WOMEN’S MEET
The Florida women kicked off the meet with a 2+ second win over the South Carolina Gamecocks in the opening medley relay, getting a quick 22.81 anchor from Natalie Hinds. The Gators chomped down next in the 1000, with Autumn Finke‘s 10:01.71 leading a 1-2-3 UF charge over South Carolina.
Florida frosh Sydney Sell put down the most wins for the Gators, taking both backstroke races to make her a perfect 2-for-2 individually on the day. She was 55.46 in the 100, winning by over a second, then followed up with the only sub-2:00 performance in the 200 (1:59.77).
Hinds, who only swam one individual event, delivered in a big way. In the 200 free, she put down a 1:49.29 to win by almost a second, leading a Gator 1-2-3 sweep. By the time the 400 free relay came around, Florida was swimming in exhibition, though Hinds still clocked a 49.69 anchor on Florida’s A relay, which finished nearly 10 seconds ahead of South Carolina’s top relay.
The Gamecocks, however, put forth a very respectable showing today. They got a win from freshman talent Paige Maynard in the 100 fly (55.91), and registered 2nd place finishes in five different events. This is a team bountiful with skillful youth, and time will tell if they can build on that in the next year or two and develop into more of a force in the tough SEC.
Other winners for the Gators included:
- Hannah Burns
- 100 breast | 1:04.23
- 500 free (exhibition) | 4:55.96
- Alyssa Yambor-Maul | 200 fly | 2:00.08
- Elisavet Panti | 50 free | 23.99
- Taylor Katz | 100 free | 51.75
- Ashlee Linn | 200 breast | 2:17.53
- Georgia Hohmann | 200 IM | 2:02.46
MEN’S MEET
The Florida men absolutely rocked their way to three new nation-leading times, two of which were courtesy of Virginia Tech transfer Jan Switkowski, as they rolled the Gamecocks today.
They started off with a killer medley relay, getting a 21.87 lead off from Jack Blyzinskyj and a 20.69 fly split from Switkowski. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Mark Szaranek pulled out a 25.74 breast split, opening up Caeleb Dressel to hammer down a 19.16 anchor leg. BOOM.
Switkowski, while impressive on the medley, seriously put on a show in two longer races. He started off in the 200 free, unleashing a nation-leading 1:34.81 to blow away a stacked field that included teammates Pawel Werner and Mitch D’Arrigo. Check out Switkowski’s insane splits:
22.93 – 46.98 (24.05) – 1:10.90 (23.92) – 1:34.81 (23.91)
The Polish man was certainly on some kind of mission, as he returned at the end of the meet to destroy the field once more in the 200 IM, clocking a 1:45.07 to top Dressel by more than two seconds (1:47.19) and grab the win. That time, too, puts him at the top of the NCAA this season.
Not to be outdone by the Switkowski show was Blyzinskyj, who threw down a 46.21 in the 100 back to tie Ryan Murphy‘s nation-leading time this year. Florida also got a big win from Mark Szaranek in the 200 fly (1:47.91), who then went on to take the 100 fly in 48.63.
Arthur Frayler posted two wins today, first taking the 1000 (9:00.49) and then the 500 free (4:24.44). South Carolina pushed hard in the 1000, though, as sophomore Akaram Mahmoud (9:02.64) and stellar freshman Cody Bekemeyer (9:03.04) were essentially tied with Frayler all the way through the 750 before Frayler edged ahead and held on till the end.
The Gamecocks came away with two wins today, both of which pointed to the breaststroke hole in the Gators’ lineup. While Dressel took the 100 breast with ease, posting a ‘B’ cut in 54.29, he was not present in the 100 free, giving way to Gamecock Kevin Leithold to take the win in 45.10. Then, in the 200 breast, Nils Wich-Glasen (2:02.44) and Phillip Willett (2:02.54) were alone under 2:04 to put up a South Carolina 1-2 sweep.
Florida more than survived, however, despite that missing piece in their lineup. Their other wins included:
- Corey Main | 50 free | 20.36
- Bayley Main | 200 back | 1:48.75
- 400 free relay | 2:56.67
- Big splits: Switkowski (44.15), C. Main (43.31), M. Szaranek (44.30 on B relay)
FINAL SCORES
Florida (W) 165.5, South Carolina (W) 126.5
Florida (M) 178, South Carolina (M) 115
Wow, way to get all ‘butt hurt’ over some internet comments. You’re obviously too close to the program (member of the team?) to see criticism of a team that hasn’t done better than 8th on the men’s side and 11th on the women’s side at SEC’s over the past 3 years.
Good luck to the Gamecocks this year, but I’m predicting another long and comparatively unsuccessful year.
I would just appreciate people doing research before they make comments. South Carolina happened to finish 7th at SECs last year on the men’s side. I believe I’ve said before on this site that I am a member of the Gamecocks, and proud of it. If a 19th place finished at NCAAs denotes a team deserving of criticism, then you have quite high standards. Being personally acquainted with the program, I can assure you that the bar has been raised by the coaching staff and is continuing to be raised.
While I’ll be the first to admit South Carolina is not the same caliber as UF, they are certainly an up and coming, rather than falling, program as you seem… Read more »
From the results I’ve seen this year it would seem that Swander is the only swim coach on staff earning their keep. Bernardino has his 2 distantance studs but beyond them the group is pedestrian and there are no backstrokers to speak of on either side.
9 years in the basement with little to no improvement (in comparison to the rest of the SEC) is just unacceptable. When will USC get a staff that actually raises the bar and at the least challenges for a spot in the top half of the conference?
I’m not sure if you’ve been watching the right team then…
You’ve admitted yourself that the breaststroke group is strong, but I would like to add that the breaststroke group has no juniors and seniors, indicating major growth in the past few years.
Moving on, the distance group that you claim has two stars has become one of the best in the country overnight. Let’s talk about each of the THREE stars individually here.
Mr Mahmoud didn’t arrive in the US until last January having never swam short course in his life, yards or meters. In just two months, Coach Bernardino had him swimming among the top distance stars the US has. It may also be worth noting that… Read more »
Switkowski is a gamechanger. Two nation-leading times and he hasn’t swam his best events in yards yet. Florida went a 2:56 in the 400 free relay without Dressel. Corey Main is stepping up to a new level in freestyle with Blyzinskyj locking down the 100 back, and it’s going to pay dividends in the postseason.
Blyzinskyj and Murphy should not be tied for the nation’s leading 100 back. Jack swam a 46.21 and Murphy a 46.31 against NC State today.
Actually, Murphy went a 46.21 against Pacific on October 9th. Murphy did go a 46.31 today against NC State, but he and Blyzinskyj are nonetheless tied for this season.