Gator Diving Hosts FSU In Last Home Meet

The Gator swimming and diving team swept past their state rival on Friday and Saturday. The men’s and women’s swim team went to Ocala on Friday to compete at the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training facility, while the diving team hosted the Seminoles at the O’Connell Center on both Friday and Saturday.

Last home Meet

Diving hosted the last home meet in the O’Connell Center for the season on Friday and Saturday.  Friday’s events were the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.

Maha Amer led the 1 meter, finishing with 329.10. She also won the 3-meter with 319. 95.  Leonardo Garcia led both the 1-meter and the 3-meter. He finished with 359.10 for 1 meter and 439.43 for the 3-meter. His 3-meter score was one point shy of the school record.

Garcia only made his season debut last week against the FAU Owls for senior day. He was returning from an injury.

Saturday was no different as the Gators blew past the Seminoles on the platform dives.  Elettra Neroni placed first with 288.83 after the women’s total five rounds. Maha Amer placed second and Carina Lumia placed third.

Carina Lumia scored 46.8 for round 4 off the 10 meter. #gatorsdiving #floridaswimanddive #espngainesville pic.twitter.com/4EmXEJCMUW

— bryce mitchell (@brycelmitch) January 21, 2023

Although Garcia didn’t finish the weekend winning all three events, he took third for platform with 357.15.  His final dive to wrap up the final round was a reverse three and a half somersault tuck off of the 10 meter. He received a score of fours from both judges for an award score of 40.80.

Anton Svirskyi dove the best on platform, winning with a final score of 434.03. During his final round dive, a back two and a half somersault one and a half twist pike, he received a nine and an eight and a half from the judges that earned a 84 score award.

https://twitter.com/GatorsSwimDv/status/1616862124893937664?s=20&t=yPPp38jC1qEEi1xduiQjAA

Swimmers in Ocala

In Ocala, the swimmers had few issues getting past Florida State. Both the men and women’s relays secured first place in the 200 medley relay to start the meet.

2020 Olympian Emma Weyant placed first in the 1650 freestyle and was 13 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. She also got a B-cut time for NCAA Division I Women’s Championships.

Zoe Dixon also received a B-cut time in her first-place victory of the 200 butterfly. Dixon also received the SEC Women’s Freshman of the Week award this past week.

The only events that Florida didn’t steal first place in were the men’s 100 backstroke, the men’s 200 backstroke and the women’s 100 butterfly.

Florida now starts preparing for postseason events.

https://twitter.com/GatorsSwimDv/status/1616550279184547840?s=20&t=yPPp38jC1qEEi1xduiQjAA