Dodson reels in gold at SECs
By MELISSA PENDER< | Feb. 13, 2011After a record-setting weekend, Florida senior Monica Dodson appeared to be losing her grip on a Southeastern Conference title Sunday.
After a record-setting weekend, Florida senior Monica Dodson appeared to be losing her grip on a Southeastern Conference title Sunday.
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The Southeastern Conference’s top divers will hope to make a splash at the O’Connell Center when the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships begin this weekend.
Watching Elizabeth Beisel fiercely take down the competition as she swims to first place in the 200-yard backstroke against Tennessee, it’s hard to imagine her as a funny, sweet 18-year-old who loves to joke around with her teammates on the Florida swimming and diving team.
Florida became the second school since 2008 to win all four weekly Southeastern Conference awards after a stellar meet against Tennessee on Saturday and a sweep of Indian River State College on Sunday.
The Gators closed their home season Sunday with nine NCAA “B” qualifying times and 29 season-best times against Indian River State College.
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For the past five years, there has been one constant on coach Gregg Troy’s team: at least one Fraser brother in the water.
A little more than a week ago, Shara Stafford’s outlook for the season looked bright.
Florida couldn’t spoil Auburn’s Senior Day celebration on Friday afternoon, even after notching a season-high 24 NCAA qualifying times and swimming one of their fastest meets of the year.
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Practice is over. It’s 16 hours until the Gators jump on a bus for their dual meet in Auburn, Ala., and the pool is empty except for one swimmer still taking in extra time to perfect his backstroke start.
All week long, the Gators dealt with multiple obstacles. The No. 6 women’s team struggled with sickness, while the No. 5 men’s team lacked depth as coach Gregg Troy and nine of team’s best left for the SMU Classic.
For the second straight week the Gators crushed an unranked opponent at home, but this time around, they did it much slower.
Before the Florida Atlantic meet a year ago, Sebastien Rousseau knew he would have his chance.
The Gators’ celebration over their dual-meet victory at home against Georgia Tech was cut short by an injury scare from a UF swimmer who had to be pulled from the water during a race and checked on by paramedics.
The Gators’ celebration over their dual-meet victory at home against Georgia Tech was cut short by an injury scare from a UF swimmer that had to be pulled from the water during a race and checked on by paramedics.
The Gators swimming and diving teams will kick off the spring by competing in their home pool for the first time since October.
They train with championship finishes in mind. For some of the younger UF swimmers and divers, this weekend was their first taste of why they put in those long hours.