It was another win for Florida swimming and diving on Thursday night in the O’Connell Center against visiting Alabama as the No. 2 men improved to 4-0 and the No. 5 women drew even at 2-2.
This meet had swimmers in uncommon places, as Florida coach Gregg Troy played with his lineup after getting an early lead thanks to first and second place finishes in men’s and women’s 400-yard medley relays.
“We had a little more luxury of not being under the gun the whole way especially the way we jumped on them at the beginning of the meet winning a couple relays,” Troy said. “It gave us a chance to not to have to worry about moving people around and focus a little more on what was going on in each event.”
Senior Brad deBorde – typically the 50-and 100-yard freestyle swimmer – made an appearance in the 100-yard butterfly that was good enough for second.
“Normally, I only pick up 100 fly at championship meets so doing it in dual meets – I think the last time I did it was freshman year – so it was pretty fun,” deBrode said. “It was a good opportunity for me.”
The player Florida usually sees in the 100-yard fly, Marcin Cieslak, took deBorde’s spot in the 100-yard free. Troy said it was because Cieslak will probably be a member of the free relay as he looks to add an event to his swimmers’ repertoire.
“We had a lot of guys get a little feel for what their third event is swimming some different things and saw some younger guys in some unique places,” Troy said.
However, senior Elizabeth Beisel found herself in more historically familiar events, which hasn’t been indicative of her season.
A return to the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.04), 100- (54.75) and 200-yard backstroke (1:55.94) brought Beisel a trio of wins as she swept her events.
“I’ve been doing a lot of freestyle lately so I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “Definitely pleased with the times.”
The Gators will compete next when they travel to the Ohio State Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 22.
Follow Logan McGuire on Twitter @loganjmcguire.
Florida sophomore Elizabeth Beisel competes in the women’s 200-yard breaststroke during the Gators’ meet against FAU on Jan. 14, 2012 in the O’Connell Center Natatorium.
