No. 6 Lady Gators Host No. 12 Cavaliers Jan. 7
Monday, January 5, 2009 | Women's Swimming & Diving
After nearly a month idle from swimming competition, the No. 6 Lady Gators (4-2, 2-1 SEC) and No. 7 UF men (4-1, 3-0 SEC) will hit the water Wednesday against two No. 12 squads in the Virginia Cavaliers at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium. The Florida diving squad, who competed at the Tennessee Diving Invitational Jan. 3-5, achieving two season-best times, a one-meter championship from junior Kara Salamone (Hollywood, Fla.) and a platform victory from sophomore Monica Dodson (Franklin, Ind.), will look to continue the success of the spring portion of the 2008-09 schedule against the Cavaliers when the two ranked teams showdown at 7 p.m. on the UF campus.
The Orange and Blue, led by head coach Gregg Troy, will look to carry a successful end of the fall campaign at U.S. Nationals and the Princeton Invite into the spring as they prepare for championship season. After nearly three weeks of winter training, the Gators are geared up for the challenge the Cavs bring to Gainesville. Florida entered December having posted over 80 percent season-best times, more than 40 NCAA provisional qualifying marks, one automatic qualifying standard and over 20 career-best marks between competition in Atlanta, Ga., at U.S. Nationals and the Princeton Invite in New Jersey.
Similar to the Orange and Blue, the Cavaliers have been idle through fall final exams and the holiday season, with their last outing in Charlottesville, Va., when the squad hosted the University of Virginia Invite, Dec. 4-6. Third Year Cavalier Mei Christensen led the way for Virginia on the women's side at the invite, recording a new ACC record and NCAA automatic qualifying mark in the 100 back. On the men's side, Matt McLean led the Cavs in the mile, also securing an automatic standard in the event.
The Florida vs. Virginia dual poses an interesting match-up between standout Gator freshman Teresa Crippen (Conshohocken, Pa.) and her older sister, Cavalier sophomore Claire Crippen. Both Crippens excel in the IM and fly events. Claire was the 2008 ACC Champion and an NCAA All-American in the 400 IM, while Teresa has secured NCAA provisional qualifying marks in the 400 IM, 200 back and 200 fly and holds the fastest times in the 200 fly and 200 back for the Orange and Blue so far this season.
At A Glance
No. 6 UF Women: 4-2 overall, 2-1 SEC
No. 7 UF Men: 4-1 overall, 3-0 SEC
No. 12 UVA Women: 6-0, 3-0 ACC
No. 12 UVA Men: 6-1, 3-0 ACC
The Last UF/UVA Match-Up
The Gators and Cavaliers last met in the 2007-08 season-opener last year in Charlottesville, Va. The UF men were victorious, sealing a 162-133 victory over UVA, while the Gator women captured a169-126 decision.
The Overall Series
MEN: The Gators hold a 6-0 series record over the Cavaliers
WOMEN: Similarly, UF holds the series advantage, 6-0, between UF and UVA
Meet Order of Events and Approximate Time Schedule
6:00 pm Diving (1M Men & Women)
7:00 pm 200 Medley Relay
1,000 Freestyle
200 Freestyle
100 Backstroke
100 Breaststroke
200 Fly
50 Free
8:00 pm (approximate) 3 Meter Diving (3M Women) - BREAK
8:30 pm (approximate) 100 Free
200 Backstroke
200 Breaststroke
500 Free (2 heats)
100 Fly
9:15 pm (approximate) 3 Meter Diving (3M Men) - BREAK
9:45 pm (approximate) 400 IM
400 Free Relay
While swimming action commences at 7 p.m. from the O'Connell Center Natatorium, both the men and women divers will kick off the Florida versus Virginia dual on the one-meter diving board at 6 p.m. Complete results, as well as a recap of action, can be found on www.GatorZone.com following the conclusion of competition.
-UF-
