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Saint Andrew’s Aquatics in Boca Raton, Florida is sending two of its seniors off to swim in collegiate programs next fall. Santiago Espinoza is headed to Nova Southeastern University while Michael Fernandez will swim for Florida Southern College. They will compete against each other as both schools are in the Sunshine State Conference of NCAA’s Division II.
Santiago Espinoza – Nova S’eastern
Espinoza is from Boca Raton. He attended Saint Andrew’s School and competed in the 200/500 freestyle events during the high school season. At the 2020 FHSAA Class 1A State Swimming and Diving Championships, he placed 11th in the 500 (4:39.96) and 15th in the 200 (1:44.15). He also split 48.10 on the 4th-place 400 free relay. In prelims, he led off that relay and notched a PB of 48.97. His 200/500 free times were lifetime bests, as well.
In club swimming, Espinoza had a strong showing at the 18&U Winter Championships in Stuart last December. He was 7th in the 1650 and earned PBs in both the mile and the 1000 in the same swim. He placed 7th in the 500 free and 15th in the 200 free. He also competed in the 100/200 breast.
Top SCY times:
- 1650 free – 16:13.45
- 1000 free – 9:56.28
- 500 free – 4:39.96
- 200 free – 1:44.15
- 100 free – 48.97
- 400 IM – 4:16.97
Michael Fernandez – Florida Southern
Fernandez hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and focuses mainly on sprint free, breast, and fly. He swam for West Boca High School. As a junior, he was runner-up in the 50 free (20.68) and placed 4th in the 100 breast (58.18) at the 2019 FHSAA Class 3A Swimming and Diving State Championships.
Most of his best sprint times come from the 29th Annual Speedo Winter Championships in December 2019, where he won the 50 free, 50 back, 50 breast, and 100 breast and was runner-up in the 50 fly and 100 IM. More recently, he improved his PBs in the 50/100 breast at the 2021 NCSA Spring Championships in March, finaling in both those events (6th/13th) as well as the 50 free (17th) and 50 fly (13th).
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 20.60
- 100 free – 48.00
- 50 breast – 25.69
- 100 breast – 56.54
- 50 fly – 22.61
- 50 back – 24.60
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