{"id":623170,"date":"2025-09-27T13:43:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T20:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=623170"},"modified":"2025-09-27T13:43:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T20:43:17","slug":"florida-state-cruises-to-wins-at-home-invitational","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/florida-state-cruises-to-wins-at-home-invitational\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida State Cruises to Wins at Home Invitational"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida State Cruises to Wins at Home Invitational<\/strong><\/p>\n

A variety of swimming and diving programs converged on Tallahassee, Fla., for an early-season invitational this weekend, but the hosting Seminoles were victorious by significant margins. The Florida State “A” team scored 360 points to beat out Rice (255), West Virginia (205.5) and the FSU “B” team (159.5). On the men’s side, Florida State scored 365 points to comfortably out-score Purdue (239), WVU (186.5) and Tampa (167.5).<\/p>\n

The Seminoles team of\u00a0Alice Velden<\/strong>,\u00a0Martina Fanunza<\/strong>,\u00a0Maryn McDade<\/strong> and\u00a0Kiara Caamano<\/strong> won the 200 medley relay in 1:38.22, followed by Fanunza grabbing the team’s first individual win in the 50 breaststroke (28.78). Fanunuza would also take first in the 200 breast (2:17.24) and 100 breast (1:02.99).<\/p>\n

McDade topped the 50 freestyle (22.72), and Velden won the 100 backstroke (53.42), and in the rarely-contested 100 free relay, with each swimmer racing 25 yards, the team of McDade,\u00a0Caamano,\u00a0Sarah Evans<\/strong> and Velden clocked 41.00 for a comfortable win.<\/p>\n

Another 100-yard relay started day two, with Welden, Fanunza, McDade and Caamano touching in 45.52. McDade got victories in the 50 butterfly (23.98) and 100 free (50.03), and Sophie Freeman<\/strong> was first in the 200 fly (2:00.62). Further Seminole wins came from Velden in the 50 back (24.52) and\u00a0Caroline Agee<\/strong> in the 200 IM (2:02.79).<\/p>\n

In diving, FSU’s\u00a0Evelyn Hall<\/strong> won 3-meter (282.35) and -meter (252.00), and the meet concluded with McDade, Evans, Caamano and\u00a0Maysa Ratiu<\/strong> winning the 200 free relay in 1:31.68.<\/p>\n

Rice’s\u00a0Ava Portello<\/strong> took first in the 200 free (1:48.01), and\u00a0Lily Archibald<\/strong> was first in the 100 fly (53.65). The 100 IM went to\u00a0Bella Zhang<\/strong> in 56.57. Day two of competition saw Portello win the 500 free (4:50.08) and\u00a0Ava Hamblett<\/strong> take first in the 200 back (1:58.39). For West Virginia, MJ Gilligan<\/strong> won a narrow victory in the 400 IM (4:22.05)<\/p>\n