WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB
January 17, 2011
Florida State freshman Tyler Sell helped his senior teammates go out in style in their final home meet on Saturday at the Bobby E. Leach Center in Tallahassee.
Sell was the only men’s double winner for Florida State in the No. 19-ranked Seminoles’ victory over Clemson, 187-113. The No. 25 Seminole women also won, 188-107.
Sell won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:38.56 and 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:25.47. Sell was also third in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.40.
“I am just really happy for the seniors, it was a great way to go out,” FSU head coach Neil Harper said.
“I was kind of worried not knowing how Clemson would come out because they are a dangerous program, but I was happy that we grabbed the meet by the horns and got after it.”
The divers were particularly impressive sweeping the top three men’s and women’s places.
In the women’s competition, SOFLO’s Tiffany Oliver, also a freshman, anchored the winning 400-yard medley relay that won in 3:48.96.
Oliver was also second in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.92, 1/100ths behind Clemson’s Meg Anderson and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle in 53.82.
The Seminoles will be tested this weekend when they take to the road against unbeaten Alabama.
Hurricanes Win, Hatic Finishes Second
SOFLO’s Dana Hatic finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:24.06 as University of Miami dominated its tri-meet against Florida International University and Central Connecticut State at FIU’s Bay Vista Aquatics Complex.
The Hurricanes (6-1) won 10 of 13 events against the Golden Panthers and Blue Devils and won its fourth and fifth consecutive wins of the season.
“Coming out of winter training, I thought the team did a good job,” UM coach Christie Shefchunas said.
“With only four weeks remaining until the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, we really tried to use this race as good race practice preparing for the meet.”
Hatic was also a member of the Hurricanes “B” 400-yard medley relay that finished second in 3:58.96.
The Hurricanes conclude their dual meet season on Friday, January 21 when they host Florida Atlantic University at 3 p.m. It will also serve as Senior Appreciation Day, the first recruiting class of Shefchunas.
“Senior Day will be special to me,” Shefchunas said. “These seniors were my first recruiting class and that’s obviously going to be a big deal.
“As far as the last meet is concerned, in general, we’ll use it as another good opportunity to get ready for ACC’s and hope to capture a win and finish the season strong.”
Gators Sweep Florida Atlantic, McKnight Places Fourth
Buoyed by depth and talent, twenty different Florida swimmers and divers won 27 of the 28 individual events and both relay events as the Gators swept FAU men, 175-114 and women, 178-111.
The No. 5-ranked Gator men improved to 4-2 overall and bettered its 14-0 all-time mark against FAU.
SOFLO’s Rafael Pena of FAU was third in the 400-yard individual medley in 4:12.02, fourth in the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:43.58 and fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:11.47.
The No. 6-ranked women are 4-3 and 15-0 against FAU as SOFLO’s Taylor McKnight, a freshman, finished fourth for the Gators in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:07.94.
“We were a little bit erratic, but I was really proud of how tough the women competed in light of the sickness that’s been going around the team lately,” associate head coach Martyn Wilby said. “For the men, we had some young swimmers do well which is good to see with several big weekends on the horizon.”
Freshman diver Mikey Lewark of Davie posted career-highs in both the men’s 1- and 3-meter springboards. Lewark won 1-meter with 337.66 and 3-meter with 357.83.
Louisville Men Sweep Cincinnati
SOFLO’s Kevin Bandy, a sophomore at Louisville, finished fourth in the 200-yard butterfly in 1:54.66 as the men’s team topped Big East rival Cincinnati, 214-69 at the Ralph Wright Natatorium in Louisville.
“It was good to race again,” said Louisville coach Arthur Albiero, whose team hadn’t competed since December 3. “We responded well to the challenge of racing with the championship mindset. We are in a good place but we need to continue to step up our preparation in the weeks to come.”
Bandy was also tenth in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:40.14.
Michigan, SOFLO’s Moodie Tops Northwestern
In a double dual meet in Evanston, Ill., No. 15-ranked University of Michigan defeated Northwestern, 155-145 at the Norris Aquatics Center.
SOFLO’s Natasha Moodie anchored the Wolverines winning 400-yard medley relay that won in 3:44.97 and runner-up 400-yard freestyle relay (3:25.52). Moodie, 19, also was third in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.68 and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle in 51.84.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
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