The UF men’s swimming and diving teams returned to the O’Connell Center Natatorium unaffected by the hiatus in training that came with winter break.
Associate head coach Anthony Nesty, in his eighth season with the No. 4 ranked team, said the swimmers’ physical shape is always a worry come January.
"Fortunately they all did what they had to do at home during the holidays," Nesty said, "and they came back in great shape and did what they had to do training leading up to that dual meet."
Florida’s coaches stress to swimmers before each break to stay in shape during the several weeks out of the pool.
But Nesty said this break a surprising nine out of ten listened.
And at the Florida State dual meet on Jan. 3, the teams showed their physical upkeep.
In the first meet of the spring season, Florida defeated No. 22 FSU in Tallahassee 173-126.
Freshman Caeleb Dressel, who participated in four events, fourth in the 200-yard freestyle and was part of the 400-yard medley relay team that finished in third place.
The Green Cove Springs, Florida, native was the No. 3 ranked recruit in Florida and No. 20 nationally in the 2014 class.
"Caeleb is a fantastic athlete, and he was a fantastic athlete coming in," Nesty said. "He’s one of the fastest high school kids ever."
Though Dressel did not make any top individual times from the FSU dual meet, he holds the No. 4 times in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle this season.
Nesty said Dressel brings enthusiasm to a top Southeastern Conference program.
"Obviously when you get a kid as good as him, everybody gets pretty excited," he said.
Women’s swimming and diving: Coaches expressed concerns for the women’s swimming and diving teams’ shape at FSU with the team’s last competition coming before Thanksgiving.
Florida’s seven-week down period did not ensure victory, as the Gators experienced defeat at the hands of the No. 20 Seminoles, 185-115.
"We were a little rusty," associate head coach Martyn Wilby said.
Junior Lindsey McKnight dominated the meet with three first-place finishes in all her individual events.
McKnight completed the 200-yard freestyle in 1:48.86, the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:18.21 and the 200-yard IM in 2:02.28.
"(She’s) matured and now a leader," Wilby said of the two-time All-American champion.
"We always knew she was versatile, but now she’s starting to show it. She can swim breaststroke legs, freestyle, IM, go anywhere from the 50 free to the 200 freestyle."
Wilby said No. 12 Auburn will be a great SEC matchup come Jan. 24.
"They’re looking forward to it," he said. "They like racing."
For the men’s teams, Nesty stresses the clock is their enemy.
"The most important thing to tell our kids is not to go out there and swim for time," he said.
"Usually if you do that, you come up short every time."
Follow Mary Francis on Twitter @Bymaryfrancis
Freshman Caeleb Dressel jumps into the pool at the start of the 200-yard breaststroke event during Day 3 of the 2014 Pinch A Penny Invitational
