Florida State, Minnesota Split Dual Meet Competition in Florida

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Photo Courtesy: Florida State Athletics

The Florida State men’s team downed Minnesota, 158-142, while the Minnesota women claimed a 212-88 conquest over the Seminoles.

Florida State Press Release:

The Florida State swimming and diving teams split its first dual meets of the season against Minnesota on Saturday in the seventh annual ‘Paint it Pink’ event at the Morcom Aquatic Center. The men’s team defeated the Gophers 158-142, moving to 1-0 to start the season.

“Both teams went for it today,” FSU head coach Frank Bradley said. “That’s what I liked about today. There were some tough races but I like where we are. It was great for the guys to pull that meet out. I think it will be key for us this season.”

The Men’s 200 medley relay started with first and second place finishes as the team of Stefan Stojmenovic, Jason Coombs, Cole Hensley and Jason McCormick won with a time of 1:30.71 and sophomores Chad Mylin, Rafa Van Leeuwaarde, Jacob Urbano along with rookie Kanoa Kaleoaloha grabbed second at 1:32.56 in order to hold off Minnesota’s top relay, who was third at 1:32.74.

“Relays weren’t very strong for us last year,” Bradley said. “I thought our relays made a huge difference in today’s outcome. They’ve improved and the chemistry was fantastic.”

Minnesota answered with wins in the 1000 and 200 free races, however the Seminoles picked up some steam winning four straight to close the first portion of the meet, taking over the lead 75-56.

FSU swept the 100 back with sophomore Connor Kalisz leading the way with a 50.61. Mylin was second punching a 51.09 and Stojmenovic was third at 51.29.

“Those backstrokers were so strong for us today,” Bradley said. “Connor is really starting to show us what he’s capable of and I think he’s going to have a heck of a season.”
Coombs followed with a dominating swim in the 100 breast, posting a 55.96 and Cole Hensley followed with a win in the 200 fly with a time of 1:49.77.

McCormick clocked a 20.47 in the 50 free for the win while freshman Kanoa Kaleoaloha added third place points (21.07) and senior Ian Apple followed in fourth (21.25).

Following the break, the Seminoles added two more victories as McCormick teamed up with freshman Emir Muratovic to place first and second in the 100 free with times of 45.33 and 46.22 respectively. Kaleoaloha finished the close battle in fourth at 46.28.

“McCormick really stepped up and raced hard today,” Bradley said. “He’s really started to lead our sprinters in the right direction. I was very happy with him today.”

Kalisz rallied with his second victory of the day, taking the 200 back at 1:49.31 and freshman Noah Hensley touched in third with a time of 1:54.08.

The Seminoles would surrender sweeps in the 200 breast and 500 free before fighting back with a one-two-three punch in the 100 fly as Cole Hensley won his second individual of the meet in with a time of 49.36. Stojmenovic followed in second at 50.25 Urbano was third at 50.60.

The Gophers touched in first and second in the 400 IM and with the meet on the line, the Seminoles had no room for error heading into the final relay.

After trailing Minnesota through three legs of the 200 free relay, Muratovic pulled through as the anchor helping the Seminoles overcome the Gophers, with a time of 1:22.33.

In addition to the races in the pool, the FSU divers outscored Minnesota on the boards by a point in both events as sophomore Tyler Roberge won 1-meter with a score of 336.82 before taking second on 3-meter at 375.15.

Senior Kalonji Cole added third place points on 1-meter (301.73) while junior Dylan Grisell was fifth on 1-meter (288.00) and fourth on 3-meter (330.01).

“For this time in the year I thought we competed well,” FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. “Tyler had a solid day and I thought all of our kids performed well and showed improvement.”

In the women’s meet, the Seminoles fell to the reigning Big Ten champs 212-88.

“Minnesota is a tough team,” Bradley said. “They’re solid from top to bottom and there is a reason why they win their conference every year. I thought our ladies went out there today and raced hard. It’s early and I thought we had some great spots and some solid swims.”

Sophomore Alexi Smith picked up a win in the 50 free, posting a 23.67.

Seniors Josie Cuda (1:52.21), Sami Pochowski (1:53.90) and junior Katy Stringfield (1:55.20) placed second, third and fourth in the 200 free.

Senior Bianca Spinazzola grabbed second with a time of 56.67 in the 100 back, while sophomore Ariel Barber followed in third with a time of 57.62.

Sophomore Natalie Pierce finished second in the 100 breast (1:05.31).

In addition, both the 200 medley and 200 free relays touched in second. The medley started off the meet with Spinazzola, Pierce, freshman Gracie Redding and Smith swimming a time of 1:43.57. The team of Smith, junior Lydia Ware, Spinazzola and Redding finished with a time of 1:34.71 to close out the meet.

“I like where we are,” Bradley said. “It’s October. It’s early but I think we’re started to see our kids emerge. We have a good grasp of what we have and we’ll get back to work for the next phase of our season.”

Minnesota Press Release:

Minnesota’s 2015-16 season began as the Gophers competed against the Florida State Seminoles at Tallahassee’s Morcom Aquatics Center on Saturday morning. The women’s team picked up a convincing win after outscoring the Seminoles 212 to 88, while the men were issued a close loss of 158-142 to start the season.

Women – W, 212-88

Minnesota captured the “W” in both women’s relays contested. The relay team of Lauren Votava, Danielle Nack, Zoe Avestruz and Kaia Grobe finished the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:33.77. In the 200 medley relay, Zoe Avestruz, Rachel Munson, Danielle Nack and Lauren Votava had a 1:42.32 for the win.

Samantha Harding began her senior campaign picking up wins in both distance freestyle events. Harding finished first with a 9:57.80 in the 1000 free, and a 4:52.09 in the 500 free. Rookie Erin Emery followed, picking up second in both the 1000 (10:06.11) and 500 (4:57.48). Emery had a third silver-finish in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:27.83.

Sophomore Brooke Zeiger collected three individual event wins throughout the meet against Florida State. Zeiger’s first-place finishes included a 1:50.92 in the 200 free, a 2:02.51 in the 200 backstroke and a 4:19.13 in the 400 IM.

Rookie Rachel Munson had a standout day, sweeping both breaststroke events. Munson posted a time of 1:02.87 in the 100 breast and a 2:20.27 in the 200 breast. Kaela Marcus placed fifth in the 100 breast and second in the 200 breast in her first races as a Golden Gopher.

Danielle Nack opened up her second season at Minnesota taking home wins in both butterfly races. Nack’s 55.19 earned her first in the 100 fly, and her 2:02.24 led the field in the 200 fly.

Freshman Zoe Avestruz was a key performer in Tallahassee, who collected a first-place finish in the 100 back with a time of 56.37, a silver spot in the 100 free (52.20) behind teammate Lauren Votava. Avestruz was also a member of both of the Gophers’ winning relay teams.

On the diving boards, the Minnesota women showed strength after sweeping both contested events. 2015 NCAA Diver of the Year, Yu Zhou, totaled 325.65 points for first on one-meter and was followed by teammates Lexi Tenenbaum (285.30) and Jessica Ramberg (284.25). Jessica Ramberg led the Gophers in the three-meter diving event with a score of 315.15. Zhou followed for second (306.75), Tenenbaum third (304.95) and rookie Mariam Khamis placed fourth (289.72).

Men – L, 158-142

Daryl Turner was notably missing from the Gophers’ travel lineup. The junior is currently recovering from a knee injury back in Minneapolis.

Jakub Maly tallied two first-place finishes and one second-place mark on the day. In the 200 free, Maly led the field with a 1:40.59 and was followed by teammates Paul Fair and Michael Nunan, allowing the Gophers to go 1-2-3 in the event. His time of 3:56.18 in the 400 IM earned him first, while freshman Brian Poon finished second (3:57.15). Maly raced a 2:03.64 in the 200 breast for second place.

Rookie Michael Messner had a convincing win in his first 1000 free as a Golden Gopher, finishing with a time of 9:36.77. He was followed by freshman teammate Nick Plachinski (9:52.43). Messner also picked up a third-place finish in the 500 free with a 4:41.99, behind Gophers Ben Bravence (4:35.68) and Michael Nunan (4:39.63).

In his first season at Minnesota, senior John Bushman recorded the Gophers’ top times in both breaststroke events. Bushman finished second in the 100 breast with a time of 55.96 and placed first in the 200 breast with a 2:02.34. Minnesota went 1-2-3-4 in the 200 breast with Nick Hatanaka (2:04.75) and Conner McHugh (2:05.67) following Bushman and Maly’s times.

The Gophers relied on Nick Orf in the fly races. Orf placed fourth in the 100 fly (50.72) and second in the 200 fly (1:50.15).

Freshman Hunter Doerr recorded a 20.72 in the 50 free for a silver finish, while Paul Fair held the Minnesota’s top time of 46.25 in the 100 free for third place.

Matt Barnard led Minnesota on the diving boards earning a first-place finish in the three-meter event with a score of 382.35 points, and a second-place mark on the one-meter board (317.62). In his first collegiate meet, Alan LeBlang placed fifth on the three-meter boards (328.35) and sixth on the one-meter (286.87). Veteran diver Manny Pollard placed fourth on the one-meter (291.75), while senior Dylan Zoe earned bronze in the three-meter event (356.33).

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Serge Sedov
9 years ago

А кого это интересует? Да ещё на языке SW???

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