Swimming Dominates FIU in Season Opener

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s swimming team opened its season with a 167.5 – 107.5 win over FIU at the Biscayne Bay Aquatics Complex Wednesday evening.

Despite a 90-minute lightning delay, the Hurricanes put forth a dominant effort to secure a win in its first meet.

“It was a great to see the team go out and do, in the first meet, what we’ve been seeing them do in practice. Go out, bond together and represent The U,” head coach Andy Kershaw said.

Miami opened the meet with a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Celina Kuehne, Emma Sundstrand, Giulia Carvalho and Talia Bates helped the Hurricanes to a top-place time of 1:41.83 in the opening event.

Adrianna Cera (10:17.97), Aino Otava (10:28.01) and Kate Sommerstad (10:31.29) swept the top-three finishes in the 1,000-yard freestyle to set the tone for individual action. Bates picked her first individual win as a Hurricane in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.03), just ahead of teammates Savannah Barr (1:51.84) and Jane Fitzgerald (1:52.26), who were second and third.

“It was great to see our returnees out there with how they led, and great to see our newcomers wear The U for the first time on their caps,” Kershaw said.

Newcomers Emma Shuppert (56.46) and MK Kelley (56.64) went 1-2 in the 100-yard backstroke ahead of Celina Kuehne (56.93), while freshman Amanda Witkus picked up her first collegiate win in the 200-yard butterfly (2:04.52).

Carvalho (23.27) and Jacey Hinton (23.69) helped keep Miami’s momentum going in the meet’s later stages with the top two finishes in the 50-yard freestyle.

“I really enjoyed watching how they dove in and really attacked their races,” Kershaw said. “That really sent a good message. We saw some good things and we’re looking forward to getting better from here.”

Miami travels to the SMU Classic for a two-day event beginning Fri., Oct. 6 in Dallas, Texas.