Florida opens 2018-19 with a big splash.
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Gators gave
Jeff Poppell a victory in his first meet as head coach, as the University of Florida defeated Florida Atlantic at the FAU Aquatic Center on Thursday. Florida posted a first-place finish in 14 of the 16 events.
Brooke Madden, a returning All-American, opened the season with two diving victories in the 1-meter and 3-meter. In the 1-meter, she tallied a score of 344.10 and followed that performance with a 275.70. Abby Howell and
Lauren Snider finished the 1-meter in second and third, respectively. Howell notched a score of 261.30, while Snider collected a score of 238.95.
Elizabeth Perez and
Teya Syskakis rounded out the top-3 in the 3-meter. Perez compiled a combined score of 249.52, while Syskakis finished with 239.92.
Kelly Fertel,
Mabel Zavaros, and
Rosie Zavaros, all picked up two first-place finishes each. Fertel won the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:15.11 and the 200-yard individual medley with a swim of 2:02.24.
Mabel Zavaros took first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, with a mark of 10:06.75, and the 500-yard freestyle, with a swim of 4:54.55. Rosie placed first in the 200-yard backstroke with a swim of 2:01.47 and the 100-yard backstroke in 57.32.
Emma Ball,
Nikki Miller,
Vanessa Pearl,
Kirschtine Balbuena, and
Georgia Marris, each earned the top spot for the Gators. Miller posted a time of 1:51.32 in the 200-yard freestyle. Pearl swam a 2:01.88 in the 200-yard butterfly. Balbuena finished the 50-yard freestyle in 23.76. Marris notched a time of 52.75 in the 100-yard freestyle. Ball clocked a time of 55.95 in the 100-yard butterfly.
The Gators defeated the Owls, but the final results are under review.
How it Happened
- The Gators placed first, second, and third, in nine different events.
- Florida swept the 200-yard medley relay. Ball, Pearl, Sherridon Dressel, and Bella Garofalo claimed first, with a combined effort of 1:42.79.
From the coaches – Head Coach Jeff Poppell
- "The first meet went the way we thought it was gonna go. We got better as the meet went on and as they raced more."
From the coaches – Diving Coach Bryan Gillooly
- "About what we expected for this time of year. Good, bad and everything in between."
- "Madden showed great veteran leadership and experience with some great early season diving making zone cuts in the first events."
Up Next
- The Gators travel to Coral Gables, Florida, for a matchup with Miami at 3 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 28.
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