Diving team looks to make a splash into rematch with FGCU

Adrian Benitez | Contributing Writer

The FIU diving team is traveling to Fort Myers, Florida to compete in a meet with the FGCU Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 at the FGCU Aquatics Complex.

Coming into this matchup, the Panthers bolster a 5-1 record and are coming off a 173-126 victory over the FAU Owls on Saturday, Jan. 27. They left the dual-meet with 10-victories and four first place selections in individual events.

Vs. FAU: 

Able to dominate the 1M dive, senior diver Paige Burrell finished with a score of 289.65 and came in first place. 

Competing in the same event, sophomore diver Ruska Lehtonen placed third with a score of 253.80. Besides her placing in the 1M, Lehtonen also finished with a 260.93 score in the 3M and claimed third place. 

Graduate student diver Mikaela Starr also had a standout performance in the 3-meter dive and came in second place. Her score of 294.68 marked her personal best and secured her an NCAA Zone Cut.

Placing herself in a select group, Burrell, Lehtonen and freshman diver Kristina Keenan are the only other divers to have earned Zone Cuts this season.

Through the efforts of multiple swimmers and divers, FIU was able to take a 173-126 win over FAU in the dual-meet. They hope to have a repeat performance in their next meet against the FGCU Eagles.

Vs. FGCU:

Meeting for the second time in two weeks, this matchup marks the Panthers final dual-meet of the regular season. 

Last meeting with the Eagles on Saturday, Jan. 20 for a dual-meet, FIU emerged victorious and claimed a 196-106 win. In a similar fashion to their meet with the Owls, they had multiple divers display their talent in a team victory.

Scoring 290.10 in the 1M and 300.83 in the 3M dives, Burrell captured first place in both events. Lehtonen also captured second place in both events, finishing with scores of 266.18 in the 1M and 289.5 in the 3M.

Besides the team’s top two in terms of placing, Keenan secured third place in the 3M dive. She finished with a score of 285.85, which marked a career-best and earned her a Zone Cut.

Looking to close out the regular season with their sixth consecutive win, the FIU diving team is traveling to Fort Myers, Florida to face off with the FGCU Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 3. 2024. The meet is set to begin at 12 p.m. at the FGCU Aquatics Center.

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