By: Malcolm Shields / Contributing Writer
On a chilly, 67-degree and overcast day, the Golden Panthers swimming and diving team returned back to competition against the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University.
This meet was the fourth of five consecutive home meets that were being held at the Bay Vista Aquatics Complex since the beginning of the 2011 portion of the team’s schedule.
Divers Sabrina Beaupre, Namiko Shibata, and Jamie Stinson did not compete in Saturday’s one meter and three meter events.
The Panthers would fall to FGCU by a score of 178 to 75 on Jan. 22. After the meet, Coach Randy Horner gave his assessment of his team’s effort.
“We swam very tired today,” Horner said. “Pretty much where we are right now; getting ready for the end of the season we’re training really hard. We swam like that. We didn’t really do anything great as far as any times, but its kind of where we expect to be right now. It’s all about just sucking it up and being tough right now at this point of the season.”
In the 200-yard Medley relay, the Golden Panthers relay team of Danielle Sneir, Erin Pavlick, Yesica Rojas, and Mariangela Macchiavello began slightly off the pace in second about half way through the competition. The relay team would finish second just behind FGCU with a time of 1:50.56, earning four points for the Golden Panthers.
Senior Joanna Pomerantz had an overall solid day. She began her day with the 1000-yard freestyle. She would finish fourth with a time of 10:52.25. Pomerantz would also finish in first place in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:15.69; securing nine points for FIU. Pavlick would also finish in second in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:21.53.
“I was excited. I was really excited about my 1000,” Pomerantz said. “I felt really good about having a constant pace and to get back in the water. It felt great.”
In the 200-yard freestyle, Macchiavello and Rojas would finish in second and fourth with times of 1:56.73 and 1:57.18 respectively.
“It was good,” Rojas said of her day. “I swam events that I didn’t swim before. I am really happy about my times right now.”
In the 100-yard butterfly, the Panthers would finish 1-2-3 as Kayla Derr would secure first place with a time of 1:01.86. Chelsie Kidd finished second with a time of 1:02.01 and Melissa Moreno finished third with a time of 1:02.21. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the FIU team of Macchiavello, Kariann Stevens, Vicnan Torres, and Derr finished in second to FGCU by only .06 hundredths of a second, with a time of 1:38.66.
Horner also talked about the importance of rounding his team into form with the Sun Belt Conference tournament coming up in February and finishing the season against FAU.
“Our conference championship is our number one focus,” Horner said. “It’s always good to swim a familiar opponent [in Florida Atlantic]. It’s going to be real special to finish off our dual meet season. Hopefully everyone will come out and cheer them on.”
When the Panthers meet with FAU on Jan. 29, it will be the final home meet for Seniors Erin Pavlick, Joanna Pomerantz, Yesica Rojas, and Danielle Sneir.
“I’m excited for me, my seniors and my team… I’m pumped,” Pomerantz said.
Pavlick also spoke about her last time swimming for FIU and her thoughts on Horner’s impact on the program in his first season.
“It’s really exciting. I’m excited for the team because of the new transition this year,” Pavlick said. “It’s just cool to be a part of the history making. I think [Horner] is great. We needed the change.”
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