S&D Impresses in Dual Meet with Florida State
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami swimming and diving team impressed in its third dual meet of the season Friday afternoon against rival Florida State at the Whitten University Center Pool.
“We didn’t come away with the win, but I was very happy with their performance today,” head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas said. “Just like I told our team after the meet, this is my seventh year here and this is the best we’ve performed against the Noles.”
The Hurricanes (1-2) got off to a promising start with a first-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. Freshman Katie Ligon, senior Sofia Johansson, sophomore Lucy Worrall and senior Hannah Kling combined to take first (1:44.50) in one of the more exciting events of the day.
Youngsters Lucy Worrall (1:52.83) and My Fridell (1:53.63) turned in strong showings in the 200 Freestyle, finishing in second and fourth place respectively. Not to be outdone, senior Hannah Kling (57.59) and Ligon (57.72) both earned points in the 100 Backstroke.
Miami fought its way to first and second place in the fifth event of the meet, the 100 Breaststroke. Johansson (1:04.44) and fellow senior Christine Anderson (1:04.63) turned in the two best times in the event, besting Florida State’s Samantha Pochowski (1:05.58) and Kristine Polley (1:06.40).
Sophomore Katherine Daniels put on one of the best individual performances of the day in the very next event. The Atlanta, Ga. native finished first in the 200 Butterfly (2:04.24) by nearly three full seconds.
Two more seniors, Celeste Degen and Kayla Smith, earned points in the 50 Freestyle with second- and third-place finishes, respectively. Degen finished with a time of 23.81, while Smith touched the wall in 24.92.
“We had a lot of bright spots today,” Shefchunas said. “Our seniors really stepped up big time.”
Miami took both first and second in the 1-meter diving event, as veterans Carrie Dragland (312.45) and Lindsay Lester (304.58) earned a combined 13 points for Miami. Lester would finish second in the 3-meter event (328.73), while Kara McCormack placed third (307.43).
Despite falling 184-115, Shefchunas is excited about the Canes moving forward.
“We don’t have a lot of depth, but we just have really good swimmers,” Shefchunas said. “We’ve got the type of swimmers that win ACC’s at the end of the season, which is what we’re always gearing towards.”
The Hurricanes will return to the pool on Sat., Nov. 3 for a conference dual meet with Duke and NC State in Durham, N.C.
