The University of Miami swimming & diving team opens its highly anticipated 2016-17 season Friday at the All-Florida Invite hosted by Nova Southeastern.
Head swimming coach Andy Kershaw and head diving coach Randy Ableman, who served on the Team USA coaching staff for the 2016 Rio Olympics this past summer, return for the first competition of the fall at the NSU Aquatic Complex.
“It has been a whirlwind of a summer and I’m so excited to be back with this team,” Kershaw said. “Certainly it was great being with the Olympic team, but this is my home and this is my family. I can’t wait to see our women implement the things we’ve been working on.”
Joining Miami over the three-day competition will be host Nova Southeastern, the University of Florida, FGCU and Keiser University.
The earliness of the meet in the training regimen provides its own unique set of expectations.
“Having a meet this early and with this type of meet, we’re not quite as concerned about times,” Kershaw said. “I know times are going to take care of themselves. I’m more concerned about doing the races the right way and I’m excited to see them do that.”
Though the meet is usually hosted in Gainesville, Fla., Nova Southeastern will serve as host.
“There’s fewer teams, but that’s exciting. There are some great teams competing, and that allows for great opportunity,” Kershaw said. “I know every team will use the meet as a learning experience – to see the different things that can be done, how they can be done and how it works.”
Miami has been bolstered by the offseason addition of six freshman Hurricanes: diver Alicia Blagg, sprint freestyler Leah Brown, distance freestyler Claire McGinnis, breaststroker Chantal Noe, sprint freestyler Iliana Oikonomu and freestyler Manon Viguier.
“It’s a great group, and it’s been a lot of fun,” Kershaw said. “It’s very diverse in every way – in terms of where they’re from, their background, what events they swim. That has made it a lot of fun. The upperclassmen have done a great job of leading the way and teaching them how we do it, and that’s something we’ve been establishing a tradition of, year after year.”
The team will be anchored by four seniors who have served among the team’s top point-getters for their Miami careers: Angela Algee, Cameron Davis, Christina Leander and Julia Schippert.
“Words can’t even describe what they’ve meant to this program,” Kershaw said. “They’re certainly a special group and I’m super proud of them and what they’ve matured into, and what they’ve contributed to the team, year after year after year – the coolest part is to be able to empower them to do that.”
For updates throughout the weekend at the All-Florida Invite, follow @CanesSwimDive on Twitter and visit HurricaneSports.com for daily recaps.
Courtesy of University of Miami Athletics.