The FGCU swimming & diving program welcomes a crop of top-tier teams from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 to the home-opening FGCU Classic this weekend. The second annual event is scheduled to begin , Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. and conclude Saturday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. Both days will be live streamed by the Florida Swim Network.
Making up the six-team women’s field and three-team men’s field is FGCU, LSU, Ohio State, Rutgers, Utah and Virginia Tech. Grand Canyon and South Carolina were also slated to compete in the invitational, but their plans were deterred due to Hurricane Matthew.
All six women’s programs and all three men’s teams competing this weekend also participated in the 2016 NCAA Championships. On the women’s side, Ohio State (14th), Virginia Tech (25th), LSU (27th), FGCU (T-47th) and Rutgers (T-47th) all earned points in the championships while Utah also competed. For the men, Virginia Tech (19th), Utah (35th) and LSU (40th) all finished in the top-40 in the country.
Additionally, in the latest CSCAA top-25 poll, the Ohio State and LSU women are ranked 18th and 20th, respectively, while the Virginia Tech men are ranked 24th with LSU also receiving votes.
“We’re really excited about all of the teams that are coming in this weekend,” said FGCU head coach Dave Rollins. “There’s going to be a lot of good competition with the caliber of teams rolling in, and It’s going to be awesome for our girls to get some exposure. This is something a little bit different. The girls get to see what schools from the SEC and Big Ten look like when they’re warming up and how they act on the pool deck. These are teams placing in the top-20 at the NCAA’s, and that’s a program goal for us. Being able to have them come in and learn from them is going to be extremely helpful.”
A meet central page including an information packet, schedule of events, heat sheets, a live stream link and results can be found here. Additionally, live results will be available by searching “FGCU Classic” on the Meet Mobile app.
As mentioned above, the Florida Swim Network will broadcast both days of competition. A subscription-based stream will be available for $3.99 monthly on YourSwimChannel.com, while a special free broadcast will be streamed on FloridaSwimNetwork.com.
The Green and Blue started its season at the All Florida Invitational held at the Nova Southeastern Aquatics Center from Sept. 23-25 and turned in a third-place finish behind Florida and Miami. The Eagles trailed Florida by less than 100 points entering the last day of competition but did not compete in the final events Sunday afternoon.
Because of their impressive individual performances at the invitational, Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Charlottenlund, Denmark/Ordrup Gymnasium) and Ashley Wright (Port St. Lucie/Indian River/Lincoln Park Academy) were named the CCSA Swimmer and Diver of the Week, respectively. Elmgreen qualified for the ‘A’ final in all four of her individual events and helped the Eagles 400 medley relay to a second-place finish while Wright finished runner-up in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
Following the FGCU Classic, the Eagles begin their dual-meet season by welcoming CCSA-foe and in-state rival UNF to the FGCU Aquatics Center Friday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. FGCU is 8-0 in the all-time series with the Ospreys.
TEAMS LIST
| Women’s Teams (6) | Men’s Team (3) |
| FGCU | LSU |
| #20 LSU | Utah |
| #18 Ohio State | #24 Virginia Tech |
| Rutgers | |
| Utah | |
| Virginia Tech |
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
| Friday, Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 a.m. |
| 200 medley relay | 400 medley relay |
| – 10 minute break – | – 10 minute break – |
| 400 IM | 100 IM |
| 200 free | 500 free |
| 50 free | 200 breast |
| – 20 minute break – | 100 back |
| 100 fly | – 20 minute break – |
| 200 back | 100 free |
| 100 breast | 200 fly |
| – 10 minute break | 200 IM |
| 400 free relay | – 10 minute break |
| 200 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
First-year head coach Dave Rollins became the program’s second head coach in program history on Sept. 1, replacing former head coach Neal Studd, who accepted the same position at FSU in July. Most recently the associate head men’s swimming coach at The Ohio State University, Rollins brings 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.
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
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.Read More
Courtesy of FGCU Athletics
Is this the college that has a lot of swimmers leave? Understandable if that cut is the team outfit . Thats a beach cut for only those few that can pull it off .
Swimmers leave because of a outfit? What planet are you swimming on?
It could be becauze they are a lousy team / college but those buttocks hanging out are not a good look & indeed put me off my breakfast . I may never eat a giant muffin again .
G.I.N.A. = great ignorance now always