominant today in her races,” Bradley said. “She was in control and did very well.”

In diving, Katrina Young won the 1-meter with a score of 329.25 and placed second by one point on 3-meter at 333.45. Alexia Gonzalez qualified for the NCAA Zone B Qualifier in March after posting a score of 281.47 on 3-meter for fourth place.

“Katrina hasn’t really touched a springboard since November,” FSU head coach John Proctor said. “She’s got right back in the swing of things and did very well today. I was also very happy that Alexia got that zone cut. She’s been working very hard and it’s great to see that pay off.”

The Seminoles finished the meet by placing second in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:32.91 behind Dressel, Alexi Smith, Britt and Spinazzola.

“These girls battled until the end,” Bradley said. “Kaitlyn led off with a 22.81, which was faster than her individual. Our relays are really shaping up well down the stretch.”

The men came back to win the opening race in 400 medley relay with the team of Josh Friedel, Jason Coombs, Connor Knight and Jason McCormick, who posted a final time of 3:15.81.

“It was great to see the guys start off well in that event,” Bradley said. “We’ve been improving in that race. We really chipped away at their lead and Jason dove in and had a solid swim. That’s what we need from those guys.”

The Gators responded with sweeps in the 1000 and 200 free before registering a first and second place finish in the 100 back. Friedel was third with a time of 51.06.

Coombs was second in the 100 breast with a time of 55.08 before Knight cruised to a win in 200 fly with a solid 1:46.98 while Cole Hensley placed third at 1:50.33.

Florida touched with another one-two finish in the 50 free as McCormick finished third with a 20.90. Following the break, McCormick placed second in the 100 free with a time of 45.42 while Jemal LeGrand was third at 46.30.

Florida put up a sweep in the 200 back and a one-two punch in the 200 breast as Coombs finished third with a 2:02.08, but the Gators took home another sweep in the 500 free.

Knight swam another dominating 100 fly, winning with a time of 47.34 while Cadell Lyons followed in third with a 49.21.

“Connor stepped up in his races,” Bradley said. “There was no way he was going to lose any of his individual races today. He had that mindset and swam very solid.”

Coombs would pull out the win in the 200 IM with a time of 1:49.29.

In diving, the men were dominant and swept both boards. On 3-meter, Dylan Grisell placed first with a 411.52 ahead of Kalonji Cole (389.55) and Tyler Roberge (363.45). Dustin Miller finished in fourth at 321.43. Cole also turned in a personal best in the event.

On 1-meter, Cole won the event with a 331.42, edging out Grisell who turned in 331.12 for second place. Miller was third with a personal best at 308.02 and Roberge took fourth at 292.42.

“Those guys were outstanding today,” Proctor said. “They came out all guns blazing. From start to finish, I don’t think any of them missed a dive. I’m really liking what I’m seeing from these guys and I’m very encouraged heading towards the back half of the season.”

Florida State closed out the meet with a second place finish in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:21.61 with the team of Knight, McCormick, Kevin Rogers and Lyons.

The Seminoles will compete in their third and final ACC meet of the season on Friday, Jan. 9-10 as they head to No. 5/9 Louisville for a two-day dual.

“Another top10 program,” Bradley said. “They’re new to the conference, but they’re one of the best in the country. It will be another tough meet and it’s on the road. We’ll have to be better and compete next weekend.”

For more information on FSU swimming and diving visit Facebook and Twitter.

Results: Florida vs. Florida State

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Bill Bell

9 years ago

Donde sets Sr. Caeleb Dressel for the Gators?

Have seen his name in other results for Florida this season but nada here.

His sister Kaitlyn won the 100 free incidentally.

And anyone know y Sophia Batchelor transferred from Cal to Florida? Wonder if presence of fellow Kiwi,Corey Main is/was a factor?

And while I rail about foreign swimmers getting scholarships to American universities Gator boss Mike Troy brings in Batchelor ( NZL) and Theresa Mjchaelik (Germany). Florida has several,other prominent foreign swimmers on its roster including Spain’s Eduardo Solaeche Gomez (outstanding breaststroker-IMer). Scotsman Dan Wallace, a Commonwealth Games gold-medalist last summer in the IM, and Britain’s Georgia May Hohlman.

The Gators associate head coach is none other than Anthony Nesty’, Seoul Olympic gold-medalist in the 100 fly and originally from Surinam. Nesty was a multi NCAA fly gold-medalist for Florida a ” few moons ago” and is still the only Olympic gold- medalist from his country and all of Central- South America. (I’m tempted to say Troy coached Nesty while they were both @. Bolles but don’t hold me to it.)

Nesty beat America’s Matt Biondi @. Seoul by .o1– 53.00-53.01 — in the closest Olympic swimming final ever — excluding the 100 free tie between Americans Carrie Steinseifer and Nancy Hogshead four years earlier in Los Angeles.

Dunc1952

9 years ago

Caeleb lead off the Florida A in the 2×50 Free Relay at :20.32, but the relay was DQ’d.