Trio of Gators Named Southeastern Conference Athletes of the Week
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The University of Florida swimming & diving teams garnered three Southeastern Conference weekly honors, conference officials announced Tuesday. Two Gators are from the women's squad including juniors Jessica Thielmann (SEC Female Swimmer of the Week) and Kahlia Warner (SEC Female Diver of the Week). Meanwhile, freshman Caeleb Dressel earned the SEC Male Freshman of the Week award on the men's side. The trio earned the accolades for their performances in the team's first few weeks of action, as these are the SEC's first weekly awards given for the 2014-15 season.
UF last competed on Oct. 10 in Gainesville when the Gators won a combined 23 of 32 events, as Florida defeated SEC-rival LSU, 162.5-122.5 (men) and 166-134 (women), respectively. UF is now a combined 36-0 all-time against the Tigers (M, 22-0, W, 14-0).
The honor marks Warner's third career weekly award, while it was the first for Thielmann and Dressel.
Thielmann notched two victories in UF's season opening meet against Arkansas. She won the 400-yard individual medley (4:21.22) and was a member of the Gators' first-place 400-yard freestyle relay team. At the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invite, she won the 500-yard freestyle (4:47.82) and recorded the nation's current top time in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:27.06). The Newcastle, England, native then picked up three more wins in UF's meet vs. LSU. She took the top spot and posted the nation's best time in the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.02), while finishing first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, second in the 200-yard freestyle and was part of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay.
Warner won both boards in UF's season-opening dual meet against Arkansas, as she posted scores of 290.55 in the one-meter and 336.38 in the three-meter. She captured victories again on both boards at the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational, and scored a career-high 317.93 points on the one-meter. Warner then took first place in the one-meter in UF's dual meet against LSU with 289.05 points, while finishing second in the three-meter with 288.45 points.
Dressel made his UF debut at the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational, where he was a member of all five of UF's winning relay teams and earned an individual win in the 100-yard butterfly (47.74). He then took the top spot and achieved an NCAA 'B' standard time in the 50-yard freestyle (19.94) against LSU. In the Gators' win over the Tigers, Dressel also finished first in the 100-yard butterfly and was part of the 200-yard medley relay team that finished second.
Florida will be idle next weekend for the first time in a month, as it next competes at Georgia on Friday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. That will be the women's teams' fourth SEC dual meet, while it will be the third for the UF men's squad.
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