Gators seniors sent out on high note

The Florida Gators’ swimming and diving teams made a big splash this past Friday on Senior Night.

Both the men and women took down the Tennessee Volunteers as the Gators sent out their seniors with two big victories.

The fifth-ranked men dominated with a 208-92 score. They swept several events including 1,000 and 200 yards freestyle. In the 1,000 yard freestyle, junior Marcin Cieslak claimed first place with a time of 1:37.85 and was followed by sophomore Dan Wallace and freshman Justin Kaisrlik in second and third place with times of 1:38.40 and 1:39.12, respectively.

The men also captured victories in 100 backstroke as well as the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Freshmen Arthur Frayler and Corey Main were able to win their respective events in the 1000 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

For the women, even though the score was much closer at 167-133, several women performed well in the meet on Friday.

In the 1,000 yard freestyle, the Gators claimed the top four positions as freshman Jessica Thielmann won with a time of 9:41.81. Another freshman Sinead Russell also won the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.10.

The women had top finishers in the 500 freestyle as well as the 200 IM, and the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Before the meet, the Gators honored nine seniors, Rodion Davelaar, Jackson Leonard, Cameron Martin, Sean Saley, Jason Taylor, Jamie Bohunicky, Sarra Lajnef, Sharla Milne and Corrine Showalter.

Both the men and women will compete next at the SEC Championships in College Station, Texas on Feb. 19-23.

drewlaing
Drew is a senior at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. When not at school, Drew resides in Lakeland, Fla. Ever since working on his high school yearbook, Drew has had an interest in pursuing a journalism career after college. In addition to being Editor-in-Chief of his school newspaper, The Samford Crimson, Drew has also been with Gator Country as an intern for one year. He enjoys the finer things in life like Tampa Bay Rays baseball and always making sure to make fun of the Atlanta Braves to Andrew Spivey’s face.