Miami Swimming & Diving Continues Rivalry with FAU
Nov. 7, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team will host their third home meet of the season on Saturday, November 8 at the Norman A. Whitten Student Union Pool as they battle the Owls of Florida Atlantic University for in-state supremacy. Admission is free, and the meet is set to begin at 10 a.m.
The `Canes look to improve their overall record against FAU after beating the Owls last year for the first time in three seasons.
“I’m really excited to swim against FAU tomorrow,” proclaimed third-year head coach Christie Shefchunas. “We’ve created quite an in-state rivalry with them, and I look forward to seeing the girls step up and go for the win.”
Saturday’s meet will mark the third time the Orange and Green have competed against FAU under Coach Shefchunas’ tenure. The two previous meetings were decided by a narrow margin of roughly 30 points with one in support of FAU and the most recent outcome favoring UM.
Miami looks to continue their south Florida domination of opponents this season on Saturday. UM has already defeated Florida Gulf Coast (Oct. 4) and FIU (Oct. 18) on the year at home. Overall, the `Canes hold a record of 4-3 on the campaign, but look at an 0-3 mark against ACC opponents.
Among numerous swimmers this weekend for the Hurricanes will be sophomore Annika Saarnak and seniors Britta Boesing and Katie Eason. Both Saarnak and Boesing hold three of the five top times in their respective events for the `Canes. This weekend’s matchup will be a 13-event schedule with strokes consisting of 200 yards, and the relays being a 200 medley and 400 freestyle.
Diving will also take place on the women’s side for the `Canes as senior Jenna Dreyer will be in action, as well as junior All-American and 2008 National Champion Brittany Viola. Freshman Kelci Bryant, one of two Olympians this year for the Hurricanes, is also in action on Saturday.
Dreyer, a native of the Republic of South Africa, also represented her country in this past summer’s Olympic Games.
All three divers for UM have qualified for the NCAA Zone `B’ Diving Championships in March.
The men’s diving team will not get back to the action for UM until Nov. 11-15 when they travel to the Georgia Tech Invitational held in Atlanta, Ga. Both J.J. Kinzbach and 2008 NCAA Champion Reuben Ross have qualified for the Zone `B’ Championships as well.
For more information on this weekend’s event, stay tuned to www.hurricanesports.com for all the action and official releases/results following the meet.
