TAMPA - Florida Southern opened its 2012-13 season here Friday by having three swimmers win multiple events en route to falling in close battle 138-124 to Sunshine State Conference rival Tampa at the UT Aquatics Center.
Two freshmen, Alli Crenshaw (Marietta, Ga.) and Kelsey Gouge (Snellville, Ga.) each won three events in their first collegiate competition, while senior Stephanie Doran (Flowery Branch, Ga.) took home first in two events.
The Moccasins took home first place in eight of the 14 events, but the Spartans were able to claim the win by scoring a total of 15 points (11 for first place and 2 for third place) in the 200-yard medley relay and another 15 points (11 for first place and 2 for third place) in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Those 30 points helped negate the Spartans winning just four non-relay events.
Crenshaw finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:56.38), 500-yard freestyle (5:07.09) and the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:30.62), while Gouge took home first place in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.95), 50-yard freestyle (24.11) and the 100-yard freestyle (51.98) and Doran began her final campaign as a Moc winning both the 100 and 200-yard backstrokes as she swam a time of 58.92 in the 100 free and 2:07.09 in the 200 free.
Other strong performers for the Mocs on Friday included freshman Virginia Summer (Newberry, S.C.) finishing second in both the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.69) and 200-yard backstroke (2:09.38), freshman Lauren Reynolds (St. Charles, Ill.) was third in both the 100-yard backstroke (1:01.84) and 200-yard backstroke (2:10.87).
Senior Missy Witt (Centreville, Va.) was third in both the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.78) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:32.10) and freshman Heather Burns (Lake City, Fla.) finished second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (10:41.07) and third in the 500-yard freestyle (5:15.98) in her first collegiate event.
The Mocs will return to the pool for a 11 a.m. meet on Nov. 3 against both Florida State and Emory. The meet will be held in Tallahassee.
