OCALA, Fla. – The Florida Tech swimming programs began full competition in the 2025 Sunshine State Championships on Thursday at the Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) with the first individual events of the meet taking place.

When the curtain came down on Thursday's events, three individuals and one relay team had booked their ticket for next month's national championships in Indianapolis. In addition, two school record times were set.

Heading into Friday, the Tech women sit in fifth place with 91 points, while the Panther men are in seventh place with 78 points.

WOMEN'S STANDOUTS

• The top performance of the day for the Panther women was courtesy of the 200 Medley Relay team, with the quartet of Melissa Zucco, Rae Ann Dressel, Christina Ramirez, and Sonia Peters qualified for the national championships thanks to their time of 1:42.19, earning fourth place in the A Final in the process. That time also broke the previous school record of 1:44.42, set at the 2023 Panther Invite by Ramirez, Dressel, Torie Whitbeck, and Debora Xavier.
• Kate Helminiak was the top Crimson and Gray finisher in the 1000 Free, placing ninth thanks to a time of 10:25.95. Abby Briggs finished shortly after, with her 10:31.65 time good for 11th.
• In the 200 Medley Relay B Final, the squad of Whitbeck, Sophia Sichtnik, Sam Bullard and Maja Malarz placed fifth with a 1:47.07 finish.

MEN'S STANDOUTS

• Efe Ongoren and Adam Szczerba each qualified for the national championships in 1000 Free thanks to their times. Ongoren's time of 9:15.80 earned him sixth place and broke the school record previously set by Yagoh Kubagawa on October 16, 2015. Szczerba's time of 9:27.29 was good for eighth place.
• Dan Kunin will also make the trip to Indianapolis next month thanks to his time in the 200 IM B Final of 1:50.20.
• Dylan Ostolaza finished in the 50 Free B Final with a time of 20.80.
• In the 200 Medley Relay A Final, the group of Zachary Reese, Matthew Heaphy, Kunin and Ostolaza placed sixth thanks to a 1:30.22 finish. The B Final saw the team of Conor Bryant, Josh McLean, Jay Jay Fonnotto and Nathan Scott take fifth with a time of 1:31.52.

UP NEXT: Day three of the SSC Championships continues tomorrow, beginning with the prelims at 10 A.M., followed by the start of the finals at 6 P.M. Amongst the events scheduled for Friday are the 100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free and 400 Medley Relay.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the Florida Tech men's and women's swimming teams, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.