University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Florida State
Gophers, Seminoles Split Wins
10/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
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Oct. 3, 2015
Minnesota's 2015-16 season began as the Gophers competed against the Florida State Seminoles at Tallahassee's Morcom Aquatics Center on Saturday morning. The women's team picked up a convincing win after outscoring the Seminoles 212 to 88, while the men were issued a close loss of 158-142 to start the season.
Women - W, 212-88
Minnesota captured the "W" in both women's relays contested. The relay team of Lauren Votava, Danielle Nack, Zoe Avestruz and Kaia Grobe finished the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:33.77. In the 200 medley relay, Zoe Avestruz, Rachel Munson, Danielle Nack and Lauren Votava had a 1:42.32 for the win.
Samantha Harding began her senior campaign picking up wins in both distance freestyle events. Harding finished first with a 9:57.80 in the 1000 free, and a 4:52.09 in the 500 free. Rookie Erin Emery followed, picking up second in both the 1000 (10:06.11) and 500 (4:57.48). Emery had a third silver-finish in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:27.83.
Sophomore Brooke Zeiger collected three individual event wins throughout the meet against Florida State. Zeiger's first-place finishes included a 1:50.92 in the 200 free, a 2:02.51 in the 200 backstroke and a 4:19.13 in the 400 IM.
Rookie Rachel Munson had a standout day, sweeping both breaststroke events. Munson posted a time of 1:02.87 in the 100 breast and a 2:20.27 in the 200 breast. Kaela Marcus placed fifth in the 100 breast and second in the 200 breast in her first races as a Golden Gopher.
Danielle Nack opened up her second season at Minnesota taking home wins in both butterfly races. Nack's 55.19 earned her first in the 100 fly, and her 2:02.24 led the field in the 200 fly.
Freshman Zoe Avestruz was a key performer in Tallahassee, who collected a first-place finish in the 100 back with a time of 56.37, a silver spot in the 100 free (52.20) behind teammate Lauren Votava. Avestruz was also a member of both of the Gophers' winning relay teams.
On the diving boards, the Minnesota women showed strength after sweeping both contested events. 2015 NCAA Diver of the Year, Yu Zhou, totaled 325.65 points for first on one-meter and was followed by teammates Lexi Tenenbaum (285.30) and Jessica Ramberg (284.25). Jessica Ramberg led the Gophers in the three-meter diving event with a score of 315.15. Zhou followed for second (306.75), Tenenbaum third (304.95) and rookie Mariam Khamis placed fourth (289.72).
Men - L, 158-142
Jakub Maly tallied two first-place finishes and one second-place mark on the day. In the 200 free, Maly led the field with a 1:40.59 and was followed by teammates Paul Fair and Michael Nunan, allowing the Gophers to go 1-2-3 in the event. His time of 3:56.18 in the 400 IM earned him first, while freshman Brian Poon finished second (3:57.15). Maly raced a 2:03.64 in the 200 breast for second place.
Rookie Michael Messner had a convincing win in his first 1000 free as a Golden Gopher, finishing with a time of 9:36.77. He was followed by freshman teammate Nick Plachinski (9:52.43). Messner also picked up a third-place finish in the 500 free with a 4:41.99, behind Gophers Ben Bravence (4:35.68) and Michael Nunan (4:39.63).
In his first season at Minnesota, senior John Bushman recorded the Gophers' top times in both breaststroke events. Bushman finished second in the 100 breast with a time of 55.96 and placed first in the 200 breast with a 2:02.34. Minnesota went 1-2-3-4 in the 200 breast with Nick Hatanaka (2:04.75) and Conner McHugh (2:05.67) following Bushman and Maly's times.
The Gophers relied on Nick Orf in the fly races. Orf placed fourth in the 100 fly (50.72) and second in the 200 fly (1:50.15).
Freshman Hunter Doerr recorded a 20.72 in the 50 free for a silver finish, while Paul Fair held the Minnesota's top time of 46.25 in the 100 free for third place.
Matt Barnard led Minnesota on the diving boards earning a first-place finish in the three-meter event with a score of 382.35 points, and a second-place mark on the one-meter board (317.62). In his first collegiate meet, Alan LeBlang placed fifth on the three-meter boards (328.35) and sixth on the one-meter (286.87). Veteran diver Manny Pollard placed fourth on the one-meter (291.75), while senior Dylan Zoe earned bronze in the three-meter event (356.33).
Daryl Turner was notably missing from the Gophers' travel lineup. The junior is currently recovering from a knee injury back in Minneapolis.
>Looking Ahead
Minnesota is set to host the Florida Gators on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. The matchup is set to be the Gophers' annual #PackThePool event, as well as a celebration for the team's eight seniors.
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Players Mentioned
