FGCU S&D: Georgia Tech Invite Day Three Recap

 The FGCU swimming and diving team capped off the three-day invite with numerous personal bests, among those being some of the top times in the CCSA as the team prepares to move into the next phase of the season. The Eagles collected 119 points on the final day as they remained in 9th place throughout the three days.

"Surprising, amazing, and inspirational," stated head coach Dave Rollins after wrapping up the final day of the Georgia Tech Invite. "What an incredible weekend these young women had. We learned a lot about ourselves and how we can improve heading into the next phase of the season. To have five new 'B' cuts and set 10 new all-time top-10 times this early in the season is amazing. To be swimming lifetime best times is ridiculous. We have some work to do to be ready for the CCSA Championships but this weekend was a great launching point for next semester."

The diving portion kicked off the morning as sophomore Megan Wakefield and senior Margot Kessler competed on the platform. Wakefield placed 10th (212.80) to give the Eagles 15 points as Kessler went on to finish 27th (138.40). After some very strong swims in the prelims, FGCU would head into the finals, starting with the 1650 free.

Seeded 27th, senior Linda Shaw touched out in 16:54.21 for 18th place. Meanwhile, fellow senior Antonia Baerens produced a swim of 17:01.83 to finish 24th as both times from the seniors proved to be top marks in the CCSA.

Transitioning into the 200 back, senior Doris Eichhorn ended her C final run in 23rd (1:59.51), claiming a new season-best in the process. In the 100 free, FGCU placed a trio of swimmers in the B final.

Sophomore Rebecca Moynihan's time of 49.80 (15th place) was a new season-best for the New Zealand native and also the fastest time in the CCSA. Senior Gracie Redding was right behind the sophomore, claiming 16th with a swim of 49.96, also a new-season top mark.

Freshman Wiktoria Czarnecka finished 20th (50.98) while senior Hannah Burdge swam a season-best 50.34 (26th place) in the C final.

In the 200 breast A final, sophomore Petra Halmai hit an NCAA 'B' cut time touching the pads in 2:12.14, also a new top time in the CCSA.

Newcomer junior Emily Glinecke finished 25th (2:17.99) for the 8th fastest time in school history.

Senior Christina Kaas Elmgreen's NCAA 'B' cut time of 1:58.01 placed her 4th overall in the 200 fly as junior Cassidy Fry also hit the 'B' standard with a swim of 1:58.92 for 11th. Both swims are tops in the CCSA and fall into the top-30 in the nation.

The Eagles concluded the evening placing 6th in the 400 free relay. The quartet of Moynihan, Burdge, Czarnecka, and Redding touched out in 3:19.61 for the 6th fastest time in program history.

We had a great weekend but volleyball had the best weekend!" added Rollins on the FGCU volleyball team winning the A-SUN Championship earlier that evening. "Congratulations to coach Matt Botsford and the A-SUN Championship volleyball team!"

Final Team Standings
1. #10 Florida- 1266
2. #12 Auburn- 886.5
3. Alabama- 626.5
4. South Carolina- 593.5
4. #22 FSU- 593.5
6. #19 UNC- 565.5
7. Virginia Tech- 535.5
8. Georgia Tech- 434
9. FGCU- 327
10. ECU- 188

UP NEXT:
The Eagles are off until Monday, Dec. 17 when they welcome CCSA foe UNC Asheville to the FGCU Aquatics Complex for a dual meet which is slated for a 12 pm start.