FGCU Swim and Dive vs Miami: Senior Night Preview

The FGCU swimming and diving team (6-6, 2-1 CCSA) wrap up their final home meet at the FGCU Aquatic Complex as they welcome Miami (3-5) for a rematch on Saturday, January 19 at 6 p.m.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles are coming off of facing Bowling Green, Buffalo and CCSA rival Liberty Saturday morning. The Eagles defeated Bowling Green (175-120) and Buffalo (172-117) before falling to Liberty (173-122).

The Eagles earned first place finishes in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, but it was sophomore Petra Halmai and senior Gracie Redding that took first place finishes individually and in the relays. Both Halmai and Redding took first in the 200 medley relay while Halmai took first in the 200 medley and Redding took first in the 50 free and 400 free relay.

Halmai and Redding also took second and third places in other events (Halmai: 2nd in 100 breast and 200 breast; Redding: 2nd in 100 fly).

Meanwhile on the diving portion, sophomore Megan Wakefield would take second place in one meter dive (244.45) and third in the three meter (248.22).

Weekly Awards:
As a result of their performances against Bowling Green, Buffalo and Liberty, Redding and Wakefield were named CCSA Swimmer (Redding) and Diver (Wakefield) of the Week. This was the second time this season both have won the weekly awards. Overall, it was both their third weekly awards in their careers.

"Gracie is competing and practicing at another level right now," stated head coach Dave Rollins on Redding's performance. "To start her final semester as an Eagle in such an incredible way will only help build her confidence and the confidence of her teammates as we approach the championship season."

"Megan continues to be incredibly consistent each and every meet," said Rollins on Wakefield's performance. "Getting a chance to compete, and compete very well, against strong competition, will continue to help her and our program as the season continues.  She consistently comes up huge for us each and every meet."

Senior Soundoff:
The meet will be dubbed as senior night for 10 seniors: Redding, Antonia "Toni" Baerens, Hannah Burdge, Kiley Eble, Doris Eichorn, Christina "Tina" Kaas Elmgreen, Margot Kessler, Lindsay Manganiello, Nicole Oppel, and Linda Shaw. Kessler is the lone senior on the diving team while Redding (FSU) and Baerens (Nevada) are the lone transfers on the team so far.

"It's a special time of the year when you can honor an incredible class like this one," said head coach Dave Rollins. "Not only are these are these ladies world-class people that we will be saying goodbye to, but they are some of the best and brightest that have ever come through this program. It's been an absolute pleasure to coach these young women. They are set up to do some amazing things not just in the pool but in life as well."

Scouting Miami:
The Hurricanes are coming off of competing in a tri meet against Florida State and Alabama where they lost 225-71 against Alabama and lost 239-59 to FSU.

On the swimming portion, sophomore Carmen San Nicolas placed fifth with a time of 1:53.48, while junior Manon Viguier placed seventh at 1:54.06 in the 200 free.

Meanwhile, sophomore Sydney Knapp placed sixth in the 50 free with a time of 24.12, just .02 seconds faster than her teammate, Viguier, who finished sixth.

San Nicholas added a fifth-place finish in the 100 free to her resume, hitting the wall in a time of 52.33, while senior Roxanne Yu (2:03.37) notched a fifth-place finish in the 200 back.

The Hurricanes closed out the tri-meet with freshman Zorry Mason (24.16), Viguier (23.48), freshman Coco Hull (23.88) and Knapp (23.87) securing fourth in the 200 free relay (1:35.39).

On the diving side, Freshman Millie Haffety edged out Florida State's Molly Carlson by 0.4 points in the 3-meter (308.40), to secure the first-place finish. In the 1-meter, the freshman placed third (277.80), just 13.05 points behind first-place finisher Carlson.

In the 1-meter, senior Carolyn Chaney finished fourth with a score of 269.20, while redshirt sophomore Alicia Blagg (242.55) placed seventh.

Series History:
Despite the Eagles falling 121-119 to Miami in Atlanta on October 19, 2018, the Eagles are 8-5 all-time against the Hurricanes.

How to Keep Up:
Fans can keep up on Twitter:
FGCU: @FGCU_WSwim

Miami: @CaneSwimDive

List of Events:
200 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
50 Free
200 IM
1M Dive
100 Fly
100 Free
100 Back
500 Free
3M Dive
100 Breast
200 Free Relay