Florida’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams kicked off their 2015 season with the first day of the All Florida Invitational in Gainesville. The Gators host five teams: Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Miami, Nova Southeastern, and Towson University during the three-day meet. After the first day, the Gators had won 15 of the 17 preliminary races.
“You never know what you’re going to get on the first meet of the season. I thought the freshmen swam pretty well for their first time out,” Anthony Nesty, UF’s associate head coach, said. “In addition, our returners have done a great job training this offseason. They’ve been able to help out those newcomers a lot and teach them the ropes along the way.”
Sophomore Caeleb Dressel stood out on the men’s side, placing first in the 200-meter individual race with a time of 1:47.87 seconds. Freshman diver Samuel Smith performed well in his first collegiate meet, placing second in the 3-meter race with a score of 350.70, ahead of teammate Zach Hernandez, who came in third with a score of 327.45.
On the women’s team, senior diver Kahlia Warner placed first on the one-meter with a score of 306.55. Teammate Delaney Dye followed in second place in the same event with a score of 265.00. Both received NCAA ‘A’ diving standards for the first night.
“Both Kahlia and Delaney Dye had NCAA diving scores today which was really exciting.” diving coach Dave Schultz said. “We’re happy with the way Emily Mosher and all of our divers as a group came out today.”
Day 2 of competition resumes today at 9 a.m. in the O’Connell Center’s Natatorium.
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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
