By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer
The Golden Panthers’ women’s swimming and diving team opened up the 2011-2012 season at home with a 68-44 defeat at the Bay Vista Aquatics Complex to Florida Gulf Coast University on Sept. 30. The dual meet was ended early due to rain and lightning in the area. Both teams were only able to complete six events before the meet was called.
Coach Randy Horner gave his assessment on the Golden Panthers’ results in the meet. “We kind of got off to a little bit of a sluggish start, but definitely had some bright spots in several individual events,” Horner said. “We were sad to see the weather come in and not allow us to continue the meet because the next segment of the meet, the next four events, we felt like were some of our stronger events.”
Newcomers and Veterans Contribute
The Golden Panthers had major contributions from their upperclassmen, freshmen and sophomore swimmers in the meet. The 200 Individual Medley relay team was one example, as the team of freshmen Johanna Gustafsdottir and Klara Andersson as well as juniors Chelsie Kidd and Mariangela Macchiavello finished in second place in the relay with an overall team time of 1:49.77.
Sophomores Sonia Perez Arau and Colleen Quinn finish in second and fourth places, respectively, for the Golden Panthers in the 1000 yard freestyle. Their finishes tallied, combined six-team points in the meet standings early in the meet.
Kayla Derr also collected her first individual win on the season with her first place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:54.28. Freshman Nadia Farrugia also collected a third place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.86.
Other contributions in the individual events came from Macchiavello and Andersson, who finished in third and fourth places respectively in the 50-yard freestyle. Gustafsdottir and freshman Danielle Meara also finished in second and fourth places, respectively, in the 200-yard Individual Medley.
Beaupre Qualifies for NCAA Regionals
Last season’s Sun Belt Conference diver of the year Sabrina Beaupre also collected her first win on the season and qualified for the NCAA regional with her scores in the one meter dive. “Sabrina is a solid diver, one of best divers in the state of Florida,” Horner said. “To get that qualifying score in her first meet out again this season, just like last season, that [was] good.”
Up Next: The All Florida Invitational
The Golden Panthers’ next meet will be from Oct. 7-8 in Gainesville, Fla. at the All Florida Invitational. The meet is hosted by the University of Florida and will feature all of the major swimming and diving programs from across the state.
“We are going up against top caliber programs, with UF who is a top five program in the nation [and] Florida State is currently a top 15 program,” Horner said.
“As well as in-state rivals FAU in our conference, it’s going to be good competition for our top kids to [compete] against the nation’s best.”
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