Hosting TCU, Georgia Tech and Liberty the Seminoles hold the lead in the women’s meet with a score of 118 points ahead of the Horned Frogs (91), while the men are up with a tally of 121 ahead of the Yellow Jackets (121).
“We had a great first day,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “We had some really great swims. This meet is really competitive and our team is doing a fantastic job of having great energy and feeding off each other. We’re excited to get back at it tomorrow.”
The second session will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will feature nine events for both teams.
The women started the night off with a victory in the 200 medley relay behind Sarah Evans, Maddy Huggins, Edith Jernstedt and Gloria Muzito with a time of 1:41.51.
Maysa Ratiu made her debut and won her first race, taking the 200 free at 1:51.07, just ahead of Sophie Freeman in second place at 1:51.28.
Huggins was the runner-up in the 400 IM (4:26.30) and 100 breast (1:02.53).
Freeman came back and won the 100 fly (54.285) on short rest from lane eight.
Evans swam a strong 100 back, touching first with a time of 54.88.
FSU finished the night by placing second in the 400 free relay behind Muzito, Jernstedt, Evans and Ratiu (3:26.19).
The men also started the meet by winning the 200 medley relay behind Mason Herbet, Tommaso Baravelli, Tobias Schulrath and Jokubas Keblys (1:27.50).
Yordan Yanchev held on to win the 200 free from lane eight, touching at 1:36.53.
Utku Kurdere was the runner-up in the 400 IM (3:57.90) and Schulrath also followed with a second place finish in the 100 fly (48.29).
Baravelli took third in the 100 breast (55.81) before the Noles finished a one-two punch in the 100 back, led by Max Wilson in lane eight at 47.97. Herbet grabbed second at 48.24.
The Noles took second in the 400 free relay with Varjasi, Keblys, Yanchev and Herbet (2:59.09) to finish the meet.
In diving, Isabel Gregersen finished third on 1-meter with a score of 233.80, while Darwin Nolasco placed second on 3-meter at 302.20.
“It’s great to be back competing again,” FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. “It’s early in the season. These guys are out here having a great time and competing hard.”
UNF Invite
Jacksonville, Fla. – Members of the women’s FSU swimming and diving team kicked off the 2023-24 season competing at the UNF Invite at the UNF Competition Pool Complex on Friday evening.
Florida State holds the lead with a total of 498 points ahead of Campbell (388.5), UNF (382.5) and Georgia Southern (331).
The Seminoles showed dominance in the freestyle events, winning the 200 free, 50 free and 1000 free.
“I’m really happy with how the ladies showed up and raced today,” FSU associate head coach Athena Spellman said. “We had a lot of great energy that carried us through the meet. We had several ladies really step up and make some big impacts for their team today.”
Led by Sara Moulson, FSU placed first through seventh in the 200 free. Moulson turned in the top time at 1:52.52, followed by Brooke Arnold (1:53.95), Phoebe Griffiths (1:53.98), Ella Dyjak (1:54.95), Hailey Heldenbrand (1:55.38), Ashley Zettle (1:55.39) and Julia Brzozowski (1:55.76).
In the 50 free, Heldenbrand led the way for gold, touching at 24.06 and Gabrianna Banks finished second (24.16). Arnold added fourth place points at 24.40 and Victoria Valko touched fifth (24.50).
Brzozowski was the winner in the 1000 free (10:21.48), finishing ahead of Djyak in second (10:23.74) and Cadence Fort in third (10:25.53). Fort also turned in the top time in the 400 IM for the Noles, placing fourth (4:38.55).
Mabry Bishop led the way in the 200 fly (2:06.53), winning ahead of Jenny Bird (2:07.05) in second and Aimee DuHamel (2:08.05) in third.
Natalie Peterson placed fourth in the 100 back (1:00.32) and Rachel Moran was sixth in the 100 breast (1:07.83).
Saturday’s session will begin at 11 a.m. and will air on ESPN+.
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