FIU swim team win their first meet of the season

Zoe Chin/Sports Director

The FIU swim team won their first dual-meet of the spring season (127.5-67.5) against Central Connecticut State University on Panther territory at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center on Saturday, Jan. 12. After a loss against the University of Miami (165-133) last year on Sept. 9, the team made a comeback for this season. At the meet, the Panthers won 10 out of the 11 events against the Blue Devils. The FIU diving team did not compete as CCSU does not have a diving team.

In the 200 medley relay, the Panthers took first and second place in the event. The first-place team included Naomi Ruele, Carita Luukanen, Stephanie Hussey and Helga Fodor, they ended the event with a time of 1:47.77. Two seconds later, Melannie Vargas, Taylor Grabenhorst, Paloma Sanchez and Alexa Bryant came in second at 1:49.77.

Redshirt senior Ruele won first-place in 50 free (24.41) then in the 200 free relay (1:37.40) alongside junior Bryant and freshmen Fodor and Sanchez.

Sanchez finished second in the same 50 free event with a time of 25.00. She tied for second with Blue Devils’ Jeannette King and the points were distributed evenly between Sanchez and King.

The 200 freestyle event was won by Berta Triola. The junior finished the event with a time of 1:56.81. Followed by freshman Holly Shepherd who finished second with a time of 1:57.17.

During the 200 fly event, Hussey won first with a time of 2:05.47.  The sophomore finished three seconds ahead of Blue Devils’ Valentina Gomez who clocked in at 2:08.37.

FIU got their fifth-straight win from sophomore Sara Gyertyanffy. The breaststroke/IM swimmer won the 200 individual medley in 2:08.98.

The only event that the Panthers lost was the 500 free event. The Blue Devils won first and second place in the event. Gomez finished in first with a time of 5:15.23. Followed by Blue Devils’ Grace Regan who won second with a time of 5:18.66. Panthers’ Victoria Cantu came in third only five seconds behind second place. The sophomore the event in 5:23.30.

Having won this meet, the Panthers are now 1-1 in their spring season. They will have another home meet on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. against Florida Gulf Coast University at the BBC Aquatic Center.

Feature Image by Brea Jones/PantherNOW