Florida Returns to Pool at Stacked Georgia Tech Invitational
Florida Returns to Pool at Stacked Georgia Tech Invitational
The Florida Gators are looking to make moves at the Georgia Tech Invite. Here are a few of the swimmers to keep an eye on.
After an 11-day layoff from competition, the Florida men's and women's teams are looking to make a jump in the NCAA rankings at the Georgia Tech Invitational from Thursday to Saturday.
The Gators men's squad, which currently sits at No. 9 in the country, and the UF women, ranked 16th overall, enter the three-day meet with the opportunity to knock off several highly rated teams in Atlanta. Also competing this weekend at the McAuley Aquatic Center will be No. 8 Alabama and No. 24 Georgia Tech on the men's side and 11th-ranked Auburn for the women.
Florida is returning to the pool for the first time since splitting an SEC dual meet against Texas A&M in College Station, TX, on Nov. 5. The Gators men's team held off the host Aggies for a 159-141 win, while the UF women's team fell to 10th-ranked Texas A&M in a 171-124 loss.
Andrea D'arrigo leads the distance group with teammate Ben Lawless. This season, D'arrigo has posted a 1,000 time of 9:08.90 and Lawless has added a 9:14.46. These two continue a long line of Florida distance swimming talent and will bring a good amount of points the Gators' way this weekend.
Jan Switkowski is also a major contributor to the team with a quick 1:45.63 200 Fly and 1:47.20 200 IM. He should be top three in multiple events and a threat to bring home some gold as well.
Other UF swimmers to watch:
Blake Manganiello - Distance Freestyle
Mark Szaranek - IM/Fly
Bayley Main - Backstroke
Alyssa Yambor-Maul is going to take the reigns for the butterfly group and assist in backstroke events as well. She's gone 55.10 in the 100 and 1:59.43 in the 200 fly distances this season.
Georgia Darwent is the distance champion for Florida with a 9:51.90 1,000 free and a 16:52.53 in the 1,650.
Other UF swimmers to watch:
Emma Ball - Backstroke
Mollie Pulte - Sprint Freestyle
Autumn Fink - Mid Distance Freestyle
Live results from Georgia Tech Invitational can be found here.
The Gators men's squad, which currently sits at No. 9 in the country, and the UF women, ranked 16th overall, enter the three-day meet with the opportunity to knock off several highly rated teams in Atlanta. Also competing this weekend at the McAuley Aquatic Center will be No. 8 Alabama and No. 24 Georgia Tech on the men's side and 11th-ranked Auburn for the women.
Florida is returning to the pool for the first time since splitting an SEC dual meet against Texas A&M in College Station, TX, on Nov. 5. The Gators men's team held off the host Aggies for a 159-141 win, while the UF women's team fell to 10th-ranked Texas A&M in a 171-124 loss.
Men:
Sprinter sensation Caeleb Dressel is having a solid dual meet season, putting up a 19.56 50 free, 47.32 100 fly, and 1:35.99 200 free. He's followed in the 200 freestyle by teammates Jan Switkowski at 1:36.24 and Maxime Rooney with a 1:37.55. Expect Rooney to go a lot faster.Andrea D'arrigo leads the distance group with teammate Ben Lawless. This season, D'arrigo has posted a 1,000 time of 9:08.90 and Lawless has added a 9:14.46. These two continue a long line of Florida distance swimming talent and will bring a good amount of points the Gators' way this weekend.
Jan Switkowski is also a major contributor to the team with a quick 1:45.63 200 Fly and 1:47.20 200 IM. He should be top three in multiple events and a threat to bring home some gold as well.
Other UF swimmers to watch:
Blake Manganiello - Distance Freestyle
Mark Szaranek - IM/Fly
Bayley Main - Backstroke
Women:
Sherridon Dressel has the season's top time in the 50 (23.34) and 100 free (50.84) for the Gators. She leads a solid sprint crew with Kelsey Dambacher and Amelia Maughan right behind her in both events.Alyssa Yambor-Maul is going to take the reigns for the butterfly group and assist in backstroke events as well. She's gone 55.10 in the 100 and 1:59.43 in the 200 fly distances this season.
Georgia Darwent is the distance champion for Florida with a 9:51.90 1,000 free and a 16:52.53 in the 1,650.
Other UF swimmers to watch:
Emma Ball - Backstroke
Mollie Pulte - Sprint Freestyle
Autumn Fink - Mid Distance Freestyle
Live results from Georgia Tech Invitational can be found here.