Florida State holds off LSU

The Florida State men’s swimming and diving team captured first-place in the final event of the afternoon, the 400-yard freestyle relay, to hold off LSU, 156-144, while the Seminole women emerged victorious over the Lady Tigers, 162-138, Saturday at the Morcom Aquatic Center.

The Florida State men’s team claimed first place in seven events. Andy Hodgson shined for the Seminoles with victories in the 200 free (1:39.70) and the 200 back (1:48.92).  Hodgson also came up big for Florida State in the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay. With only a lap to go, he successfully came from behind to seal the win for FSU with a time of 3:01.75. Rob Holderness also won two individual events, the 100 breast (56.27) and the 200 breast (2:02.99). On the diving side, Terry Horner won the one-meter dive with a score of 387.82 and Landon Marzullo claimed first in the three-meter dive (452.31).
 
Six athletes on the women’s team combined for six victories during the meet. Marissa Harrington started things off with a win in the 1000 free with a time of 10:80.52. Jocelyn Phillips claimed first in the 200 free (1:49.13), Stephanie Sarandos won the 200 back (1:59.41) and Kristine Polley won the 200 breast (2:18.62).  Freshman Caroline Smith took first place in the 500 free with a time of 4:58.79. On the boards Aleia Monden claimed first in the three-meter diving event (293.47).
 
Next up for the Seminoles is the three-day Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta from November 20-22, 2009.



The Lady Tigers (1-4, 0-3 SEC) claimed first-place in 10 of the 16 events despite falling to the Seminoles. The Tigers (0-4, 0-3 SEC) came away with nine victories on the afternoon.

“The men’s meet was another classic LSU-Florida State showdown,” LSU head coach Adam Schmitt said. “It came down to the last relay, and the Seminoles were able to pull it out, but I thought we performed pretty well.

“On the women’s side, we won 10 of the 16 events but just got behind because of a lack of depth. We are a young team, and I thought we responded well in our first road trip. As we continue to grow and develop, I think we’ll get better and better.”

Freshman Craig Hamilton and junior Hannes Heyl each swam to victory twice to pace the men’s efforts, while junior Jane Trepp, sophomore Mary Beck and freshman Amanda Kendall delivered two victories apiece to lead the Lady Tigers.

Hamilton enjoyed his finest effort thus far this season in the 1000 freestyle as the Edinburgh, Scotland, native moved into third all-time in the LSU record books with a personal best and winning time of 9 minutes, 15.64 seconds. He also recorded first-place in the 500 free with a lifetime best of 4:30.20. Heyl won the 50 free (20.75) and the 100 butterfly (49.55).

Trepp registered first-place finishes with season bests of 55.18 and 1:03.32 in the 100 fly and 100 breaststroke, respectively. Beck took top honors in the 100 back (56.67) and 200 individual medley (2:03.84), while Kendall seized first-place in both the 50 and 100 free for the second-straight day.

Furthermore, freshman Rebecca St. Germain secured first-place in the one-meter diving competition with a score of 279.82. Men’s diver Matt Vieke earned an NCAA Zone Qualifying score in the three-meter with his season best of 346.27 to place third, while sophomore Brian Gemberling finished third in the one-meter (313.80).

Senior Sean LeNeave, juniors James Meyers and Clint Hallum and freshman Andrei Tuomola added victories for the Tigers. LeNeave won the 200 fly (1:51.05), and Meyers finished on top in the 100 back (50.70). Hallum wrapped up individual racing with a victory in the 200 I.M. (1:52.43), and Tuomola touched the wall in first-place in the 100 free (45.59).

The Tigers also opened the meet with a victory from the 200 medley relay tandem of Meyers, Tuomola, Heyl and LeNeave (1:30.07).

Moreover, the Lady Tigers received victories from both relay squads and freshman Sara Haley. The 200 medley relay group of Beck, Kannon Betzen, Trepp and Samantha Goates notched a winning time of 1:43.53, while the 400 free foursome of Trepp, Goates, Kendall and Betzen swam to victory with a time of 3:25.70.  Haley raced to a win in the 200 fly (2:01.26).

LSU returns to action next Friday, Nov. 13 when the teams make the short road trip to New Orleans to challenge the UNO Privateers at 6 p.m. (CST).