FGCU S&D: Atlanta, Auburn Preview

The FGCU swimming and diving team (1-2) will take on four teams in two days as the Eagles head to Georgia Tech (1-1) to face the hosts, Miami (1-1) and NAIA Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD) (0-1) Friday afternoon. The following day, the squad will take a trip down to Auburn, Ala. to face the Tigers (0-0) at noon.

"To be able to compete against new competition (Auburn) or renew an old rivalry like Georgia Tech is a great opportunity for us to continue to elevate our program," said head coach Dave Rollins. "We are in a great place with our training, even though it's one of our most challenging times of the year but the team is ready to compete."

Last Time Out:
The Eagles after coming off a week break from winning the TYR Classic in Miami and splitting meets with FIU and UNF in which the Eagles took down the Ospreys, 78-53, to pick up their first conference win of the season.

At the TYR Classic hosted by FIU on Oct.6, the Eagles finished the two-day competition racking up 478.5 points – highlighted by FGCU capturing each relay event, beating out eight other programs to finish ahead of the Panthers (454.5) and Big 12 foe TCU (390) as they rounded out the top-3.

With 11 Eagles in Miami, the rest of the Green and Blue members stayed home to face FIU and UNF swimmers. In nine out of the 15 events held at the Nest, FGCU placed swimmers inside the top-3 as the 200 medley relay team of freshman Kellie Fischer and Wiktoria Czarnecka and juniors Emily Glinecke and Madison Jean took the first event. Fischer and Czarnecka made their collegiate debuts

Other first place-finishes included senior Nicole Oppel and the 200 free relay team of Czarnecka, Fischer and junior Karin Schienvar.

CCSA WEEKLY HONORS
Melissa Novak – Diver of the Week (Oct. 2)
Gracie Redding – Swimmer of the Week (Oct. 9)
Megan Wakefield – Diver of the Week (Oct. 9)

IN THE POLLS:
Currently, in the CollegeSwimming.com Poll, the Eagles sit at #45 (ranked as high as #18 last week), while it has Georgia Tech listed at #32, and Miami at #26. SCAD, who competes in the NAIA, was given the #1 pre-season ranking after taking home its fourth National Championship at the end of last season. Auburn will officially open up their season against FGCU Friday as the Tigers are ranked #15 in the CSCAA TYR top-25 pre-season poll after ending the 2018 slate #16.

Scouting Georgia Tech:
The Yellow Jackets split their opening weekend defeating Pitt (173.5-125.5) but fell to FSU (189-110). During the tri-meet, Emily Ilgenfritz (1000, 500 free) and Iris Wang (200, 100 free) both took home a pair of first-place finishes. On the boards, Camryn Hidalgo finished second in both the 1 and 3-meter dive.

Scouting Miami:
Just like its ACC partner, the Hurricanes are currently 1-1 to start the season. The Hurricanes lone loss is against SEC foe Florida (184-95) while the win came against FIU (165-133). Some of the team's top returners include swimmers Katie Sicklinger, Sydney Story and Roxanne Yu. Meanwhile, top divers for UM include, Carolyn Chaney, Alicia Blagg, and Millie Haffety.

Scouting SCAD:
After claiming the 2017-18 NAIA National Title, the Bees are have competed in one meet this season, falling to Georgia Southern, 181-81.

In that meet, freshman Kaylen Hou etched a new school record in the 100-yard IM (1:01.62), as she came in second place. In addition, Sarah Scargill placed second in the 100 breaststroke with a swim of 1:10.38 while Julie Henninger finished second in the 50 free with a mark of 28.63.

Scouting Auburn:
The Tigers will open up its season against FGCU Saturday afternoon. Last season, the Tigers capped off their season finishing 16th at the NCAA Championships, scoring 82.5 points – the most in program history since 2013 (87).

Gary Taylor was named Auburn's new head coach on Apr. 29 after spending the previous six seasons at NC State.

Friday Events vs Georgia Tech/Miami/SCAD:
1 p.m. – 1-meter diving starts
3 p.m. – full meet begins (3-meter diving at 3:30)
400 medley relay
1000 free
200 free
50 free
200 IM
200 fly
100 free
200 back
500 free
200 breast
 200 free relay
5 p.m. – approx. end time

Saturday Events vs Auburn:
200 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
50 Free
400 IM
1M Diving
100 Fly
100 Free
100 Back
500 Free
3M Diving
100 Breast
400 Free Relay