Gator Women Duel With Michigan and Stanford to Open 2008-09 Schedule
Thursday, October 16, 2008 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The Florida men's and women's swimming and diving teams kick off the 2008-09 season Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich., facing their first dual meets of the season on the road. The Gator men will go head-to-head with the Wolverines, while the Gator women will endure a triangular match-up with both the Michigan and Stanford squads from the Canham Natatorium on the University of Michigan campus. Meet time is slated for 7 p.m. (EDT).
Head coach Gregg Troy and the Gators face a challenge in the season-opener, as all three women's teams boasted top-10 finishes at the 2008 NCAA Championship meet last spring. Stanford placed third, Florida took sixth and Michigan finished ninth, while both the Michigan and UF men experienced success at the men's 2008 NCAA meet, with sixth and eighth-place finishes, respectively.
The Gator women have never faced the Stanford Cardinal in dual meet swimming action, but both the Florida men and women have a history with the Wolverines. With an incoming class of 33 freshmen, including 14 men and 19 women, and three transfers, Florida is stacked with a wealth of talent that will be tested first in Ann Arbor.
On the Men's Side
The UF and Michigan men will be meeting for the ninth time in the history of the series. The Wolverines own the all-time advantage with a 6-2 record over the Gators. Last season, Michigan visited Gainesville Oct. 19-20 for a two-day showdown at the O'Connell Center Natatorium. The Wolverines walked away with their sixth win over the Gators in a 326-272 decision.
The series has taken on a back-and-forth trend, with the last win for Florida coming during the 2006-07 season, when the Gators won, 135-106, in Ann Arbor.
On the Women's Side
The series history between the Florida and Michigan women boasts a different perspective. The two squads will meet for the eighth time overall Friday, with the Gators holding a dominating 7-0 undefeated record over the Wolverines.
In the last meeting, Oct. 19-20, 2007, last season, the Orange and Blue defeated Michigan, 354-285, on its home turf in Gainesville.
The Meet Lineup
400-yard Medley Relay
1,000-yard Freestyle
One-meter Diving
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Backstroke
100-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
50-yard Freestyle
Three-meter Diving
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
200-yard Breaststroke
500-yard Freestyle
100-yard Butterfly
10-minute break
400-yard Individual Medley
400-yard Freestyle Relay
**The women's competition will be a double-dual meet with each team earning dual scores against their two opponents; UF opponents being Michigan and Stanford.
Gator fans can track the meet online HERE for live results following each event. For complete results and a meet recap following Friday's competition, visit www.GatorZone.com.
-Go Gators!-
