With national postseason competition later this month, Florida’s men’s swimming team competed in the Bulldog Last Chance Invitational in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday and Sunday.
As the name suggests, swimmers had one last chance to post NCAA qualifying times in the Gabrielsen Natatorium. And through two days of competition, 12 Gators posted B-cuts, giving them qualifying times to compete in the B-heat at NCAAs.
Seven of Florida’s qualifying swims happened on Saturday.
Freshman Eric Friese led Florida’s efforts in the 100 fly, an event that had a total of six Gators in the pool. With a time of 46.17, Friese notched a B-cut.
In the same event, sophomore Isaac Davis (46.37) and senior Tyler Silver (46.91), who swam a lifetime best in prelims with a time of 49.34 seconds, also managed a B-cut.
Leading the Gators in the 500 free was freshman Tyler Watson, who swam a 4:19.47, good for a B-cut and a new personal best.
Later, Friese posted his second B-cut of the day after a 19.84-second swim in the 50 free.
In the 200 back, junior Ethan Beach and freshman Ethan McCloud both nabbed B-cuts. Beach led Florida’s efforts with a swim of 1:42.44, while McCloud’s personal best of 1:45.82 followed.
The Gators tacked on five more B-cut swims in Sunday’s action.
Again leading the way early for Florida, Eric Friese posted a time of 43.09 in the 100 free, good for a B-cut and new personal best.
In the mile swim, freshman Advait Page and senior Matthew Anderson both swam qualifying efforts. Page’s career-best time of 15:04.27 finished second in Sunday’s field of swimmers. Right behind Page, Anderson picked up a B-cut time of 15:13.76.
Later, in the 200 fly, Tyler Watson returned to the pool for another B-cut performance. After touching the wall in 1:44.52, Watson also gathered a personal best in the process.
Additionally, Tyler Silver tallied another qualifying time in the 100 back.
After an effort of 47.42 seconds, Silver was third in the field to touch the wall. He also managed a B-cut time in the process.
Looking ahead, Florida will continue to prepare for the NCAA Championships on March 25-28 in Indianapolis.
Follow Ainslie on Twitter @AinsliesTwoBits and contact her at alee@alligator.org.
