Panthers Take Fifth Consecutive Championship Title

Written by Zoe Chin/Sports Director

For the fifth year in a row, the FIU swimming and diving team (7-3) won the Conference USA championships on Saturday, March. 2.

For the first time in FIU athletics, the Panthers have won a fifth-straight conference title.

The Panthers finished the championship with 935.5 cumulative points, beating Rice University (5-5), North Texas University (4-1) and Marshall University (1-6).

The efforts of the swim and dive team showed throughout the entire championship. Breaking records, getting medals, and pushing for first place.

The swim and diving team is going to Austin, Texas for the NCAA championships from Wednesday, March. 20 to Saturday, March. 23.

Head coach Randy Horner has been the with the university for nine seasons. He came from the University of New Orleans after the swimming program was being dropped post Hurricane Katrina. Since becoming the head coach for the swimming and diving team, the program has seen a dramatic improvement.

For junior Taylor Grabenhorst, she trusts in the process and trusting in the coach. The breaststroke and individual medley swimmer has racked up a list of career top times since her start as a freshman in 2016.

This includes a career best in 200 breaststroke event (2:16.13), the 50 free event (25.54) and the 400 IM event (4:23.11).

“You do the best you can each day and give 100%,” said Grabenhorst.

In the C-USA championship, Grabenhorst scored 47 points for the Panthers in her events. She won fourth place in the 100 breaststroke event (1:02.30) and the 200 breaststroke event (2:16.36).

Coming from Orlando, Florida, Grabenhorst wasn’t sure what to expect when she visited FIU for the first time. But fell in love with the university when she visited.

“I love the school, I love the team,” said Grabenhorst.  “It’s like a family. I felt like I was at home.”

Going into her senior year, while she wants to finish on a high note, Grabenhorst also wants to enjoy every little moment. Sometimes it is best to stop and observe what you’re doing because it is something you won’t be able to do again once you leave, according to her.

The success that the team has seen hasn’t been done alone, according to Horner. He respects his staff, assistant coach Ignacio Gayo who has been with Horner for all nine seasons and Rio Ramirez who’s been on the team for seven season.

He puts his trust in them with the success of the team and working together in shaping the Panthers’ mindset.

The team’s biggest focus is working on the team dynamic. Building relationships among the team and creating trust has played a significant role in how the team operates.

With the help of assistant coach Ignacio Gayo and diving coach Rio Ramirez, FIU has become a force to be reckoned with in their meets.

“I came to this school because Rio is an amazing coach,” said diver Brittany Haskell.

Originally from London, Canada, the hardest thing for Haskell has been being away from her family. Yet, her parents are supportive of her and actively cheer her on. Last year, her parents came down to the U.S. to see her in action at National Collegiate Athletic Association Dive Zone competition.

The redshirt junior came to the university after hearing great things about Ramirez’s coaching. She feels like she reached her full potential  and “‘started to love the sport more” through Ramirez’s coaching.

Having been on the team for three years, Haskell has made careers bests in the one-meter dive (301.65), the three-meter dive (294.30) and in the platform dive (238.66).

“Going into this season, I was really excited to see what we could accomplish in what we do as a team,” said Haskell.

Haskell scored a total of 45 points for the Panthers at the championships. She placed third in the three-meter diving event (302.20), fifth in the one-meter diving event (264.40), and fourth in the platform diving event (251.10).

Through teamwork and the coaching staff, the team stood out in the championship.

“We work a lot on communication,” said Horner. “Expressing ourselves as a team and creating a team and a bond.”

Keeping them disciplined and focused on their efforts is a factor when it comes to the team. Although the Panthers are so far successful in their season, Horner knows that there are lessons in defeat.

Having lost against Rice earlier in the season was a good thing, according to Horner. It keeps them humble and pushing to get that win.

“One of our biggest challenges this year is keeping the team hungry,” said Horner. “Almost reminding them that they may not win.”

Horner reminds the team that they have to be hungry for the win and work hard for it. Every loss is a lesson to get back up and continue working for the win in another meet.

After every competition, the team and staff come together to look back on their performance during the meet, win or lose. After winning the C-USA title, the Panthers’ were already talking about their next competition.

“Our biggest joy is watching out athletes achieving their goals and coming together,” said Horner.