No. 10 Gators Remains Undefeated with Convincing Win at No. 18 Minnesota

Friday, October 11

Minneapolis, MN

7 PM

Florida Gators

202

#18 Minnesota

Leah Braswell set a new personal-best in the 1,000 free during the Gator win Friday night.

No. 10 Gators Remains Undefeated with Convincing Win at No. 18 Minnesota

Friday, October 11, 2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Ryan Sosic

Full Results

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida's women's swimming and diving team went on the road and improved their record to 4-0 on the season with a 202-97 victory over Minnesota at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.

The Gators, winning 12 individual events and both relays, were led in the pool by Sherridon Dressel and Leah Braswell.

After a successful start to her season during the Gators' opening meets, Dressel claimed three individual victories in the 100 back (52.21), 200 back (1:55.86) and 100 fly (53.88). She now has won six events to start the season.

Braswell lifted the Gators right from the start, winning the opening event, the 1,000 free, in career-best fashion as she hit the wall in 9:49.24, two full seconds faster than her previous best.

The sophomore would go on to win the 500 free later in the meet with an effort of 4:50.57.

The Gators would post top-three finishes in four different events throughout the dual.

SEC Women's Diver of the Week Ashley McCool would lead the Gators' diving efforts, winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter. McCool hit a score of 305.85 on the 1-meter and registered a season-best score of 338.40 on the 3-meter.

Series History

In just their fifth matchup ever, the Gators improved their record against the Gophers to 3-1-1. UF walks away victorious for the first time since the 2007-08 season when they won the dual 168-132. In their last meeting in 2015-16, the two teams ended in a dead lock at 150 and the Gophers beat Florida 183-117 the previous season in 2014-15.

Gator Splashes

Taylor Ault finished runner-up in both distance events behind Braswell. In the 1,000 free, Ault would hit the wall in 4:52.39 and then add her second runner-up bid with an effort of 4:52.39 in the 500 free.
Winning her third event of the season, Nikki Miller took home the victory in the 200 fly with a swim of 2:02.62 with teammate Allie Piccirillo right behind her in second with an effort of 2:02.78. Miller would go finish in third behind both Braswell and Ault in the 500 free.
Talia Bates posted her fifth win of her freshman season with a victory in the 100 free with a time of 50.19. She also placed third in the 100 fly with a time of 55.30.
Gabby Hillis won her first event of the year in the 50 free, hitting the wall in 22.73. Bella Garofalo rounded out the top-three in the event with a time of 23.22.
In the 200 IM, Kelly Fertel posted the fastest time (2:02.47), with Kathleen Golding finishing in third with an effort of 2:03.40. Savanna Faulconer finished in fourth in 2:03.40.

Relay Magic

The 200 medley relay team of Emma Ball, Fertel, Bates and Garofalo won the event with a combined time of 1:39.45. Garofalo added the fastest split of 22.52.

In the final event of the meet, the Gators had the top two finishes.

In first, the team of Ball, Kirschtine Balbuena, Tori Bindi and Braswell hit the wall first in a combined effort of 3:26.21.

Behind them in the runner-up spot was the relay of Miller, Celi Guzman, Jillian Hatch and Ault. The team registered a combined swim of 3:27.01.

Quotables

Head coach Jeff Poppell- "I am so proud of these women and the way that they competed today. They have really approached this season with a heightened level of confidence and new sense of purpose. We're in a pretty good spot for early October and can't help but be excited for the months ahead!"

Head Diving coach Bryan Gillooly- "The travel squad for the women got it done in very strong fashion. Ashley McCool is really showing me what she is capable of. She is an excellent competitor and teammate and has really raised the level of this team. It is very exciting to see how things are developing."

Looking Ahead:

The Gators will take their five-meet win streak into a top-10 contest at No. 6 Missouri on the 18th, which marks their final road dual meet of 2019. Florida will then host two meets in a row (No. 8 Georgia and No. 24 Florida State) at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.

Florida's future schedule will remain tough as every dual meet opponent is currently slotted in the CSCAA Top 25 poll.

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