FGCU TDC Recap

After a chilly evening for the first meet of the year, the FGCU swimming and diving team won the inaugural Triple Distance Classic with 395 points on Friday night at the FGCU Aquatics Center to start off 2018. The Eagles went defeated CCSA runner-up Liberty (344), St. Louis (267), and Rutgers (245). This was the second time this season that the Eagles won a competition against the Scarlet Knights. The meet did feature NCAA DIII Gustavus Adolphus College, but they competed as an exhibition.

"This event is what college swimming is all about," FGCU head coach Dave Rollins said. "The team support from everyone on the deck, from every team, the enjoyment, the spirit, and cheering. Everyone is in heavy training, and while we wish it was a bit warmer, competed very well. My hat goes off to everyone who was on that deck and in those stands this evening. It was an incredible experience, win lose, or draw didn't matter. We put this meet together to do something different and to have some fun! We are looking forward to next year."

Sprint freestylers, butterfliers, backstrokers, and breaststrokers competed in a 50, 100, and 200 of their stroke. The distance swimmers competed in a 200, 500, and 1000 freestyle. Individual medley swimmers swam a 100, 200, and 400 IM. There was also a 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay offered for each team, which contributed to their overall final score. Points were determined based off of the fastest combined time of an overall event.

The evening began with two quartets of Eagle swimmers taking the second and third place spot in the 200 yard medley relay. The team of juniors Doris Eichhorn and Hannah Burdge and seniors Sommer Harris and Yee Ching Wong just missed the top spot behind Liberty by less than a second (1:45.20). The freshmen trio of Courtney Chapin, Petra Halmai and Rebecca Moynihan and junior Gracie Redding finished in 1:46.88.

Juniors Linda Shaw and Antonia Baerens represented for the distance portion of the classic competing in the 1000, 500, and 200 yard freestyle. The duo combined a total of 32 points to contribute to the overall score. Shaw finished second in the 1000 (10:32.97), third in the 500 (5:10.29) and the 200 (1:57.48). Baerens finished in fourth in the 1000 (10:43.77), 500 (5:10.75), and 200 (1:59.26).

Eichhorn competed for the backstrokers on the night as she placed third in all three of her events, the 200 (2:08.22), 100 (57.91) and 50 (27.45).

Harris led the way for the Green and Blue in all of the breaststroke events, except for one, which was claimed by sophomore Elizabeth White. Harris finished eighth place in the 200 (2:31.26), second in the 100 (1:06.72) and third in the 50 (30.70). White took third in the 200 (2:24.93) and 100 (1:06.88), while she finished fourth in the 50 (31.29).

In the butterfly, sophomore Madison Jean's performance came in the 50 yard, finishing third overall (26.55).

FGCU's most impressive performance came from the individual medley events as two Eagles swept them in first place fashion. Wong won the 200 (2:06.55) and 100 (59.37) yard, while sophomore Elizabeth Zeiger won the 400 (4:28.14) and took second in the 200 (2:10.71). Zeiger's overall time combination from her events won her the overall series win in the IM adding 20 points to the team's score.

Burdge was unstoppable in the freestyle, and took home the overall win in the triple series with 20 points, as she won the 100 (51.85) and 50 (23.95), while taking second in the 200 by less than a second (1:54.14). Redding finished third in the 200 (1:56.21), fourth in the 100 (53.08), and the second spot in the 50 (24.03).

The Eagles finished off the night by winning the final relay by .34 seconds. The team of Redding, Burdge, Moynihan, and Eichhorn took the win over Liberty with a time of 1:36.12, adding a total of 40 points to the overall score.

Up next, the Eagles head down Alligator Alley to Miami on January 20 at noon for their final away meet.