Florida State University Athletics
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Noles Split With Yellow Jackets
10/19/2023 6:41:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Atlanta – The Florida State swimming and diving teams split a dual at Georgia Tech on Thursday. The 24th-ranked men (1-0, 1-0 ACC), edged the No. 23 Yellow Jackets, 151.5-148.5, while the women (0-1, 0-1 ACC) fell 160-140.
Sophomore Maddy Huggins picked up two wins for the women's team, turning in personal best swims. She won the 100 breast at 59.91 and the 200 breast at 2:08.94 as both performances were under the NCAA invited times in 2023.
Huggins moves up from fifth in the 100 breast to fourth on the FSU all-time top 10 list, and she now holds the second-fastest 200 breast behind school record holder Nina Kucheran (2:08.57).
"I'm really excited how both of our teams competed today," FSU head coach Neal Studd said. "The men beating a top 25 team that's ranked ahead of us was awesome. We're so proud of how our women performed today and without two of our NCAA qualifiers from last year. It was a great day for us all around with some top times, especially Maddy Huggins getting those NCAA times that were invited last year."
The men started the meet off with a win in the 200 medley relay behind Mason Herbet, Tommaso Baravelli, Tobias Schulrath and Jokubas Keblys (1:25.91).
Yordan Yanchev picked up a close win the 200 free (1:34.61) and Herbet also touched first in a close race in the 100 back (46.78). Andrew Rich grabbed third (48.24) ahead of Max Wilson (48.92) in fourth.
Georgia Tech won the 100 breast and 200 fly, but Peter Varjasi and Keblys went one-two in the 50 free. Varjasi touched first at 19.71 (NCAA B) and Keblys tied for second at 20.13.
Out of the break, Varjasi was the winner at 43.47 in the 100 free. Georgia Tech added a sweep in the 200 back, to keep the meet close.
Baravelli stepped up and won the 200 breast (1:58.46) and Yordan Yanchev clocked a 4:17.52 in the 500 free to win, which is an NCAA 'B' standard.
Herbet and Schulrath added a crucial one-two punch in the 100 fly, with Herbet winning at 47.14 and Schulrath taking second at 47.69.
Georgia Tech answered with a sweep of the 200 IM.
Jesco Helling (310.30), David Vargas (299.85) and Jack Bessire (298.10) finished second, third and fourth in 1-meter diving. Vargas was the runner-up on 3-meter (331.30), followed by Helling (322.70) in third and Bessire (305.85) in fourth.
Needing a win to secure the meet, the Seminoles came through behind the team of Varjasi, Schulrath, Gustav Olsson and Yanchev at 2:48.51. Varjasi gave the Noles an early lead by splitting 43.20.
In the women's meet, FSU started with a win in the 200 medley relay behind Sarah Evans, Huggins, Jenny Halden and Gloria Muzito (1:38.15).
FSU finished second in the 1000 free, 200 free and 100 back before Huggins came through with a win in the 100 breast.
Sophie Freeman tied her personal best in the 200 fly, touching for second at 1:57.01 and Edith Jernstedt followed in third (1:57.18).
Muzito won the 50 free at 22.85 and Alexandra Dicks added third place points (23.11). Out of the break, Muzito was the runner-up in the 100 free (49.81) ahead of Maysa Ratiu (50.47).
Freeman added a win in the 200 back at 1:58.10, which was her personal best and Huggins added her win in the 200 breast.
The Seminoles grabbed a sweep of the 100 fly, led by Jenny Halden in first (53.22), Freeman in second (53.26) and Jernstedt (53.46) in third.
Jernstedt added a win in the 200 IM, touching at 1:59.06 ahead of Huggins in third (2:01.76).
The divers finished on top of the leader board on 3-meter, as Izzy Gregersen placed first at 297.50 ahead of Vivan Johnson in second (263.35). Gregersen was fourth on 1-meter (230.65) and Jessica Buntman (230.15) placed fifth.
"We had some bright spots today," FSU head diving coach John Proctor said. "Izzy and Viv were great on three meter. It was great to see them compete hard and get the win."
Muzito led off the 400 free relay with a split of 49.59 and the Noles placed second behind Ratiu, Evans and Freeman with a time of 3:15.70.
The Seminoles will return to the Morcom Aquatics Center to face Florida Southern, UWF and UNF on Friday at 2 p.m. The meet will serve as the annual 'Paint it Pink' contest.
For more information, visit Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving), Twitter (@FSU_Swimming), and Instagram (@fsuswimdive).
Players Mentioned
