Florida swimming and diving team left Tallahassee with a win on Thursday.
But, to its dismay, UF also took a loss.
The No. 19 Seminoles women’s team defeated the No. 11 Gators 157-143, knocking them to 1-3 this season. The No. 2 Florida men's team won, remaining unbeaten in the process.
FSU senior diver Ariel Rittenhouse delivered an early blow to Florida by snagging a victory in the 3-meter dive, putting up a score of 359.93. UF freshman Emily Mosher finished third.
Mosher’s third-place effort was duplicated by fellow freshman Delaney Dye in the 1-meter dive.
Gators veteran Elizabeth Beisel scratched out a victory in the 200 back but fell short to FSU’s Elizabeth Pepper, a sophomore, in the 200 fly.
Beisel tacked on another victory in the 200 IM. UF's Rebecca Rainer and Ashlee Linn finished second and third, respectively.
FSU’s Kaitlyn Dressel, Tiffany Oliver and Kelsey Buckley rose above the Gators in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:23.74.
The loss hurts an already wounded UF women’s team, which freshman Lindsey McKnight said was confident going into the dual meet against its in-state rival.
McKnight, who has friends on the FSU team, said the UF wasn’t too worried after winning their last meeting at the All Florida Invitational in September.
McKnight referred to the rivalry as a “friendly hatred.”
Meanwhile, the No. 2 Gators men’s team advanced past another opponent.
Junior Marcin Cieslak’s time of 1:39.80 earned a first-place finish in the 200 free.
Fellow junior Sebastien Rousseau and sophomore Matt Elliot recorded wins in the 200 fly and 100 breast respectively.
Senior diver Sean Saley fell short in the 1-meter dive, finishing second.
His sophomore teammate Zach Hernandez finished second in the 3-meter dive.
The Gators will have the next two weeks to prepare for the Ohio State Buckeye Invitational.
