Swimming and Diving wins Conference USA championship with historic performance

Posted by × 02/23/2015 at 12:35 pm

By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

The FIU swimming and diving team made history over the weekend, becoming the first Athletics program to win a Conference USA championship since the university joined the conference in 2013.

Over the course of the four-day championship event, which concluded Feb. 21, the Panthers won eight titles and broke 11 school records, tallying 765 points to take home the program’s first-ever conference championship since its inception in 2003.

Leading by 73 points heading into the final day of the meet, the Panthers refused to let up. Senior Johanna Gustafdottir won the 200 breaststroke while freshman Silvia Scalia (200 backstroke), sophomore Lily Kaufmann (platform diving) and the team’s 400 freestyle relay team also scored first place finishes to help FIU cruise to a 103.5-point victory over Rice, the conference’s two-time defending champions.

Gustafsdottir in particular had a spectacular outing, taking home four first place medals (three individual, one relay) and breaking three school records over the course of the tournament.

It was quite a week for Gustafsdottir who, in addition to being tabbed Swimmer of the Meet for her championship performance, was named the 2014-2015 C-USA Swimmer of the Year.

“I’m proud of our team,” Head Coach Randy Horner said to FIUSports.com. “They competed like champions all week and earned this title. I’m so happy to bring FIU our first C-USA Championship!”

When the team returned to campus on Sunday afternoon, they were greeted and congratulated by President Mark B. Rosenberg and a crowd of students, administrators, and other student-athletes.

For more on the team’s historic conference championship victory, go to FIUSports.com.

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