Christi DiPaolo, a Florida native, will transfer from Ohio State to Florida State in January with two years of eligibility remaining after she finishes out the current season.
DiPaolo is a 2015 graduate of the Bolles School. She went best times at the 2016 Big Ten Championships in all three of her individual events (100 free, 200 free, 200 IM), dropping 1, 3, and 2.5 seconds in the three events over the course of her collegiate career, respectively.
Best times in yards/long course meters:
- 50 free: 23.74/ 27.17
- 100 free: 50.17/ 58.24
- 200 free: 148.61 (1:47.5 relay)/ 2:04.03
- 200 IM: 2:02.92
- 100 back: 57.84
- 100 fly: 56.61
Florida State has already had a big run in recruiting of high school swimmers this fall, though the biggest headlines have been for the men’s team so far. They still are badly in need of any pieces of DiPaolo’s character to get them through the short-term and carry on momentum in the rebuilding process under new head coach Neal Studd. Several swimmers transferred out of the program under the old staff, including their best female swimmer Chelsea Britt, leaving the relay cupboards rather bare.
For example, Florida State’s best returning 200 freestyler from last season is sophomore Meg Brown, who swam a 1:49.90 last season.
DiPaolo scored 4 points (on C-Final scoring) at last year’s Big Ten Championships for Ohio State, and was a part of their 7th-place 800 free relay.
DiPaolo’s first meet of eligibility will be a tri against Pitt and Denison at the newly-renovated Trees Pool in Pittsburgh on January 14th.
AB