Florida State University Athletics
No. 22 Noles Capture Third All-American Relay Finish of NCAAs
3/30/2019 9:55:22 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 22 Florida State swimming and diving team closed out the 2019 NCAA Championships with a fifth place finish in the 400 free relay with a time of 2:48.51.
For the first time since 1998, the Noles take home three All-America relay finishes from NCAAs behind a pair of fifth places in the 200 and 400 free relays and a seventh place showing in the 200 medley relay.
As a team, the Seminoles took 14th place with a total of 97 points, which matches the sixth highest finish in school history that was set at the 2014 meet, which also was held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. It’s also the seventh top 15 finish at NCAAs in program history.
“This was an outstanding week led by some very special seniors,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “I’m so incredibly proud of this team and all of my staff. To be top 15 after taking over a program that was ranked in the mid-50s has been a dream come true.”
Out of the heats of the 400 free relay, the Seminoles qualified for the ‘A’ final with a time of 2:49.22 for fifth place behind the team of senior Will Pisani, freshman Jakub Ksiazek, senior Emir Muratovic and senior Kanoa Kaleoaloha. In the final swim of the season, the Seminoles held their place touching with a time of 2:48.51, which matched the school record they set at the ACC Championships.
Pisani lowered his school record in the 100 free prelims, touching at 42.18 in order to secure the final spot in the B final in 16th place. At night, working from lane eight Pisani clocked a time of 42.55 and moved up to finish 14th, grabbing his second All-America honorable mention of the meet.
Muratovic swam a personal best in prelims of the 100 free, touching at 42.26 for 20th place which now ranks as the second fastest swim in school history behind Pisani. Kaleoaloha followed in 23rd at 42.40.
Junior Griffin Alaniz got the day started by placing 29th in the 200 back, touching with a time of 1:41.98. His classmate Max Polianski also competed in the 200 fly, clocking 1:42.63 for 23rd place.
In diving, junior Aidan Faminoff competed in his only event of NCAAs, taking 20th at 313.70 in a very close platform field.
“Aidan did a really good job today,” FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. “Half of a point better on one dive and he would have been there. He was disappointed but he is determined to put the work in and have a great senior year. I’m excited to see what next year brings.”
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Wednesday:
800 Free Relay: 19th – 6:19.14 – Ksiazek (1:34.04, school record), Loock (1:36.16), Alaniz (1:34.34), Stefanik (1:34.64)
Thursday:
200 Free Relay – 5th – 1:15.92 – Pisani (19.14), Ksiazek (19.06), Muratovic (18.90), Kaleoaloha (18.82)
200 IM – Max Polianski (option)- 54th – 1:47.65
50 Free – Will Pisani – 11th – 19.16, Kanoa Kaleoaloha t21st – 19.30, Emir Muratovic t27th – 19.43, Griffin Alaniz – 44th – 20.13
400 Medley Relay – 18th – 3:06.59 – Muratovic (46.04), Bastian (52.16), Kaleoaloha (46.06), Pisani (41.49)
1-Meter Diving – Joshua Davidson – 14th – 307.15
Friday:
100 Fly – Kanoa Kaleoaloha – 12th – 45.40, Will Pisani – 17th – 45.69
100 Back – Griffin Alaniz – 34th – 46.65.
200 Medley Relay – 7th – 1:23.81 – Muratovic (21.32), Bastian (24.08), Kaleoaloha (19.77), Pisani (18.64)
3-Meter Diving – Joshua Davidson – 34th – 303.35
Saturday:
200 Back – Griffin Alaniz – 29th– 1:41.98
100 Free – Will Pisani – 14th – 42.55, Kanoa Kaleoaloha – 23rd – 42.40, Emir Muratovic – 20th – 42.26
200 Fly – Max Polianski – 23rd – 1:42.63
Platform Diving – Aidan Faminoff – 20th – 313.70
400 Free Relay – 5th – 2:48.51 – Pisani (42.34), Ksiazek (42.01), Muratovic (41.88), Kaleoaloha (42.28)
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