Florida Women Upset Georgia in Athens For First Time in 25 Years

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

ATHENS, Ga. – For the first time in 25 years the University of Florida women’s swimming & diving team defeated Georgia in Athens. Vanessa Pearl led the No. 9 Gators past the No. 11 Bulldogs, 158-142, with two individual event wins and a relay victory at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on Friday.

With Georgia leading 133-131, Hannah Burns, Pearl, and Kelly Fertel swept the 400 IM and put the Gators back on top 147-136, with one event remaining. Burns posted an NCAA B Cut time with a 4:12.37, which is the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA. Pearl also notched an NCAA B Cut time after she placed second with a 4:13.02. Fertel completed the sweep with a 4:13.60. Florida led 147-136 with only the 400 Free relay left.

Bella Garofalo, Sherridon Dressel, Mabel Zavaros and Fertel sealed the victory for the Gators as they won the 400 Free with a time of 3:20.28. Their time was the fifth-fastest swim in the NCAA this season.

Florida jumped out to an early lead after Emma Ball, Pearl, Dressel, and Garofalo started the meet with a victory in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:40.04. Their time was the seventh-fastest time recorded so far this season.

Georgia went on to win the 1,000 Free and the 200 Free. The Bulldogs led 33-22 after the 200 Free.

In the 100 Back, Ball posted a time of 54.01 and placed first. Sydney Sell added a third-place swim with a season-best mark of 54.91. The points by Ball and Sell pulled the Gators within six, 40-34.

Pearl won the 100 Breast with a personal-best swim of 1:01.77, which is the 14th-best time in the NCAA. Layla Black finished in fifth with a time of 1:04.94. The two helped Florida pull within five, 49-44.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 65-47 after they swept the 200 Fly.

Mabel Zavaros swam a 1:59.62 in the 200 Fly and placed fourth. Hannah Burns placed fifth with a time of 2:00.13 and set a season best.

Garofalo and Dressel closed the gap to 71-60, after they finished first and second in the 50 Free. Garofalo posted a season-best time of 22.99, while Dressel added a season-best swim of 23.03.

At the conclusion of the 3-meter diving, Georgia held an 82-68 lead. Brooke Madden placed second with a combined score of 306.30. Elizabeth Perez set a personal best with a score of 292.80 and finished third.

Garofalo added a second-place finish in the 100 Free with a season-best swim of 50.12, fastest by a Gator this season. Dressel finished third with a season-best time of 50.18. The Bulldogs held a 94-75 lead after they placed first, fourth, and fifth.

Florida managed to gain some ground after Mabel Zavaros won the 200 Back with an NCAA B Cut and personal-best time in the 200 Back. Her time was the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA. Sell placed fourth with a 1:58.73 and Georgia Darwent finished in fifth with a time of 2:00.48. The Gators trailed 101-87.

Pearl won the 200 Breast with a time of 2:14.79. Burns posted a season-best time of 2:14.94 and placed second. Fertel completed the sweep for the Gators with a third-place swim of 2:15.62. The sweep by Florida pulled the Gators within one of the Bulldogs, 104-103.

Georgia extended its lead to 114-112 at the conclusion of the 500 Free. Ault placed second with a swim of 4:51.12. Braswell posted a third-place swim of 4:52.17. Savanna Faulconer posted a season-best time with a mark of 4:53.28.

Mabel Zavaros added a second-place swim in the 100 Fly with a personal-best time of 54.33. Jillian Hatch added a fifth-place finish with a mark of 56.04. Florida trailed 128-117.

Madden came up big for the Gators with a win in the 1-meter with a score of 313.73. Lauren Snider added a season-best score of 258.15 and placed third. Emma Whitner placed fourth with a score of 257.93. The three divers brought the team score back within two, 133-131.

The divers played a key role in setting the team up with the perfect opportunity to complete the come-from-behind victory.

It was a homecoming for Head Coach Jeff Poppell, as he returned to his Alma Mater. The Bulldog program honors a student-athlete with the Jeff Poppell Award for leadership each year.

Head Coach Jeff Poppell

“I’m so proud of this women’s team today!”
“It was a back-and-forth meet against a great Georgia program that hasn’t lost to Florida at home since 1993.”
“From divers to swimmers, freshmen to seniors, we received contributions from everyone today.”
“What an awesome way to start off the Florida-Georgia weekend!”
“Go Gators!”

Diving Coach Bryan Gillooly

“Today was definitely about the team. Georgia is a great SEC rival and a good matchup for us.”
“We are still pretty early in the season. Our goal was to contribute to the team and score team points in the diving events.”
“Brooke Madden overcame some recent injuries and put the team first today.”
“Emma Whitner has been solid all season. Both freshmen, Lauren Snider and Elizabeth Perez are continuing to improve.”

The No. 3 University of Florida men’s swimming & diving team defeated No. 9 Georgia 166-132, at the Gabrielsen Natatorium on Friday. Maxime Rooney led the Gators with two individual event wins and a relay victory.

Gators finished first and second in the 200 Medley Relay to set the tone early. Kacper Stokowski, Chandler Bray, Maxime Rooney, and Will Davis placed first with a time of 1:27.33, 4th-best in the NCAA. Bayley Main, Marco Guarente, Isaac Davis, and Christoph Margotti finished in second with a swim of 1:28.42. Florida jumped out to an early 15-2 lead.

Trey Freeman placed second with a time of 9:03.42 in the 1000 Free. Kieran Smith finished in fourth with a swim of 9:06.68. The Gators led 22-14 at the conclusion of the 1000 Free.

Khader Baqlah, Freeman, and Grady Heath swept the podium in the 200 Free. Baqlah posted a time of 1:35.96. Freeman notched a swim of 1:38.15. Heath finished with a season-best time of 1:38.20 and helped Florida extend its lead to 38-17.

Stokowski set an NCAA B Cut time of 46.76 and won the 100 Back with the second-fastest swim in the NCAA. Main finished in second with a mark of 47.84 and he set a season best time. The two put the Gators on top 53-21.

Stanley Wu finished second in the 100 Breast with a time of 55.19. He improved on a season best and tied the 16th-fastest time in the NCAA. Guarente added a fourth-place finish with a swim of 55.37. Wu and Guarente combined for six points, while three Georgia swimmers claimed 13 points.

In the 200 Fly, Santiago Corredor placed second with a mark of 1:47.09, the 11th-fastest time in the NCAA. Grant Sanders finished in fourth with a swim of 1:47.92. The Bulldogs pulled within eight, 65-47, after they claimed 13 points in the 200 Fly.

Rooney won the 50 Free with a season-best time of 20.24. Margotti placed second with a season-best time of 20.61. Will Davis added a swim of 20.69 and finished third. Isaac Davis clocked a fourth-place time of 20.84. After the event sweep, the Gators led 81-50.

Alex Farrow posted a personal-best score of 312.75 and placed second in the 1-meter. Nick Lydon added a personal-best mark of 305.10 and placed third for Florida.

After the Bulldogs closed the gap to 88-62 at the conclusion of the 1-meter, the Gators swept the 100 Free.

Baqlah won the 100 Free with a time of 44.19. Stokowski achieved a personal-best time of 44.75 and placed second. Heath added a third-place time of 44.87, while Margotti collected a season-best swim of 45.11.

Florida added another sweep in the 200 Back. Clark Beach led the field with a season-best time of 1:45.78 and the 10th-fastest mark in the NCAA. Dakota Mahaffey added a personal-best swim of his own, with a time of 1:48.06. Tyler Silver brought home a third-place time of 1:48.66.

Guarente, Wu, and Ross Palazzo placed third, fourth, and fifth, respectively in the 200 Breast. Guarente swam a season-best 2:00.25. Wu added a season-best swim of 2:01.61. Palazzo posted a time of 2:03.16.

Corredor claimed the top spot in the 500 Free with a time of 4:22.27, which is the fifth-fastest time in the NCAA this season. Rooney added a first-place finish in the 100 Fly with a personal-best swim of 47.79 and the 12th-fastest time in the NCAA. Will Davis added a third-place finish in the 100 Fly.

Head Coach Anthony Nesty

“Congratulations to Coach Poppell and Coach Hite. Our women were fantastic! This was a big win for our women’s Program.”
“Today was a great team win, which saw a great team effort from our men. Both swimmers and divers stepped up! We had some outstanding swims.”
“It was great to have Kacper back and it clearly showed in our performances.”
“We are looking forward to our bus ride home. We have our in-state rivals next week in FSU. This will be another great opportunity for our men to showcase their talent.”
“Thanks again to our support staff for their efforts on our behalf.”
“I would also like to thank Georgia for being a gracious host today.”

Diving Coach Bryan Gillooly

“Today was definitely about the team. Georgia is a great SEC rival and a good matchup for us.”
“We are still pretty early in the season. Our goal was to contribute to the team and score team points in the diving events.”
“Everyone stepped up and was very valuable in the two team wins. Freshman Nick Lydon made his Zone cut and Alex Farrow had a personal best in the 1-meter.”

The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with University of Florida Swimming and Diving. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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Laura M Wanco

5 years ago

Well,we’ll,well! Hope I get to work the NCAA’s I love college swimming….

Bonnie Downes Ellis

5 years ago

Building Character!!!