LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College women's swimming team opens its 2022-23 campaign this weekend with a home meet against the University of Arkansas Saturday morning at the Nina B. Hollis Wellness Center Pool.
The women's team hosts the Razorbacks in Saturday's meet, under Arkansas head coach Neil Harper, a familiar face to head coach
Andy Robins, who was an assistant coach under Harper at Florida State University. FSC women's team take the pool as the men's team continues to practice ahead of their first meet that will take place next month at the Shark Invitational.
"We are excited to start another year of FSC swimming," said head coach
Andy Robins. "The team has worked hard this offseason and we are ready to go with the women facing Arkansas this weekend and men next month. The team is excited to showcase their hard work and get the season going."
Last season the Mocs had their best season in recent years and return many from last year's squad, having only graduated three student-athletes. Each of the seven NCAA Championship qualifiers from the 2022 season returns after placing 26
th at the NCAA finals, the best finish under Robins. Junior
Jazzy Hoffmann is one of those qualifiers, with a great performance throughout the year, including an SSC Swimmer of the Week selection. Hoffmann led the Mocs in sprints last season qualifying for the 50 and 100 freestyle NCAA events, breaking school records along the way. The Atlanta, Ga. native was an All-SSC First Team selection, SSC 100 free champion, and earned three All-American honors last season.
Another All-SSC team returner is
Emily Peck, who competed in the NCAA Championships last season in the 200-yard breaststroke.
Erin McCann, a fifth-year senior from Decatur, Ala., returns along with
Teagan Michalek as NCAA qualifiers. With a younger squad last season,
Olivia Miles returns as many of last year's freshmen that look to make a big impact on the year. Miles made her NCAA final debut after qualifying in the 1000 and 1650 free events. Florida Southern has 10 sophomores on this season's team, with many experienced athletes that have improved this past summer.
When asked about the progression of the returners and expectations for the incoming freshmen, Robins said, "We return many from last year's squad and they have been working hard this offseason. I am happy with the progression we've seen from the entire team and feel that the incoming freshmen can also contribute and have an immediate impact on the team.
Florida Southern women's team finished third at the 2021-22 SSC Championships behind many great performances by veterans of FSC swimming.
Allie Brinton, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla., qualified for the NCAA finals her freshman year and was one of the selections for relays in the NCAA finals last season.
Rachel Cunningham,
Anya Bogdanova,
Janie Davis, and
Maja Eriksson are returning sophomores joining
Angelina Fazzino,
Genevieve Kennedy,
Molly Kennedy,
Alizee Pelletier, and
Kennidi TenEyck as last year's freshman class.
Brooke Brennan,
Morgan Champagne, Hoffmann, Michalek, Peck, and
Stephanie Suarez represent this year's junior class. to Seniors on the team joining McCann include
Annalise Eisold,
Morgan Misenar, and
Masha Rezhylo.
One of the strengths of this year's team is the depth on the roster, according to coach Robins. He, alongside new FSC swimming assistant coach
Maddie Samples, has added four freshmen to the team to put together one of the best all-around squads in Robins' tenure.
Ainsley Bennett and
Elizabeth Sikes come from Florida routes, with
Phoebe Reid from Sugar Valley, Ga., and
Emma Sammons from Brandon, Miss. Depth and talent will be needed to continue a winning tradition of FSC swimming. The women's team was ranked nationally throughout the year last year, with a season-high 15
th in the nation according to the CSCAA poll. Florida Southern women's swimming has earned five individual national championships, Mary O'Sullivan (two in 2011) and Alli Crenshaw (2013, two; and 2014, one) as the record-breaking athletes. Crenshaw was named the SSC Swimmer of the Decade last year as part of the women's team legacy.
"The Sunshine State Conference is one of the best in Division II for swimming and we know the conference schedule can be tough. We look forward to challenging ourselves among the nation's best and hope to send many to the NCAA Championships this year. We know what we can expect from our team and know the returners are excited to earn their way back to the NCAA finals and be a top-10 team."
The Mocs women's team open their 2022-23 season against Arkansas this Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Nina B. Hollis Wellness Center Pool.
