FSU Swim & Dive Returns to Host Alabama on Saturday

Courtesy: FSU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –  The  Florida State swimming and diving teams return to competition for the first time in 2020 on Saturday by hosting RV/17 Alabama at 11 a.m. at the Morcom Aquatics Center.

“We’re looking forward to getting the athletes competing again after a long training break,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “We split with Alabama last year so it should be a good meet.”

The Meet

• The contest will follow the 16 event format, with the 100s and 200s of each stroke in addition to the 50 free, 500 free, 1650 free, 200 IM, 200 medley and 200 free relays. Both 1-meter and 3-meter diving will run simultaneously to swimming. Admission is free.
• Live results can be found on meet mobile and Seminoles.com
• The 14th-ranked men’s team enters the meet 4-2, 2-1 ACC while the RV women are 5-3, 1-2 ACC.
• This will be the ninth and 10th team to face FSU this season that’s either ranked or receiving votes in the CSCAA poll.  The men wereincluded in its 20th straight CSCAA poll on Dec. 11, coming in at its highest ranking during the streak. The women were third in receiving votes. The next poll will be released on Feb. 5.

The Series

• The men are 12-15 all-time against the Crimson Tide. The Seminoles have lost the previous three meetings, which were all top 25 showdowns. They will be looking for its first victory vs. Alabama since Oct. 12, 2013 when FSU won 179-121 in Tuscaloosa.

2017 – at Alabama 182, FSU 111

2018 – Alabama 156.5, FSU 143.5

2019 –  at Alabama 183, FSU 117

• The women hold a 12-11 edge in the all-time series. FSU split the last meeting with the women winning 159-141, which was an upset victory over the Crimson Tide and first since the 2011-12 season.
• Alabama also competed at the Georgia Tech Invite, with the (RV) men finishing in sixth with a total of 660 points and the women taking third at 934.

The Last Time Out

• The Seminoles swam at the Georgia Tech Invite in November, while the divers competed at the House of Champions Invite in Indianapolis, Ind. Both meets showcased some of the top talent in the nation.
• The men’s team won the GT invite with a total of 983.5 points and the women placed fourth at 561.5.
• At the GT Invite, the Seminoles put together some fast relays, with six of the 10 ranking within the top 10 nationally:

M 200 Free Relay – 1:16.98, 3^rd* NCAA A

M 400 Free Relay – 2:52.16, 13^th NCAA B

M 800 Free Relay – 6:25.20, 11th

W 200 Medley Relay – 1:36.42, 7^th NCAA B

M 200 Medley Relay – 1:24.80, 10^th NCAA B

W 400 Medley Relay – 3:33.38, 14^th NCAA B

• The Seminoles also had a big men’s 200 free, claiming the top five spots, with all swims ranking within the top 50 nationally.  Sophomore Jakub Ksiazek lowered his school record to 1:33.89, which is currently the 14th fastest time in the nation.
• In December, several Seminoles were busy competing at the 2019 Toyota US Open. Senior Griffin Alaniz was the highlight of 10 swims at finals, finishing in fifth place with a time of 54.76 in the 100m back, good enough to qualify for the 2020 US Olympic Trials. Alaniz also added a USOT standard in the 200m back at 2:01.62.
• Junior Joshua Davidson and senior Cam Thatcher also competed at the 2019 USA Diving Winter National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. over the break. Davidson capped off the meet winning bronze on 1-meter with a tally of 716.05 over 12 dives. It was his highest finish in any event on the senior national level.

Alabama

• The men’s team holds a 0-2 record, dropping both of its contests to Georgia and Auburn. The women are 1-2, claiming its lone victory at Vanderbilt. This meet will be the last dual of the season for the Crimson Tide.
• The men are led by senior Zane Waddell, who was the 2019 FINA World Champion in the 50m back. Waddell won the 50 free (19.20), finished second behind senior Griffin Alaniz in the 100 back (45.65) and was the runner up in the 100 free (42.79) at the GT Invite.
• The women are led by sophomore Rhyan White, who set four individual school records at the GT Invite in the 200 back (1:50.00), 200 fly (1:55.78), 100 fly (51.71) and 100 back (51.12). White’s backstroke times rank within the top five nationally, and all four records fall within the top 16 in the country.

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