Eleven SOFLO Swimmers Headed To All-Star Meet This Weekend

By Sharon Robb
FORT PIERCE, March 21, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club has eleven swimmers and one coach on the Florida Gold Coast All-Star team for this weekend’s All-Star dual meet against Florida Swimming at Indian River State College’s Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex.

SOFLO has seven girls and four boys on the team for the three-day meet that runs from Friday night to Sunday morning.

The girls who qualified are Catalina Akpabio, 10, Jenesys Amores, 14, Jianna Amores, 12, Jemma Baldwin, 12, Elise Dinehart, 14, Laila Harran, 13, and Ellie Jackson, 12.

The boys who qualified are Connor Jimenez, 13, Mason Jimenez, 14, Ethan Phan, 10, and Maximiliano Remmele, 13.

SOFLO age group coach Isidro (Issy) Planell is head coach.

A fun and exciting new four-team meet format has been developed that mixes the top athletes from both Florida Swimming and Florida Gold Coast via a draft format. The All-Star meet will be a winner-take-all, and one team will have bragging rights until next year. This year’s four teams are the Rays, Barracudas, Gators, and Sharks.

The top six finishers at the FGC 14&Under Age Group Championships in Coral Springs qualified for the team. Several FGC swimmers turned down spots because of spring break vacations.

The full FGC All-Star roster has yet to be posted on the Florida Gold Coast website.

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast vs. Florida Swimming All-Star Dual Meet

When: Friday-Sunday

Schedule: Session I, Friday 5:30-8 p.m.; Session II, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, Session III, 3-6 p.m.; Sunday, Session IV, 9 a.m.-noon, awards, noon.

Where: Indian River State College, Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce.

Of note: Admission is $5. The River Rats Swim Team and Indian River State College are hosting the meet. For more information call 772-462-7760.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Virginia Cavaliers Three-Peat NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming And Diving Championships

By Sharon Robb
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Was there really any doubt about University of Virginia’s powerhouse team?

The Cavaliers, coached by Todd DeSorbo, dominated the field over four days to win their third consecutive NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship Saturday at the Allen Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

The Cavaliers won with a 127-point cushion. Virginia had 541.5 points, just 10 points fewer than in last year’s victory. Texas finished second with 414.5 points and Stanford was third at 333. University of Florida was ninth with 179 points.

The Cavaliers won 11 events and broke six NCAA records to officially reach the level of dynasty.

Virginia iced the win with a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:05.84, a NCAA and American record with Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, Maxine Parker and Gretchen Walsh.

For first time since 2018, a team swept all five relays at NCAAs. The 800 free relay win on the opening night was an upset over Stanford. Only three other teams have accomplished the feat in the history of the NCAA Women’s Championships.

Virginia is now the sixth women’s team to win the national championship in at least three consecutive seasons, joining Texas (five consecutive from 1984 to 1988), Stanford (five from 1992 to 1996), Georgia (three from 1991 to 2001), Auburn (three from 2002 to 2004) and the most recent Stanford team (three from 2017 to 2019).

“So cool,” Virginia swimmer Ella Nelson said. “After our first year, it was a terrible time with COVID taking it away from us. We were kind of the underdogs since we had never won it before my second year, and then last year, we had a big target on our back. It was a lot of pressure. This year, we have just been having so much fun. Obviously, it’s been showing in the pool that we haven’t let the pressure get to us, but we’ve just been having so much fun.”

Gretchen Walsh, the last swimmer off the block, won the Cavaliers’ first event of the evening, the 100-yard freestyle in a pool record 45.61, winning the event for the second straight year.

Teammate Katie Douglass followed with a win in the 200 breaststroke in 2:01.29. In her final individual college swim of her career, Douglass broke her own NCAA and American records. It is the third time she has broken the American record this season. She finished the meet winning all three of her individual events.

Alex Walsh was second in the 200 butterfly in 1:50.23.

Here is the complete list of 11 NCAA titles Virginia won this week:

200-yard medley relay: Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Lexi Cuomo, Kate Douglass [NCAA and American record]
800-yard freestyle relay: Aimee Canny, Alex Walsh, Reilly Tiltmann, Ella Nelson [school and pool record]
200-yard individual medley: Kate Douglass [NCAA and American record]
200-yard freestyle relay: Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Lexi Cuomo, Maxine Parker [meet record]
400-yard individual medley: Alex Walsh [program record]
100-yard butterfly: Kate Douglass [NCAA and American record]
100-yard backstroke: Gretchen Walsh [NCAA and American record]
400-yard medley relay: Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass, Aimee Canny [pool record]
100-yard freestyle: Gretchen Walsh [pool record]
200-yard breaststroke: Kate Douglass [NCAA and American record]
400-yard freestyle relay: Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, Maxine Parker, Gretchen Walsh [NCAA and American record]

SATURDAY RESULTS
TEAM TOTALS: 1. Virginia 541.5, 2. Texas 414.5, 3. Stanford 333, 4. Louisville 288, 5. NC State 263, 6. Ohio State 223, 7. Indiana 219, 8. Tennessee 214, 9. Florida 179, 10. UNC 152, 22. Miami 36, 32. Florida State 11, 38. Florida International 4.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Kensey McMahon, ALA 15:43.84, 2. Ching Hwee Gan, IU 15:46.28, 3. Paige McKenna, WIS 15:48.71, 13. Emma Weyant, UF 16:01.59, 24. Anna Auld, UF 16:10.61, 30. Blair Stoneburg, WIS 16:15.44.

200-yard backstroke: 1. Claire Curzan, STAN 1:47.64, 2. Phoebe Bacon, WIS 1:49.28, 3. Isabelle Stadden, CAL 1:49.38.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Gretchen Walsh, VA 45.61, 2. Torri Huske, STAN 46.46, 3. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 46.58.

200-yard breaststroke: 1. Kate Douglass, VA 2:01.29, 2. Anna Elendt, TEX 2:03.26, 3. Ella Nelson, VA 2:04.33.

200-yard butterfly: 1. Emma Sticklen, TEX 1:49.95, 2. Alex Walsh, VA 1:50.23, 3. Kelly Pash, TEX 1:51.89.

Platform diving: 1. Delaney Schnell, ARI 352.65, 2. Montserrat Lavenant, LSU 347.00, 3. Viviana Del Angel, MINN 344.55, 14. Maha Gouda, FIU 257.05.

400-yard freestyle relay: 1. Virginia 3:05.84 (Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh, Maxine Parker, Gretchen Walsh), 2. Stanford 3:08.54, 3. Louisville 3:09.57, 8. Florida 3:12.62.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Virginia Cavaliers Poised To Win Three-Peat Tonight At NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

By Sharon Robb
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Virginia is one day away from being crowned champions of the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship at the Allen Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

The rivalry showdown between Virginia and Texas never really materialized but the teams are headed to a one-two finish over a field of 35 teams.

After winning the 400-yard medley relay Friday night the Cavaliers are looking to sweep the relays on Saturday, the final night of competition in the 400 freestyle.

The foursome of Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass and Aimee Canny won in 3:22.39. With that win, Virginia finished 374.5 points and still lead 102 points ahead of Texas and expected to clinch their third consecutive title for a three-peat.

“I think for us, the relay sweep is a huge accomplishment for us,” Alex Walsh said. “I was talking to Maddie Donahoe yesterday, and she said the last time a team has put together this multi-year performance was the legendary Stanford team when they had [Katie] Ledecky, Lia Neal, Simone [Manuel] and Ella Eastin. Thinking that we are kind of on the same level as that is pretty shocking because I think we’ve all looked up to those people throughout our whole middle school and high school careers. It’s pretty awesome to think about that accomplishment in the context of history.”

Other winners for Virginia were Alex Walsh in the 400 IM in 3:57.24, Kate Douglass in the 100 butterfly in 48.46 and Gretchen Walsh in the 100 backstroke in 48.26.

University of Miami senior Mia Vallee was fifth in 3-meter springboard with 355.65 points.

ESPN+ is providing live digital coverage for preliminary and finals sessions through Saturday. Tape-delayed coverage of the women’s championships will be on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. EST on March 29.

MEET SCHEDULE
Saturday, prelims 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, Platform dive, 1650 free, 400 free relay.

FRIDAY RESULTS
TEAM TOTALS: 1. Virginia 374.5, 2. Texas 272.5, 3. Stanford 239, 4. Louisville 191.5, 5. NC State 190; STATE SCHOOLS: 7. Florida 146, 19. Miami 36, 30. Florida State 7, 35. Florida International 1.

400-yard individual medley: 1. Alex Walsh, VA 3:57.24, 2. Ella Nelson, VA 3:59.54, 3. Emma Weyant, UF 4:03.50; 15. Paige MacEachern, UCLA prelims, 4:07.46, finals 4:09.76, 26. Kathleen Golding, UF 4:12.09, 34. Anna Auld, UF 4:14.30.

100-yard butterfly: 1. Kate Douglass, VA 48.46, 2. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 48.51, 3. Torri Huske, STAN 48.96.

200-yard freestyle: 1. Taylor Ruck, STAN 1:42.36, 2. Brooklyn Douthwright, TENN 1:42.41, 3. Aimee Canny, VA 1:42.50; 29. Blair Stoneburg, WIS 1:45.94

100-yard breaststroke: 1. Lydia Jacoby, TEX 57.03, 2. Mona McSharry, TENN 57.16, 3. Anna Elendt, TEX 57.29; 16. Christie Chue, FIU, prelims 59.10, 59.59.

100-yard backstroke: 1. Gretchen Walsh, VA 48.26, 2. Katharine Berkoff, NCS 49.13, 3. Claire Curzan, STAN 50.08.

3-meter diving: 1. Aranza Vazquez Montano, UNC 385.80, 2. Anne Fowler, IU 369.90, 3. Brooke Schultz, SCAR 364.25, 5. Mia Vallee, Miami 355.65.

400-yard medley relay: 1. Virginia 3:22.39 (Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, Kate Douglass, Aimee Canny), 2. NC State 3:24.66, 3. Texas 3:25.18, 7. Florida 3:28.36.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Two-Time Defending Champion Virginia Leads After Day Two Of NCAA Division I Women’s Championships

By Sharon Robb
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Start polishing the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship trophy for two-time defending champion University of Virginia. They are that good.

On Day One, the Cavaliers quickly grabbed the lead with 208.5 points Thursday at the Allen Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. And the best is yet to come!

Kate Douglass won Virginia’s first event in style smashing the NCAA and American record in the 200-yard individual medley in 1:48.37 ahead of Stanford’s Torri Huske in 1:50.06. Defending champion Alex Walsh of Virginia was third in 1:50.07.

Alabama’s fifth-year senior and No. 23 seed Kensey McMahon was a surprise winner in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:36.62. Favorite Erica Sullivan of Texas was fourth in 4:37.28. Florida’s Emma Weyant of Sarasota was sixth in 4:38.46.

LSU’s Maggie MacNeil won the 50-yard freestyle in an NCAA record 20.79. Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh was second in 20.85.

University of Miami senior diver Mia Vallee finished third on 1-meter with 338.10 points. North Carolina’s Aranza Vazquez Montano won with 358.75.

Virginia finished Day One winning another event in the 200-yard freestyle relay in a meet and pool record 1:24.51 with Kate Douglass leading off followed by Gretchen Walsh, Lexi Cuomo and Maxine Parker.

On Wednesday, Virginia swept the 200-yard medley and 800-yard freestyle relays.

ESPN+ is providing live digital coverage for preliminary and finals sessions through Saturday. Tape-delayed coverage of the women’s championships will be on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. EST on March 29.

MEET SCHEDULE
Friday, prelims 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter dive, 400 medley relay.
Saturday, prelims 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, Platform dive, 1650 free, 400 free relay.

WEDNESDAY RESULTS
200-yard medley relay: 1. Virginia 1:31.51, 2. NC State 1:32.42, 3. Texas 1:33.22, 17. Florida State 1:36.93, Florida DQ.
800-yard freestyle relay: 1. Virginia 6:49.82, 2. Stanford 6:50.77, 3. Texas 6:55.55, 6. Florida 6:57.72.

THURSDAY RESULTS
TEAM TOTALS: 1. Virginia 208.5, 2. Texas 162, 3. Louisville 117, 4. Stanford 106, 5. Ohio State 93, 7. Florida 76, 20. Miami 16, 26. Florida State 7.

500-yard freestyle: 1. Kensey McMahon, ALA 4:36.62, 2. Abby Carlson, WIS 4:36.96, 3. Olivia Bray, TEX 4:37.02, 6. Emma Weyant, UF 4:38.46, 34. Blair Stoneburg, WIS 4:42.60, 42. Anna Auld, UF 4:44.36, 62. Paige MacEachern, UCLA 4:47.41.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Kate Douglass, VA 1:48.37, 2. Torri Huske, STAN 1:50.06, 3. Alex Walsh. VA 1:50.07, 44. Kathleen Golding, UF 1:58.05.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 20.79, 2. Gretchen Walsh, VA 20.85, 3. Gabi Albiero, LOUIS 21.30.

1-meter diving: 1. Aranza Vazquez Montano, UNC 358.75, 2. Delaney Schnell, ARIZ 340.05, 3. Mia Vallee, UM 338.10.

200-yard freestyle relay: 1. Virginia 1:24.51, 2. Stanford 1:25.70, 3. Louisville 1:25.73, 7. Florida 1:27.31.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Dylan Carter Wins, Breaks Own National Record; Kaii Winkler Breaks NAG Record On Day Two Of TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale

By Sharon Robb
FORT LAUDERDALE, March 2, 2023—Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago lowered his own national record and won the 100-meter freestyle Thursday at the TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.

Carter, 27, a Plantation American Heritage alum, won in a best time 48.28, dropping 0.02 seconds and breaking his own national record of 48.30 set at the 2022 World Championships. In morning prelims, he was fourth fastest in 48.84. He pocketed $1,500 in prize money.

In the men’s 100-meter freestyle, Kaii Winkler, 16, of Eagle Aquatics swam the third fastest time in prelims in a best time 48.81, breaking the National Age Group 15-16 record. He finished fourth in finals in 49.11. It is the first time the NAG has dipped under 49 seconds.

In the women’s 50-meter backstroke, Eagle Aquatics teammate Erika Pelaez swam the fifth fastest time in prelims in 28.68 to make her second A final and finished sixth in finals in 29.02. Pelaez was also fifth seed in the 100-meter freestyle in 55.12 and finished eighth in 55.16.

University of Florida commit Julia Podkoscielny, 18, of Pine Crest Swimming was ninth in the 50-meter backstroke in a best time 29.47, dropping 0.16. She was 29th in the 400 freestyle in 4:29.57. She has the 200 backstroke, 400 IM, 100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke and 200 IM left to swim.

Eagle Aquatics’ Finn Winkler, 18, was 16th in the 50-meter backstroke in 26.98. He qualified 16th in prelims in 26.69.

South Florida Aquatic Club’s top finisher was Honduran Olympian Julio Horrego, 14th overall in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:02.95. Horrego just missed finals by two spots in prelims in 1:02.52.

SOFLO Thursday prelim results:
Julio Horrego, 24, 100-meter breaststroke, 10. 1:02.52.
Maddie Smutny, 200-meter butterfly, 17. 2:25.03.
Olivia Dinehart, 18, 100-meter breaststroke, 20. 1:12.18.
Elena Dinehart, 18, 50-meter backstroke, 28. 31.23, time drop 0.16.
Ricardo Roche, 23, 50-meter backstroke, 39. 28.61.
Javier Colmenares, 16, 100-meter breaststroke, 51. 1:06.74.

SOFLO’s swimmers have the following events left to swim: Javier Colmenares, 50 breaststroke 30.76Y; 50 butterfly 27.80LB; Elena Dinehart, 50 butterfly 32.11LB; 200 backstroke 2:17.97L; Olivia Dinehart, 50 breaststroke 33.81L; 400 IM 4:59.47L; 200-meter breaststroke 2:34.53L; Luciano Gonzalez, 50 butterfly 24.50L; 50 freestyle 23.51L; Julio Horrego, 50 breaststroke 27.81L; 200 breaststroke 2:17.35L; Ricardo Roche, 200 backstroke 2:07.11L; 100 backstroke 58.71L; Maddie Smutny, 400 freestyle 4:21.40L; 200 freestyle 2:04.14L; 50 butterfly 31.14L.

Canadian Summer McIntosh of Sarasota Sharks broke her own world junior record in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:05.05, bettering her previous mark of 2:05.20.

On opening day Wednesday, reigning 400 freestyle Olympic gold medalist Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui of Tunisia won the 1500-meter freestyle in 15:00.24 ahead of Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash in 15:01.26 and Bobby Finke of St. Petersburg in 15:02.54. In the women’s 1500, Sandpipers swept the top three spots with Katie Grimes winning in 15:56.27.

Prize money is being offered: $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.

Prelims are 9 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. each day. Meet parking is limited around the venue and restricted to available parking lots. Meet tickets range from $12.24 to $75.89.

Action is being shown on YouTube and also on Peacock (March 2-3, 6 p.m.), CNBC (March 4-5, 10:30 a.m. tape delay). Finals on Saturday along with all prelim sessions will be streamed on usaswimming.org.

SOFLO sponsor TYR is an American designer, developer and manufacturer of recreational and competitive swimwear, caps, goggles, triathlon gear and accessories and one of the nation’s top companies. TYR, created by athletes, is named for the Norse god of warriors in Germanic mythology. The company’s mission statement is starting from, powered by and made for athletes, we strive to create and re-imagine technologies that enhance experience and performance at every level.

WEDNESDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
1500-meter freestyle: 1. Katie Grimes, SAND 15:56.27, 2. Bella Sims, SAND 16:19.29, 3. Claire Weinstein, SAND 16:26.50, 4. Michaela Mattes, SYS 16:29.88.

MEN
1500-meter freestyle: 1. Ahmed Ayoub Fahnaoui, Tunisia 15:00.24, 2. Marwan El Kamash, Egypt 15:01.26, 3. Bobby Finke, SPA 15:02.54.

THURSDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
100-meter freestyle: 1. Abbey Weitzeil, CAL 53.38, 2. Katie Ledecky, GSC 54.01, 3. Erika Brown, TNAQ 54.39, 8. Erika Pelaez, EA 55.16.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Lilly King, ISC 1:06.28, 2. Kara Hanlon, GBR 1:06.93, 3. Imogen Clark, GB 1:07.85.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Regan Smith, SUN 27.55, 2. Lauren Cox, GBR 27.91, 3. Medi Harris, WAL 28.03, 6. Erika Pelaez, EA 29.02, 9. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 29.47.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Summer McIntosh, SYS 2:05.05, 2. Bella Sims, SAND 2:09.89, 3. Maria Jose Mata Cocco, MEX 2:11.00, 8. Katie Ledecky, GSC 2:17.19

400-meter freestyle: 1. Katie Grimes, SAND 4:05.18, 2. Siobhan Haughey, HKG 4:05.84, 3. Claire Weinstein, SAND 4:06.24.

MEN

100-meter freestyle: 1. Dylan Carter, Indiana SC 48.28, 2. Matthew Richards, WAL 48.48, 3. Hunter Armstrong, CAL 48.95, 4. Kaii Winkler, EA 49.11.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Nic Fink, MAAC 59.97, 2. Michael Andrew, MASA 59.98, 3. Cody Miller, SAND 1:00.12, 14. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 1:02.95.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Justin Ress, MVN 24.73, 2. Hunter Armstrong, CAL 24.95, 3. Shaine Casas, TXLA 25.20, 16. Finn Winkler, EA 26.98.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Jay Litherland, SUN 2:01.76, 2. Yeziel Morales, Azura 2:01.93, 3. Felipe Baffico, SYS 2:02.14, 6. Diego Balbi, St. Andrew’s Swimming 2:03.10.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui, Tunisia 3:46.02, 2. Marwan El Kamash, EGY 3:47.34, 3. Kieran Smith, RAC 3:48.02.

MEET SCHEDULE
9:00 AM: Prelims, 6 PM Finals Friday – Saturday
Friday: 200fr/50br/50fly/200ba/400IM

Saturday: 800fr/100ba/200br/100fly/200IM/50fr

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Klein, Paccot Win Distance Events; Amelie Bicerne Top SOFLO Finisher At Piranhas Senior Invite

By Sharon Robb
PLANTATION, March 2, 2023—Neala Klein of Bolles Sharks and Maximiliano Paccot of Azura Florida Aquatics won opening day distance events Thursday at the Piranhas Senior Invite at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Klein, 15, won the 800-meter freestyle in a best time 9:06.38, with a time drop of 3.51.

Paccot, 26, of Uruguay, won the 1500-meter freestyle in 16:44.36 ahead of Azura teammate Daniel Gonzalez-Jimenez, 16, in 16:47.32.

Amelie Bicerne, 15, of South Florida Aquatic Club was seventh in the 800-meter freestyle in 9:52.90. Bicerne is one of 25 SOFLO swimmers competing in the four-day meet.

The meet continues through Sunday with prelims at 8:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m.

THURSDAY RESULTS
WOMEN
800-meter freestyle: 1. Neala Klein, Bolles 9:06.38, 2. Brittany Corbett, EAST 9:10.18, 3. Fatima Portillo, Azura 9:21.60; SOFLO: 7. Amelie Bicerne 9:52.90.

800-meter freestyle relay: 1. Plantation Swim Team 9:45.11 (Sidney Anton, Anastasia Lutz, Georgina Henriquez, Paola Escobar).

MEN
1500-meter freestyle: 1. Maximilian Paccot, Azura 16:44.36, 2. Daniel Gonzalez Jimenez, Azura 16:47.32, 3. Nicholas Kwan, Bolles 16:51.40.

800-meter freestyle relay: 1. Azura 7:56.43 (Davidson Vincent, Leon Seaton, Justin Pale, Diego Dulieu), 2. Plantation Swim Team 8:12.12.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO Swimmers Head To Fort Lauderdale For TYR Pro Swim Series

By Sharon Robb
FORT LAUDERDALE, February 28, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club will be well-represented at the TYR Pro Swim Series at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.

The four-day long course meters meet that begins Wednesday at the $48 million newly-refurbished pool has attracted a national-caliber field led by world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky of Gator Swim Club.

Other elite swimmers entered are: Dylan Carter, Katie Grimes, Abbey Weitzell, Bobby Finke, Shane Casas, Michael Andrew, Lilly King, Regan Smith, Summer McIntosh, Annie Lazor, Nic Fink, Natalie Hinds, Ryan Murphy, Leah Smith, Chase Kalisz, Yeziel Morales and Kieran Smith.

SOFLO has seven swimmers entered in the meet. They are:
Javier Colmenares, 100 breaststroke 55.92Y; 50 breaststroke 30.76Y; 50 butterfly 27.80LB.

Elena Dinehart, 50 backstroke 31.39LB; 50 butterfly 32.11LB; 200 backstroke 2:17.97L.

Olivia Dinehart, 100 breaststroke 1:12.10L; 50 breaststroke 33.81L; 400 IM 4:59.47L; 200-meter breaststroke 2:34.53L.

Luciano Gonzalez, 50 butterfly 24.50L; 50 freestyle 23.51L.

Julio Horrego, 100 breaststroke 1:01.18L; 50 breaststroke 27.81L; 200 breaststroke 2:17.35L.

Ricardo Roche, 50 backstroke 27.82L; 200 backstroke 2:07.11L; 100 backstroke 58.71L.

Maddie Smutny, 200 butterfly 2:14.37L; 400 freestyle 4:21.40L; 200 freestyle 2:04.14L; 50 butterfly 31.14L.

The Florida Gold Coast will be well-represented as well with several top swimmers including Julia Podkoscielny of Pine Crest Swimming, Riley Botting of Pine Crest Swimming, Erika Pelaez of Eagle Aquatics, Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics, Aspen Gersper of St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sofia Jorge of Metro Aquatics and Dylan Smiley of Miami Country Day.

On Wednesday the distance session begins 5 p.m. and on Saturday the 800s begin 3:20 p.m. For the rest of the meet prelims are 9 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.

The meet was capped at 600 swimmers. Prize money is being offered: $1,500 for first, $1,000 for second and $500 for third.

Meet parking is limited around the venue and restricted to available parking lots. Meet tickets range from $12.24 to $75.89.

Action is being shown on YouTube and also on Peacock (March 2-3, 6 p.m.), CNBC (March 4-5, 10:30 a.m. tape delay). Finals on Wednesday and Saturday along with all prelim sessions will be streamed on usaswimming.org.

SOFLO sponsor TYR is an American designer, developer and manufacturer of recreational and competitive swimwear, caps, goggles, triathlon gear and accessories and one of the nation’s top companies. TYR, created by athletes, is named for the Norse god of warriors in Germanic mythology.

The company’s mission statement is starting from, powered by and made for athletes, we strive to create and re-imagine technologies that enhance experience and performance at every level.

MEET SCHEDULE
9:00 AM: Prelims Thursday – Saturday, March 2-4, Thursday: 100fr/100br/50ba/200fly/400fr Friday: 200fr/50br/50fly/200ba/400IM Saturday: 800fr/100ba/200br/100fly/200IM/50fr
6:00 PM: Finals Thursday – Saturday, March 2-4.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Florida Gators Sweep SEC Championships, Make History; Miami’s Max Flory ACC Championships Men’s Most Valuable Diver

By Sharon Robb
COLLEGE STATION, Tex., February 19, 2023—University of Florida’s swim program made a little more history at the Southeastern Conference Championships Saturday at the Rec Center Natatorium.

The Gators are the first college to win the men’s and women’s titles at the same meet since Auburn accomplished the feat in 2008. It is the ninth time the programs have won in the same year but first since 1993.

The men’s team, powered by depth and talent, won its 11th consecutive and 44th SEC title with 1,488.5, the highest in league history. The Gators won three of five relays: 200 freestyle, 400 medley and 800 freestyle.

Florida freshman Aleksas Savickas of Lithuania won the 200-yard breaststroke in 1:50.08, breaking Nic Fink’s 2015 SEC record by .72 seconds.

The women’s team returned to the top five since 2007 by winning the women’s title with 1,255 points ahead of defending champion Tennessee with 950.5. It was the seventh highest score in SEC history. SOFLO’s and UF girls team captain Kathleen Golding played a role with her 56 points scoring in the 200 and 400 IMs and 200 butterfly, all with best times.

The Gator women won the 800 freestyle, were second in the 400 freestyle relay and finished no worse than third in the other relays.

It was also Gator coach Anthony Nesty’s fifth consecutive conference title in five years as the Gator men’s coach and yes, he was thrown into the pool twice by his winning teams after the meet.

Kentucky freshman Levi Sandidge won the 1,650-yard freestyle and is the first Wildcat male swimmer to win an SEC title in 17 years. He won in a best time 14:31.37, dropping more than 18 seconds.

“I had a thought in the back of my mind that there was a chance I would win this,” Sandidge said. “We’re still hoping to go to NCAAs. I did not expect to go a 14:31.”

Jordan Crooks of Tennessee outsprinted Florida’s Josh Liendo to win the 100-yard freestyle in 41.19-41.24. The Cayman Islands swimmer is the first Tennessee swimmer to win the event since former Pine Crest swimmer Ricky Busquets in 1996.

UF’s Anna Auld of West Palm Beach was 13th in the 1,650-yard freestyle, dropping 2.12 seconds.

In the men’s 200-yard backstroke, South Carolina senior Patrick Groters, was 24th in 1:44.55.

ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
North Carolina State men and Virginia women won ACC team titles Saturday at the 2022 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships at Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Pavilion. NC State won its 31st ACC title, including its seventh in the last eight years. Virginia earned its third straight ACC championship and 18th in program history.

NC State men won with 1,501.5 points, most in ACC Championships history. Louisville (1,192.5), Virginia Tech (1,054) and Virginia (1,041) finished second through fourth, respectively. FSU was sixth with 676 points.

With two first-place finishes and a third, Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan of Egypt was named the ACC Championships Men’s Most Valuable Swimmer by vote of the head coaches. Miami’s Max Flory was chosen as the ACC Championships Men’s Most Valuable Diver.

Virginia women won with 1418.5 points. NC State was second with 1347 points, while Louisville was third with 1136.5 and North Carolina was fourth with 760. Florida State women were eighth with 549 and University of Miami were ninth with 411.

After winning three individual events, Virginia’s Alex Walsh earned the ACC Championships Women’s Most Valuable Swimmer after winning three individual events, while Duke’s Margo O’Meara was named ACC Championships Women’s Most Valuable Diver.

SATURDAY SEC RESULTS
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 1,255, 2. Tennessee 950.5, 3. Kentucky 946, 4. Alabama 791, 5. LSU 775, 6. Georgia 756, 7. Auburn 688, 8. South Carolina 587, 9. Texas A&M 583.5, 10. Arkansas 530, 11. Missouri 418, 12. Vanderbilt 169.

WOMEN RESULTS
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Kensey McMahon, ALA 15:47.02, 2. Aly Breslin, TENN 15:52.71, 3. Kristen Stege, TENN 15:53.47, 13. Anna Auld 16:09.52.

200-yard backstroke: 1. Ella Varga, LSU 1:51.74, 2. Josephine Fuller, TENN 1:52.21, 3. Caitlin Brooks, KY 1:52.38, 7. Emma Weyant, UF 1:54.06.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 46.27, 2. Kalia Antoniou, ALA 47.46, 3. Ekaterina Nikonova, UF 47.97.

200-yard breaststroke: 1. Mona McSharry, TENN 2:05.11, 2. Zoie Hartman, GA 2:05.48, 3. Avery Wiseman, ALA 2:05.85.

400-yard freestyle relay: 1. LSU 3:10.57, 2. Florida 3:10.83 (Ekaterina Nikonova, Talia Bates, Katie Mack, Micayla Cronk), 3. Arkansas 3:13.60.

Platform diving: 1. Montserrat Lavenant, LSU 293.50, 2. Kyndal Knight, KY 285.45, 3. Maggie Buckley, LSU 268.45.

400-yard medley relay: 1. Alabama 3:28.46, 2. Tennesee 3:28.78, 3. Florida 3:29.98 (Aris Runnels, Nina Kucheran, Olivia Peoples, Micayle Cronk).

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 1,488.5, 2. Auburn 1,089.5, 3. Tennessee 1,035.5, 4. Texas A&M 1,018, 5. Georgia 828.5, 6. Missouri 725.5, 7. Alabama 667, 8. Kentucky 514, 9. South Carolina 458.5, 10. LSU 337.

MEN RESULTS
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Levi Sandidge, KY 14:31.47, 2. Jake Magahey, GA 14:38.45, 3. Tyler Watson, UF 14:38.50.

200-yard backstroke: 1. Bradley Dunham, GA 1:39.27, 2. Baylor Nelson, TAMU 1:39.79, 3. Jack Dahlgren, MISS 1:39.80, 24. Patrick Groters, SC 1:44.55.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Jordan Crooks, TENN 41.19, 2. Josh Liendo, UF 41.24, 3. Guilherme Santos, TENN 41.55.

200-yard breaststroke: 1. Aleksas Savicka, UF 1:50.08, 2. Dillon Hillis, UF 1:51.44, 3. Lyubomir Epitropov, TENN 1:51.83.

400-yard freestyle relay: 1. Tennessee 2:46.25, 2. Florida 2:46.42 (Macguire McDuff, Josh Liendo, Adam Chaney, Julian Smirh), 3. Georgia 2:49.06.

Platform diving: 1. Bryden Hattie, TENN 457.10, 2. Manny Vazquez Bas 432.75, 3. Leonardo Garcia, UF 418.65.

400-yard medley relay: 1. Florida 2:59.48 (Adam Chaney, Dillon Hillis, Josh Liendo, Macguire McDuff), 2. Tennessee 3:02.51, 3. Auburn 3:03.03.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

SOFLO’s Kathleen Golding Takes Fifth On Day Three Of SEC Championships; Florida Remains In Lead

By Sharon Robb
COLLEGE STATION, Tex., February 16, 2023—University of Florida’s Kathleen Golding finished fifth in the 400-yard individual medley at the Southeastern Conference Championships Thursday at the Rec Center Natatorium.

Golding, a junior and team captain, finished in a best time 4:07.83, dropping 1.35 seconds. She was fifth fastest in prelims in 4:08.88. Her finals splits were 56.36 (butterfly), 1:03.45 (backstroke), 1:11.40 (breaststroke) and 56.62 (100 freestyle. Golding has the 200 butterfly left to swim.

Florida teammate Emma Weyant of Sarasota won the 400 IM in 4:01.18.

South Carolina senior Patrick Groters was disqualified in the 400 IM finals after going 3:51.02 in prelims. It was his final event of the meet.

South Carolina freshman Kyle Korvick of Miami was 41st in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:37.42.

University of Florida continues to pull away from the field and getting closer to sweeping the meet titles. The Gator women have 760 points. Defending champion Tennessee is second with 483. The Gator men, on course to defend their title, lead with 810.5 and Texas A&M is second with 628.

THURSDAY RESULTS
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 760, 2. Tennessee 483, 3. Kentucky 452, 4. LSU 439, 5. Georgia 391, 6. South Carolina 385, 7. Alabama 364, 8. Auburn 326, 9. Texas &M 319, 10. Arkansas 245, 11. Missouri 217, 12. Vanderbilt 94.

WOMEN RESULTS
400-yard individual medley: 1. Emma Weyant, UF 4:01.18, 2. Lauren Poole, KY 4:04.62, 3. Giulia Goerigk, TAMU 4:06.84, 5. Kathleen Golding, UF 4:07.83, 10. Anna Auld, UF 4:10.36.

100-yard butterfly: 1. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 48.99, SEC, meet record, 2. Meghan Lee, AUB 51.01, 3. Rhyan White, BAMA 51.47.

200-yard freestyle: 1. Brooklyn Douthwright, TENN 1:42.64, 2. Chloe Stepanek, TAMU 1:43.37, 3. Micayla Cronk, US 1:43.77.

1-meter diving: 1. Brooke Schultz, SC 345.05, 2. Maha Amer, UF 337.85, 3. Chiara Pellacani, LSU 330.95.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 810.5, 2. Texas A&M 628, 3. Auburn 560, 4. Tennessee 537, 5. Georgia 424.5, 6. Alabama 354, 7. Missouri 297.5, 8. South Carolina 270.5, 9. Kentucky 266, 10. LSU 177.

MEN RESULTS
400-yard individual medley: 1. Baylor Nelson, TAMU 3:38.14, 2. Anze Fers Erzen, TAMU 3:40.10, 3. Ian Grum, GA 3:40.32.

100-yard butterfly: 1. Josh Liendo, UF 44.11, 2. Jordan Crooks, TENN 44.37, 3. Clement Secchi, UMIZ 45.08.

200-yard freestyle: 1. Charlie Hawke, BAMA 1:31.20, 2. Jack Dahlgren, UMIZ 1:31.34, 3. Macguire McDuff, UF 1:32.34.

3-meter diving: 1. Bryden Hattie, TENN 429.20, 2. Victor Povzner, TAMU 412.65, 3. Takuto Endo, TAMU 400.35.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com

Florida Leads Men’s, Women’s Team Standings After Day Two Of SEC Championships; Crooks Swims Sub-18

By Sharon Robb
COLLEGE STATION, Tex., February 15, 2023—University of Florida leads the men’s and women’s fields after the second day of competition at the Southeastern Conference Championships Wednesday at the Rec Center Natatorium.

The Gators lead the women with 502 and LSU is second with 378. The men lead with 542.5 points and Auburn is second with 380.

Florida won the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:14.19 with Macguire McDuff, Josh Liendo, Adam Chaney and Alberto Mestre. South Carolina was eighth in 1:17.43 with Patrick Groters swimming anchor leg in 19.12, the fastest of the foursome.

Groters, making his final SEC appearance, was 13th in the 200-yard individual medley prelims in a best time 1:44.09, dropping 1.04 seconds.

In a huge turnaround, LSU won the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:26.70 with Katarina Milutinovich, Maggie MacNeil, Peyton Curry and Michaela De Villiers. LSU had not sent a relay to the NCAAs in 2016 but have now qualified five in two days.

MacNeil broke her own SEC record to win the 50-yard freestyle in 20.98. She is only the fourth woman to go under 21 seconds.

In the men’s 50, Jordan Crooks of Tennessee won in 17.93, only the second swimmer to go under 18 seconds. He broke Caeleb Dressel’s SEC record of 18.23 set in 2016. Florida’s Josh Liendo (18.39) and Adam Chaney (18.71) were second and third.

In the women’s 500-meter freestyle, it was a sister showdown. Georgia’s Rachel Stege beat her older sister Kristen Stege of Tennessee by just 0.04 seconds, 4:36.31-4:36.35. Sarasota’s Emma Weyant of Florida was third in 4:37.96 and teammate Anna Auld of West Palm Beach was tenth in 4:40.32.

Florida men had four swimmers in the top five of the 500-yard freestyle with Gator Jake Mitchell winning in 4:09.85.

SOFLO’s Kathleen Golding of Florida finished ninth in the 200-yard individual medley prelims in 1:57.27, just off her entry time of 1:57.26. In the final, she finished tenth in 1:56.49, dropping 0.78.

Miami’s Kyle Korvick, a freshman at South Carolina, was 34th in the 500-yard freestyle in a best time 4:25.69, dropping 6.46.

Florida’s Anna Auld of West Palm Beach was tenth in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:40.32, dropping 2.79 off her entry time of 4:43.11.

WEDNESDAY RESULTS
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 502, 2. LSU 378, 3. Tennessee 375, 4. Georgia 329, 5. Alabama 306, 6. Kentucky 300, 7. South Carolina 286, 8. Texas A&M 226, 9. Auburn 222, 10. Arkansas 205, 11. Missouri 177, 12. Vanderbilt 94.

WOMEN RESULTS
200-yard freestyle relay: 1. LSU 1:26.70 (Katarina Milutinovich, Maggie MacNeil, Peton Curry, Michaela De Villiers), 2. Alabama 1:27.21, 3. Florida 1:27.28 (Ekaterina Nikonova, Katie Mack, Talia Bates, Micayla Cronk).

500-yard freestyle: 1. Rachel Stege, UGA 4:36.31, 2. Kristen Stege, TENN 4:36.35, 3. Emma Weyant, UF 4:37.96, 10. Anna Auld, UF 4:40.32.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Zoie Hartman, GA 1:53.58, 2. Josephine Fuller, TENN 1:55.01, 3. Lauren Poole, KY 1:55.12, 10. Kathleen Golding, UF 1:56.49.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Maggie MacNeil, LSU 20.98, 2. Mona McSharry, TENN 21.74, 3. Kalia Antoniou, BAMA 21.75.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Florida 542.5, 2. tie, Texas A&M 380 and Auburn 380, 4. Tennessee 347, 5. Georgia 268.5, 6. Alabama 249, 7. Missouri 214.5, 8. South Carolina 203.5, 9. Kentucky 162, 10. LSU 131.

MEN RESULTS

200-yard freestyle relay: 1. Florida 1:14.19 (Macguire McDuff, Josh Liendo, Adam Chaney, Alberto Mestre) 2. Tennessee 1:15.34, 3. Auburn 1:15.94.

500-yard freestyle: 1. Jake Mitchell, UF 4:09.85, 2. Jake Maghey, GA 4:10.03, 3. Alfonso Mestre, UF 4:10.15.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Baylor Nelson, TAMU 1:40.86, 2. Koko Bratanov, TAMU 1:42.50, 3. Ben Patton, UMIZ 1:42.98, 4. Joaquin Gonzalez Pinero, UF 1:43.09.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Jordan Crooks, TENN 17.93, 2. Josh Liendo, UF 18.39, 3, Adam Chaney, UF 18.71.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com