Press Release courtesy of FGCU Athletics
Coming off a dual-meet loss to Northwestern, the FGCU swimming and diving team (3-2, 2-0 CCSA) hosts a mid-major showdown against Toledo (3-2, 1-1 MAC) onThursday, Dec. 21, at 11 a.m. at the FGCU Aquatics Center.
This marks the first meet between the school, and the first Mid-American opponent FGCU hosts in program history. The Eagles are 3-2 in dual-meets this season, with an unblemished conference record. This also marks the last meet of the calendar year before the Green and Blue prepare for the latter half of the season after the holiday break.
“It’s very exciting to have Toledo in town,” FGCU head coach Dave Rollins said. “They will be the first team from the Mid-American Conference we have competed against. They are a young and fast-improving program. Having a meet, mid-week, in the middle of finals and heavy training will be an incredible challenge. However, the ladies are ready and looking forward to it.”
FGCU saw four new swimmers earn top times in their respective swims against Northwesternon Sunday. Elizabeth Zeiger (Cumberland, R.I./Homeschool) garnered season-best times in the 500 and 1000 freestyles, as well as the top conference time this year in the 1000 by two seconds. Petra Halmai (Dombovar, Hungary/Lanczos Kornel Secondari Grammar School) swam her way to a season-best time in the 200 back (2:03.18), while Hannah Wittman (Jupiter, Fla./Riverdale HS) recorded her season-best time in the 200 free (1:55.23). Freshman, and previous CCSA Swimmer of the Week, Rebecca Moynihan (Palmerston North, New Zealand/Waiopehu College) recorded her season-best time in the 100 backstroke (1:00.27).
On Tuesday, Zeiger took home CCSA Swimmer of the Week for her performance, making it the fifth Eagle earning weekly honors in two months of competition. Overall, FGCU has seen five swimmers take home conference recognition, including a sweep of both categories in one week, and three rookies performing at their peak to earn the honor.
Schedule of Events
200 Medley Relay
1000 Free
200 Free
50 Free
400 IM
100 Fly
100 Free
100 Back
500 Free
100 Breast
400 Free Relay
FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-date coverage of FGCU women’s swimming and diving, follow us on Twitter @FGCU_WSWIM and visit www.FGCUAthletics.com where full recaps and results will be available.
HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
In his first year with the program in 2016-17, head coach Dave Rollins led FGCU to its eighth CCSA Championship in a span of nine years and guided the Eagles 200 free relay team to All-American honors. FGCU registered points at the NCAA Championships for the fourth-straight season and ultimately turned in its third-best finish all-time (T-41st). Prior to FGCU, Rollins was the associate head men’s swimming coach at Ohio State University and brought 10 years of coaching experience at the club, high school and collegiate levels. A standout collegiate athlete in his own right, Rollins was a nine-time NCAA All-American and national champion as a member of the University of Arizona swimming & diving team from 2002-06.
TOYS FOR TOTS
The FGCU Athletics Department, FGCU Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Heroes Unlimited have teamed up to participate in a holiday toy drive. New, unwrapped toys are being collected and will be delivered to the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida on Friday, Dec. 23. Collection boxes have been placed in the lobbies of Alico Arena, UPD and the FGCU Family Resource Center until Wednesday, Dec. 20. No toy is too small, and all toys will be wrapped prior to delivery.
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics’ charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.