Samuel Cohen/ Staff Writer
Florida Atlantic University Owls were no match for FIU’s women’s swimming and diving team at the opening meet of the season. On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Panthers beat the Owls 205 points to 95.
The Panthers ended last year’s season with many ups and downs. Swimmers posted outstanding scores in the Conference USA Championship last February, but ended the meet in second place, losing to the Rice Owls.
When asked about the near victory at last year’s C-USA finals, Head Coach Randy Horner stated looked to the future.
Horner said, “We have our eyes set on the championship this year, and we have high expectations of our young squad.”
Horner was not understating the youth of his team, as freshman Silvia Scalia picked up three individual victories on the day, and freshman Rebecca Quesnel won both diving events.
Scalia stepped up in her first career meet as an Panther swimmer. The Italian native’s three wins came in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
Scalia’s 200 and 100 backstroke times have already found way into the school record books. Her 200 backstroke time of 2:01.69 is now third in school history while her time of 56.41 in the 100 backstroke already is the fifth fastest time in school history.
The 2:06.97 time in the 200 IM is also top 10 in the FIU record books.
Quesnel showed maturity beyond her freshman status as she dominated both the one-meter and three-meter diving boards. In the one-meter diving, she earned a score of 276.83, the fourth best score for a diver in school history in that event. She followed that up with a mark of 275.78 in the three meter diving to earn the title.
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