BOCA RATON, Fla.
(Men's & Women's Swimming) – Florida Tech got off to a strong start to the 2016-17 season on Friday, taking on Saint Leo and Lynn in a tri-meet at the McCusker Pool Complex.
Saint Leo was no match for the Florida Tech men, who defeated the Lions 160-101. Though the women's team fell to both the Lions and the Fighting Knights, the team showed solid improvement over a year ago.
"The team has really stepped up in training this year and it carried over to the water," said head coach
Justin Andrade. "Several student-athletes surprised themselves with what they were capable of today. We're very happy with where we are at this point. However, there is a great deal of work to be done."
Victor Furtado registered the first event win of the season for the Panthers, taking the 200 free in 1:40.67.
Adi Davidov narrowly clipped teammate
Yagoh Kubagawa in the 200 fly, completing the circuit in 1:53.14 and 1:53.77, respectively.
Nir Barnea was the fastest man in the 50 free, breaking the seal on FIT's first NCAA B cut qualifying time with a 20.74. Kubagawa earned another victory for the Panthers in the 200 back, making the final touch in 1:55.44. FIT went 1-2-3 in the 200 breast, with
Nathan Hufnagel (2:13.44) outpacing
Jose Coiman-Acosta (2:13.99) and
Camden Johnston (2:15.46).
Furtado claimed his second win of the day in the 100 fly, setting the fastest time this year in all of NCAA Division II at 48.73. Kubagawa also earned a second first-place finish, finishing the 200 IM in 1:55.33, well ahead of second-place finisher Coiman-Acosta (1:59.92).
The Panther men finished off the meet with a victory in the 400 free relay, as Matt Gallene, Furtado,
Emanuele Rossi and Harry Sale finished in 3:07.97.
On the women's side,
Dar Raz snagged first in the 100 back, touching just ahead of Maftuna Tuhtasinova of Saint Leo in 58.51. Raz was also part of the 200 medley relay team that took second behind the Lions, joining
Carter Juskevich,
Trista Phelps and
Lauren Suarez to complete the event in 1:49.30.
Necomer Birgett O'Connor placed second in the 1,000 free, coming in at 11:12.74, while
Neta Saar was runner up in the 200 free at 1:57.89. Juskevich took second in the 100 breast, touching in 1:05.99. Suarez also claimed a runner up finish, completing the 50 free in 24.47.
In the 400 free relay, Suarez, Raz,
Samantha Bischoff and
Bernie Murphy placed second with a time of 3:37.86 to bring the meet to a close for the Panther women.
"Today was an important realization that the pieces are all here," continued Andrade. "It's just going to take putting in another level of work. They're on the right track and the right peer leadership the team has developed plays a crucial role in that."
FIT returns to action on Oct. 21 in Lakeland, Florida, battling Florida Southern and Keiser at 2 p.m. ET.
