Swimming & Diving to Host FGCU on Senior Day
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami swimming & diving team will host FGCU for its annual Senior Day meet on Sat., Jan. 20 at noon at the Whitten University Center pool.
“We’re looking forward to tomorrow, our last dual meet of the year,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “It’s one more chance to see how we’re progressing here. We have a lot of speed to gain since last week, and we’ve kind of shifted gears in our type of work to include a lot more of that, and we’ll see how that is progressing. I know the team is anxious to get back on the blocks and seeking a little bit of revenge from their times from last week. This is their chance to do that.”
The Hurricanes will honor three seniors prior to the meet, which features free admission and is open to the public: swimmers Julie Suarez and Jessica Hurley and diver Wally Layland.
Kershaw and head diving coach Randy Ableman will be looking to Saturday’s competition as another tune-up for the postseason, which looms in February (ACC Championships) and March (NCAA Championships).
“We’re continuing along the process, with our eyes still ahead at ACC’s within a month and making sure we’re on the right track to qualify as many people for NCAA’s as we can when we get to ACC’s,” Kershaw said. “It’s also a special meet for the senior recognition. I’m very proud of the three seniors – two swimmers and one diver. They’ve been a big part of the progress the team has made in their four years here, a huge part of it. Just as importantly, I think they’re a huge part of the great years that are to come.”
Kershaw said that the three seniors have embodied the attitude the coaching staff is seeking in all Hurricanes.
“That’s just in the pool. Just seeing what they’ve developed into as women and leaders in the community, leaders in the classroom, that’s the most rewarding part of it at the end of the day,” he said. “I’m really excited to celebrate that, even though this isn’t their last event as Hurricanes, it’s their last dual meet here, so we will celebrate that and keep it rolling.
The Eagles will present a stiff challenge in their trip to the Whitten Pool, but Kershaw said he expects his team to be ready for the opportunity.
“We’re looking for great energy. FGCU has a great team. They have a great history. It has been a long time since we’ve been able to take them down, and we get another shot,” he said. “We’ll see what we can do going head to head tomorrow.”
