
Florida Swim & Dive Takes on Virginia
Florida’s men’s and women’s swim and diving teams will host Virginia Friday. The No. 4 and 6 Gators will face a tough meet, with the Virginia men ranked No. 13 and the women ranked No. 1.
The Gators split their season-opener dual meet against Indiana Sept. 26. The Gators women’s team won 170-130, while Indiana rocked the Gators men’s team 208-92.
The Florida women’s team won 10 of the 12 swimming events. Freshman Julie Brousseau accumulated 710.3 points. She finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:51 and the 1,000-yard with 9:55:79. Junior Lainy Kruger contributed 768 points. She won the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard fly. She swam a time of 1:48.37 and 1:59.44.
Despite the men’s team’s lackluster performance, freshman Ahmed Jaouadi placed first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:37.42. He led the Gators with 801 points.
In the Gators last match against Virginia in 2024, they notched a split win. The men won 231-69, while the women fell 181-119 to the No. 1 Cavaliers. The men won 13 of their 14 events, with Josh Liendo taking first in the 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and the 400-yard freestyle relay. He ended up first in the meet with 905.3 points.
Liendo is now a senior and a captain for the Gators, and figures to be Florida’s distinct leader this season. He represented Canada at the World Aquatics Championships and the Swimming World Cup. He won his third consecutive title in the men’s 100 freestyle championship. He is also the first black Canadian to win an Olympic swimming medal.
Florida’s men’s team is eager to tie up its series at 1-1, while its women’s team looks to improve its record to 2-0. Diving events will begin at 12:30 p.m., and there will be swim events at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Category: ACC, Gator Sports, Gators Swimming and Diving, SEC