FORT MYERS, Fla. – The dual meet season ended on a positive note as the FGCU swimming and diving team sent the seniors away winners with a 154-146 victory over FIU Saturday. The Eagles (7-2) were in an early deficit against the Panthers (7-3) but rallied behind its seniors and four season-best swims to complete the dual season with a win.

"This meet came down to depth," said head coach Dave Rollins. "Both teams won eight events and ultimately you learn more about the team from the seconds, thirds, fourths, and fifths. Team wins come from depth and the ladies really stepped up today. It was an incredible atmosphere and to send the seniors out with a win like this was perfect. Big thanks to everyone who came out today and made it even more special. Now we refocus and turn our attention to the CCSAs and trying to earn another victory for FGCU."

Prior to the opening races, Sommer Harris (Richmond, Va./St. Catherine's School), Christina Herfurth (Treasure Island, Fla./ Northside HS), Madeleine Clarke  (Greenacres, Fla./John I. Leonard HS), Hannah Soutar (Edinburgh, Scotland/Broughton HS) and Yee Ching Wong (Hong Kong, China/ Diocesan Girls' School) were all honored by family and coaches.

A back-and-forth meet began in favor of the Panthers but a Hannah Burdge (Stuart, Fla./Martin County HS) victory in the 200 free with a time of 1:51.68 began to turn the tide in favor of the Green and Blue. Doris Eichhorn (Berlin, Germany/HTW Berlin) then followed with a win in the 100 back (56.03), with newcomer Courtney Chapin (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) coming in third.

Burdge's performance came just after Elizabeth Zeiger (Cumberland, R.I./Homeschool) recorded the first of two lifetime-best times for FGCU on the day, touching out in 10:09.36 in the 1000 free, good for second.

One of five seniors, Harris continued the trend of event victories, claiming the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.74.

Wong's season-best time in the 200 fly (2:04.91) helped FGCU pick up second and third place finishes as the senior touched out just behind Christina Kaas Elmgreen (Charlottenlund, Denmark/Ordrup Gymnasium) (2:03.45). Wong later produced another season-best time in the 100 fly (55.63) with Elmgreen finishing second (55.87).

As the meet reached the halfway point, Melissa Novak (Frederick, Md./Oakdale HS) produced the second-best performance in the 3-meter dive with a score of 305.60, again allowing the Eagles to earn multiple places in the top three with Megan Wakefield (Guelph, Ontario, Canada/Centennial CVI) coming in third (281.50).

The Eagles continued to get stronger as the meet went on with a sweep in the 100 free, highlighted by Rebecca Moynihan's (Palmerston North, New Zealand/Waiopehu College)'s lifetime best time of 50.64.

FGCU closed out the meet with a win in the 200 free as Redding, Burdge, Eichhorn, and Moynihan secured the overall meet win as well.

UP NEXT
FGCU heads to Athens, Ga. for the CCSA Championships beginning Feb. 14.The Eagles are in search of their ninth title in ten seasons.

FOLLOW ALONG
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HEAD COACH DAVE ROLLINS
In his first year with the program in 2016-17, head coach Dave Rollins led FGCU 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 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.
 
#FEEDFGCU
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.