FGCU S&D: TYR Classic Recap Day One

After day one of the TYR Fall Classic, hosted by FIU, 11 members of the FGCU swimming and diving team will take a 21-point lead heading into Saturday's finale at the Biscyane Bay Aquatic Center.

"The ladies did a great job performing better as the session went on," said head coach Dave Rollins. "I told them before the meet started the medley relay sets the tone of the meet and to get a win in the first event, coming from behind, just set the standard for the rest of the afternoon. We hold a slight lead going into tomorrow's competition and it's our job to finish what we started. It'll be exciting!"

The Eagles quickly jumped into the thick of things by coming out on top in the first event of the afternoon, taking the 400 medley relay. The quartet of sophomore Petra Halmai and seniors Doris Eichhorn, Christina Kaas Elmgreen, and Gracie Redding combined for a swim of 3:50.56 to score the first points of the TYR Classic.

The momentum continued for the Eagles as seniors Linda Shaw and Hannah Burdge placed third in their 200 free heats to keep the scoring total for the Eagles going as junior Elizabeth Zeiger highlighted the 400 IM, taking the title with a swim of 4:27.61. After three events, the Eagles put themselves atop the leaderboard with 85.5 points.

Holding a 12.5 point lead over George Washington (GW), Halmai and junior Cassidy Fry claimed a sweep in the 100 fly as Burdge and Redding followed suit, taking the 50 free heats. The lead continued to expand with second and third place finishes by Halmai and White in the 100 breast to bump the total to 166.5 for the Green and Blue after six events.

Despite slipping on the start of the 100 back, Eichhorn battled back to finish fourth while Zeiger claimed the seventh spot in her heat to balloon FGCU's margin to 183.5 points for a 20-point cushion over host FIU (165.5).

The swimming portion concluded on a strong note as Redding, Burdge, Eichhorn, and Fry took first in the 200 free relays with a time of 1:35.21, boosting the point total to 223.5 transitioning into diving.

On the boards, sophomore Melissa Novak capped off the 1-meter dive placing third (235.95), while fellow sophomore Megan Wakefield placed fourth in her heat (230.25)

Saturday's Events (11 AM)
200 MR
500 Free
200 Breast
200 Back
100 Free
200 Fly
200 IM
400 Free
1m Dive             

UP NEXT
FGCU will conclude Day Two of the TYR Classic tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m.

TEAM STANDINGS:
FGCU – 244.5
FIU – 223.5
Army – 204
Grand Canyon – 192.5
GW – 187.5
TCU – 187
FAU – 167
ODU – 150