For the second consecutive week, both the UF men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be on the road competing in a dual-competition.
Both squads are coming off solid performances, with the No. 1 men’s team securing a 174.50 to 125.50 victory over Missouri, which was its first taste of Southeastern Conference competition this season. The No. 5 women’s team routed the Vanderbilt Commodores with a 193-69 victory on Thursday, and ended its meet with Missouri in a 150-150 tie Saturday morning.
This weekend the Gators will travel to Austin, Texas to take on both the University of Texas and Indiana University.
With two meets for the men and three meets for the women now under their belts, coach Gregg Troy is pleased with the strides his younger swimmers have made on both teams.
"On the women’s side we had a sophomore breaststroker Paige Scheriger who has really come around," Troy said.
"She did a great job in the 200. Hannah Burns, one of the freshmen, she’s a very good medley swimmer. ... We still have some improvement to do in the breaststroke but those two girls have really helped us out."
Troy was also pleased with the performance of freshman Mollie Pulte in all of the relays, even though she was getting worn out from the high level of competition.
Another freshman contributing early is Samuel Smith.
He was named SEC Diver of the Week for his first place finish in the one-meter board competition at the Missouri meet that also earned him a NCAA-qualifying standard.
This week, the team will finish the last week of its current training cycle.
Troy will be focusing on improving both teams’ performances around the walls, which he believed looked sloppy this past weekend.
Competition for the Gators starts Friday at Texas’ Jamail Swim Center at 4 p.m. Competition will continue into Saturday.
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Under coach Gregg Troy (above), Florida returns 11 All-Americans this season on the men’s team and two-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel to the women.
