The sixth ranked University of Florida men’s swimming and diving team (9-3, 3-2 SEC) got two first place finishes from Tobias Work and Omar Pinzon, but the Gators dropped a weekend meet with the University of Tennessee, 160-140.  Saturday marks the first time since the 2001-02 season that the Volunteers have defeated the Gators.

Work claimed first in the 1,000-yard free (9:08.38) and 500 free (4:28.21) to pick up 18 points for the Gators.  Pinzon finished first in both backstroke events, finishing the 100 with a time of 48.68 and following with a time of 1:45.57 in the 200 to claim an NCAA provisional time.

Work was joined in the 1,000 free by Joey Pedraza and Cody Kauffman wo picked up second and third place with times of 9:10.76 and 9:16.53 respectively.  Pedraza also placed fifth in the 500 free with a time of 4:36.00.  Logan Storie claimed third in the 500 free (4:33.67) for his best finish of the afternoon while Dustin McLarty followed with a fourth place time of 4:33.76.

Roland Rudolf joined Pinzon in the effort in the 200 back, claiming second place with a time of 1:45.67.  Kevin Nead was fourth with a time of 1:50.30 while Rex Tullius swam in fifth with a time of 1:50.51.

The Gators picked up two more first place finishes from Bradley Ally, who swam to the wall first in the 200 IM with a provisional time of 1:49.67 and Shaune Fraser who grabbed top honors in the 100 fly with a time of 48.62.

Ally was joined by Clark Burckle who placed third with a time of 1:49.86 and Pinzon who was fourth with a time of 1:50.89.  J.B. Walsh was the second best finisher for the Gators in the 100 fly with a time of 50.11 to place third.  Tim Hughes clocked in just .22 seconds later with his fifth place time of 50.33.

Burckle and Ally also combined to picked up a second and third place finish in the 200 breast with times of 2:00.24 for Burckle and 2:01.08 for Ally.  Burckle’s time was good enough for another provisional time for the sophomore.  Walsh and Hughes did the same in the 200 fly with times of 1:48.24 for Walsh and 1:49.34 for Hughes.

Fraser added to his point total for the day, picking up a second place time in the 200 free, touching in at 1:37.77 to pick up a provisional time.  Fraser concluded his day by leading the Gators ‘A’ relay team to a second place finish in the 400 free relay.  Fraser combined with Penniman, Brett Jones, and Rudolf for a time of 3:01.53.  Florida’s ‘B’ squad of Jos Smith, Matthew Norton, Grant Johnson and Hughes was third with a time of 3:04.28.

On the diving boards, Florida’s Aaron Leech and Grayson Patten finished third and fifth in the one and three meter events.  Leech totaled 307.35 points on the one meter board wile Patton totaled 273.52 points.  The duo returned to repeat the performance in the three meter event as Leech was awarded 301.73 points and Patton earned 275.78. 

Florida started the day with a second place finish in the 200 medley relay thanks to a strong performance from Rudolf, Ally, Hughes and Smith who touched in with a time of 1:32.23.

The Gators will return to Gainesville for a 1:00 meet with Florida Atlantic on February 9 at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.  Florida will honor it’s seniors with a pre-meet ceremony as part of Senior Day.