Decorated swimmers show promise

By: Samuel Cohen/Contributing Writer

The Women’s Swimming and Diving team have a lot of weight to carry on their shoulders this season.

Holding second place in last year’s Conference-USA Championship tournament, they are looking to finally come in first place as a strong core of last year’s team.

The tables were turned on the Panthers as they were defeated by the Rice University Owls at their last meet.

The Owls defeated the Panthers by 260 points with a final score of 1000-740, with the emphasis on relays as the Owls were able to sweep those five for five.

However, a powerful class of freshmen make their way to the swimming pool for payback.

FIU swept top honors in the 2014 Conference-USA Swimming and Diving Specialty Awards as seniors Sonia Perez Arau and Sabrina Beaupre were named Swimmer of the Year and Diver of the Year.

Arau became FIU’s first swimmer to receive All-American distinction when she finished 13th in the 400 IM at the 2014 NCAA Championships. With a time of 4:10.17, the second-fastest mark in school history, Arau was the lone C-USA swimmer to score at the NCAA Championships, earning four points for the Panthers.

Returning this year from the powerhouse 2013-2014 team is senior Johanna Gustafsdottir, who won the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.94) at the C-USA tournament last year.

Also expected to make a major impact this year is senior Klara Andersson and sophomores Jennifer Deist and Jennifer Alfani.

Alfani came to FIU with an extraordinary swimming background as a previous member of the French National Team for the European Championships in 2012.

She was able to earn a medal in that championship, and she brings a winning attitude to this team.

Head Coach Randy Horner has had great things to say about Alfani.

“[Jennifer Alani’s] experience at the European Championships representing the French National team will be valuable to her success in the NCAA,” Horner said. “Jennifer is used to winning and success at the highest level.”

Deist comes in with her own top honors having won three state medals — the most ever earned for swimming at Edwardsville High School in Illinois.

“Jennifer [Deist] is an exciting addition to our team,” said Horner. “She is improving constantly and I feel she is the type swimmer that has untapped potential. She will be a significant contributor right away for us.”

Andersson proves a consistent team player for the Panthers, returning for her senior year.

As the current school record holder in the 50 freestyle, posting a time of 23.24 seconds at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in 2012, the Swedish native is also an important part of many of the relay teams.

She will be called upon early and often by the FIU coaching staff to pave the way for a top finish.

Leading the way for the Panthers this year will undoubtedly be Gustafsdottir, as the Icelandic native is already part of ten FIU school records.

Five of those records came in individual events (100, 200 freestyle, 100, 200 Backstroke, 200 Medley), as the other five came in relays (200,400,800 Freestyle, 200, 400 Medley).

Gustafsdottir came to the Panthers with great swimming history as an Icelandic National Champion 43 times and holding 25 Icelandic national records from 2004 through 2011.

The Panthers most important matchups will be at the Mizzou Invitational

from Nov. 20 through Nov. 22, the Winter Classic on Thursday Dec. 18 and the dual meet against their local rivals at the University of Miami on Saturday Jan. 31.

The C-USA championships will be held Feb.18 through Feb. 22.

 

Photo by Jeffery Pierre/ The Beacon