Gators Host SEC Diving Championships for First Time Since 2005
Friday, February 11, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Gators Host SEC Diving Championships for First Time Since 2005
WHO: University of Florida Men's and Women's Diving Teams
WHAT: 2011 SEC Diving Championships
WHEN: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 11-13, 2011 – ALL DAY
WHERE: Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium, Gainesville, Fla. (Located between Gates 2 & 3)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 5 University of Florida men's diving team and No. 7 women's squad return to the pool Feb. 11-13 as the Gators host the 2011 SEC Diving Championships for the first time since 2005. Prelims begin at 11 a.m. each day, with finals beginning at 5 p.m. each day except for Sunday (2:30 p.m.). Tickets to single sessions are $10 each, and can be purchased by calling (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800, or toll free (800) 344-2867, ext. 6800. Meet notes are available here.
GatorVision Online to Provide Free Live Video of SEC Swimming & Diving Championships
The University of Florida men's swimming and diving team has won 33 SEC Championships, more than half of the next-best total (Auburn, 15). The women's squad has captured a league-high 17 SEC titles, also more than half of the next-best total (Georgia, 7). The UF men have won 15 individual SEC Championships in the one-meter competition, 17 titles on the three-meter boards and one title on platform. The Gator women have won eight individual SEC Championships on the one-meter boards, five titles in the three-meter competition and captured their first-ever women's title on the platform at last year's SEC meet.
At the 2010 SEC Championships in Athens, Ga., head diving coach Donnie Craine earned SEC Women's Diving Coach of the Year honors, helping then-UF senior Kara Salamone become the first UF diver since 1986 to be named SEC Female Diver of the Year. Salamone also became the first Gator diver to ever bring home a conference title on the platform. Florida junior Anthony Lewark (Davie, Fla.) had the men's highest finish at the league's 2010 meet, taking fourth in the finals of the men's platform competition.
Senior Monica Dodson (Franklin, Ind.) has anchored the diving squads, being awarded SEC Female Diver of the Week twice this season. Dodson set the school record in the women's three-meter diving competition against Virginia on Oct. 11 with a score of 362.11. The lone senior on the women's swimming and diving team has already won nine events this season (two on the one-meter boards, five on the three-meter boards and two platform competitions).
Gator fans are also encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program via Twitter or Facebook.
