The Week That Was: Three Swimmers Injured In Ft. Lauderdale

Photo Courtesy: Mary Pruden

In a busy week for college swimmers across the country, tragedy struck the Ft. Lauderdale airport while several teams were coming to or leaving the sunshine state. Get the update on the teams affected and the other stories from this week in swimming in this edition of the week that was.

The Week That Was #5 – Weather Cancels College Meets in Southern U.S.

Photo Courtesy: Swimming World

It felt like winter weather crept up on every part of the country this week, ultimately affecting some much anticipated college competitions. Auburn and Texas A&M had their dual meet cancelled after several flight cancellations. The meet was originally postponed before the Aggie women’s team pulled out because they were unable to get to Alabama. The men’s-only meet was then later cancelled as weather then affected the Aggie men as well. Over at Virginia Tech, the second day of their tri-meet against Kentucky and Georgia Tech due to snowy road conditions. That led Georgia Tech’s 200 medley relay to suit up for a race anyways, swimming through the snow behind their hotel in Virginia. You can check out that video here.

The Week That Was #4 – Michigan Dominates Orange Bowl Classic

University of Michigan swimmer Matt Zimmerman swims in the 100-meter men's freestyle event Sunday, Jan. 3, 2015, at the Orange Bowl Swimming Classic in Key Largo, Fla. Michigan took top honors in women's and men's divisions. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY (Steve Frink/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)

Photo Courtesy: Steve Frink

The University of Michigan Wolverines were dominant at the Orange Bowl Swim Classic in the Florida Keys this week, setting 10 new Orange Bowl event records and taking both the men’s and women’s meets by large margins. The meet was held in short course meters. On the women’s side, freshman Vanessa Krause was the standout performer for the women, setting two individual meet records and contributing to two record setting relays. Krause won the 50 (27.84) and 100 (1:00.92) butterfly in new meet records while also contributing to record-setting 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.

On the men’s side, Michigan broke two individual event records. Senior Vinny Tafuto won the 50 butterfly in 23.79 and junior Tristan Sanders won the 100 backstroke in a record setting 54.07. Based on the results from the meet, Michigan swept the Big Ten Honors this week, winning men and women’s freshman and swimmer of the week. You can find full results from the 2017 Orange Bowl Swim Classic by clicking here.

The Week That Was #3 – Olympians Highlight Psych Sheets In Arena Pro Series

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; A general view of the pool ahead of the the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The first stop of the 2017 Arena Pro Series will take place next week in Austin, Texas at the famed Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. USA Swimming released the psych sheets for the meet in advance of the January 13-15 competition that runs Friday-Sunday next week. Several Olympians will be on hand at the meet making their 2017 competition debut, including 16-year-old Penny Oleksiak, who tied for the gold medal in the 100 freestyle along with Simone Manuel this past summer. Oleksiak will go into this meet as the top seed in that event along with the 100 butterfly. Another gold medalist making his return to competition will be Matt Grevers, who has not competed since missing a spot on the Olympic Team this summer by just one spot in the 100 backstroke. Other U.S. Olympians competing include Ryan Held, Hali Flickinger, Melanie Margalis, Josh Prenot, Jacob Pebley and Amanda Weir. Click here to view the full psych sheet from USA Swimming.

The Week That Was #2 – Georgia Continues Dual Meet Win Streak

during the Bulldogs' swim meet against Florida at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga., on October 28, 2016. (Photo by Cory A. Cole)

Photo Courtesy: Cory A. Cole

The Georgia women’s team opened their second semester of competition at home Saturday, defeating Arkansas 180.5-113.5. The Bulldogs actually won every event on the schedule, with Olivia Smoliga winning the 100 free and 100 back, Emily Cameron sweeping the breaststroke events, Megan Kingsley winning both butterflys and Stephanie Peters taking first in both the 500 and 1000 free. The win is actually Georgia’s 103rd consecutive dual or tri-meet win in Athens, and the team is undefeated in 39 dual meets going back to 2013. Head coach Jack Bauerle’s team has also won three National Championships during that span.

The Week That Was #1 – Three Swimmers Injured In Fort Lauderdale Shooting

Photo Courtesy: Mary Pruden

Tragedy struck Ft. Lauderdale this week when a man opened fire in the baggage claim area of the Ft. Lauderdale airport, killing five individual and wounding six. Ft. Lauderdale and the surrounding area is one of the most popular for college swim teams this time of year who are heading south for their winter training trips. While no swimmers were directly hurt from the gunman, who is now in custody, the University of Vermont issued a statement reporting that three of their athlete were injured during the evacuation of the airport. One of the athletes suffered a broken foot, while two others suffered “light to moderate injuries” that were treated by an athletic trainer. The team was reportedly heading from their training trip to a tri-meet with UMBC and Howard. Several other teams were either headed to the airport at the time of the shooting or in a separate area of the building, and so far there have been no other reports of swimmers or divers injured in the incident. You can read the full statement from the University of Vermont here.

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