FORT MYERS, Fla. – It was another dominating day for the FGCU swimming and diving team as the Eagles wrapped up their first two days of action in 2017 by defeating Rutgers, 199-116, Saturday at the FGCU Aquatics Center.
 
FGCU won all but two events on Saturday and finished the weekend winners of 12 of the 17 events, including all four relays. After winning two events in her debut with the Eagles, Petra Halmai (Dombovar, Hungary/Lanczos Kornel Secondari Grammar School) added another win in the 100-yard backstroke, and was a part of the 400-yard medley relay which finished at 3:50.46 for a 1st-place time.
 
Among other Eagles to be a part of the 400 medley relay and win an event were Gracie Redding (Orlando, Fla./The First Academy) and Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Charlottenlund, Denmark/Ordrup Gymnasium) as they claimed the 100-yard freestyle (51.36) and the 400-yard IM (4:28.51), respectively.
 
"We did a great job today," said FGCU head coach Dave Rollins. "We tried to see if we could keep the pressure going from the first swims. The biggest thing was the way each teammate supported each other and cheered each other on. It was a great day of racing. Rutgers has a good team, and they challenged us in every event."
 
After Doris Eichhorn (Berlin,Germany/ HTW Berlin), Halmai, Elmgreen and Yee Ching Wong (Hong Kong, China/ Diocesan Girls' School) won the opening event, Elizabeth Zeiger (Cumberland, R.I./ Homeschooled) finished 2nd in the 500-yard freestyle (5:01.93) with Linda Shaw (Leeds, United Kingdom/Roundhav HS) rounding out the top-3 (5:14.05) to earn points for FGCU.
 
Cassidy Fry (Oakwood, Ohio/Oakwood HS) just narrowly missed her top time in the 100-yard butterfly, but settled for the win (55.34) with Elmgreen finishing right behind (55.51) to earn the Eagles 13 points.  FGCU had another top-2 finish in the 100-yard freestyle with Redding (51.36) edging out Hannah Burdge (Stuart, Fla./Martin County HS) by .01 to win that meet. After just racing, Fry finished 4th (52.39) to earn two more points for the Eagles.
 
The final three events were all wins for FGCU with Elmgreen and Redding emerging victorious in their races, and the Eagles closed the day out with a 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.45) with Redding, Eichhorn, Rebecca Moynihan (Palmerston North, New Zealand/Waiopehu College), and Burdge putting forth an impressive race, finishing more than two seconds faster than the top Rutgers team. Kiley Eble (Cleveland, Ohio/Gilmour Academy), Sommer Harris (Richmond, VA./St. Catherine's School), Madison Jean (Parrish, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS), and Madeleine Clarke (Treasure Island, Fla./ Northside HS) earned a 3rd-place finish (1:38.60) for two points.
 
FGCU will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 21, when FGCU heads to North Florida for a tri meet Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association showdown with the Ospreys and Campbell.
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
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
Entering his second season at the helm of the Green and Blue, Dave Rollins became the FGCU head coach on Sept. 1, 2016. In his first year with the program, Rollins led the Eagles 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 The 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.
 
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.