MELBOURNE, FLA. – The Florida Southern College men's swimming team had a stellar Day One at the Panther Invite on Friday evening, earning first place with 125.5 team points. Host Florida Tech is in second place with 96.5 points, while Rollins College is in third place with 76 points. The three-team field will compete again tomorrow and Sunday, completing the three-day event.
Preliminary heats began at 10:00 a.m., with the finals starting at 6:00 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the opening 200 freestyle relay, the Mocs "A" relay of juniors Carlos Bernotti, Brandon Dyck, sophomore JJ Saslo, and senior Talor Hamilton claimed the max 20 points, by winning the event in 1:23.08. The "B" Relay of sophomore Ethan Oliva, juniors Miguel Bernotti, Matias Lopez, and sophomore Jacob Tuckerman placed seventh, earning eight points.
- The first individual event was the 500-free, where freshman Luka Prostran and Lopez finished one-two, earning 18 points. Prostran posted a time of 4:32.01, while Lopez finished less than a second later, in 4:32.97. Sophomore Cole Smith took fifth in the same event, while senior Daniel Rodriguez placed eighth.
- Lopez then won the 200-individual medley, in 1:51.89, over a full second better than the next closest finisher. Miguel Bernotti finished fourth, with sophomore Theo Peristeridis in sixth and junior Pedro Bernotti eighth.
- In the 50-yard sprint, Hamilton and Saslo placed second and third, in 20.76 and 21.21 seconds, respectively. Carlos Bernotti tied for fifth place, with Dyck a shade behind in seventh place.
- Closing the evening was the 400-medley relay, where the "A" Team of Dyck, Lopez, Miguel Bernotti, and Hamilton claimed second place in 3:21.61. The "B" relay of Tuckerman, Pedro Bernotti, Saslo, and Carlos Bernotti took fourth place.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- In the individual events, Lopez led all Mocs by earning 18 points, winning one event while placing second in another. Prostran was the second individual winner, earning ten points on the night.
- Hamilton earned eight points, while Saslo claimed seven, Miguel Bernotti six, Smith five, Carlos Bernotti 4.5, Peristeridis four, Dyck three, and Rodriguez and Pedro Bernotti two apiece.
UP NEXT
- Day Two of the three-day event will take place on Saturday, November 23. Prelims begin at 10:00 a.m., with finals set to take place at 6:00 p.m.
