Florida National Champions Honored at White House Monday
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Monday closed one of the most successful seasons in history for two National Champion Florida athletics squads. Both the Gator Women's 2010 National Champion Swimming and Diving Team and the Florida Men's 2010 Indoor Track and Field National Champion Team topped off 2009-10's successes with a White House ceremony, hosted by President Barack Obama.
Florida's day trip to Washington D.C. consisted of lunch at D.C. hot spot Old Ebbitt Grill, a bus and walking tour of all the national monuments under warm, sunny skies and a reception on the South Lawn of the White House with refreshments prior to President Obama's celebration ceremony. Team camaraderie and plenty of photo opportunities capped off a memorable year for the two UF NCAA Champion teams, leaving both squads proud of their accomplishments, but refreshed, motivated and inspired for more successful seasons to come.
“This was a tremendous experience for all of our ladies, as well as the track and field guys,” swimming and diving head coach Gregg Troy reflected. “It was so good for everyone to get together, relive the situation and what we all accomplished last year and appreciate one another's camaraderie. It's a final wrap up for last year's successes and it's a great way to kick off this season with motivation to keep the success going. For me personally, I have a degree in history and political science, so I love coming to D.C. There is always something new to learn each time. It was also really neat to watch our athletes experience today, not only visiting the monuments, but for them to have the experience of socializing with the other national champion student-athletes on the White House lawn.”
The Gator teams were two of 33 NCAA Division I Championship teams recognized at the reception.
"It was an awesome experience for our team," Florida head track and field coach Mike Holloway said. "It has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy to go be able to go to the White House and meet the President. To be able to go to the White House for winning a national championship is also a dream come true. It was really awe-inspiring to see the President in person. It was almost overpowering."
Following his speech to the student-athletes and coaches Monday evening, President Obama offered congratulations and a handshake with nearly every student-athlete and coach in attendance.
“It was so surreal and inspirational,” UF 2009-10 senior swimmer Gemma Spofforth said. “I shook his hand and the best part is he made us realized how much we've actually accomplished being both athletes and students who go to school full-time as well.”
“Today was awesome, but I don't think it has set in yet,” 2010-11 junior swimmer Teresa Crippen added. “It was really cool to talk with the other national champion teams here at the White House today and also to meet the President – we shook his hand and he asked where we were from.”
The Florida men's track and field team claimed the first NCAA Indoor Championship in program history in March, 2010, scoring 57 total team points and winning by 13 points over second-place Oregon and Texas A&M. The Gators tied for the national lead in All-America honors at that event with 14.
UF's women's swimming and diving team captured the 2010 NCAA Championship, its second NCAA team title, totaling 382 points for a 2.5-point victory over second-place Stanford, the second-closest NCAA Championship swimming and diving competition in history. Twelve Gators earned All-America status, shattering five Florida records and reeling in two event national titles.
To read Spofforth's blog entry about UF's White House visit, click here.
