Fertel, Dressel Earn All-American Honors on Day Three, Gators Move Up in Standings

Friday, March 22

Austin, TX

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Florida Gators

NCAA Championships

All smile from these two All-Americans

Fertel, Dressel Earn All-American Honors on Day Three, Gators Move Up in Standings

Friday, March 22, 2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Chad Smith

Finals Results | Prelim Results | Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas –The University of Florida women's swimming & diving team returned to the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center for the third day of the 2019 NCAA Championships on Friday. Kelly Fertel and Sherridon Dressel each collected a First-Team All-American honor, as Florida is currently in 19th place with 44 points.

Fertel's and Dressel's appearances in their respective A Finals, along with Brooke Madden's A Final last night, are the first times Florida has earned a spot into an A Final since 2016.

Fertel got the night started for the Gators with a First-Team All-American honor, the first of her career. Fertel posted a swim of 4:09.92 in the 400 IM. Fertel's eighth-place finish earned her the All-American status.

Dressel earned her first First-Team All-American accolade in the 100 Back, which is her second All-American honor in as many years. She clocked a time of 51.03 and placed seventh. Dressel now has two All-American honors in the 100 Back, one first team and one honorable mention.

After three days of competition, the Gators have collected 44 points, which quadrupled last season's production of 11 points.

Fertel secured her spot in the A Final of the 400 IM with her personal-best time of 4:05.32. She holds the fourth-best swim in UF history. Hannah Burns collected a 17th-place finish with her mark of 4:08.52. Vanessa Pearl notched a time of 4:09.98 and placed 24th. Savanna Faulconer tallied a 36th-place time of 4:13.55. With an effort of 4:13.86, Mabel Zavaros placed 37th.

In the 100 Fly prelims, Georgia Marris produced a time of 52.81 and placed 41st.

With a mark of 1:47.50, Taylor Ault placed 47th in the 200 Free prelims.

Dressel recorded a time of 51.04 in the 100 Back prelims and punched her ticket into the A Final with her eighth-place finish. Emma Ball posted a swim of 52.42 and tied for 27th.

The 200 Medley Relay team of Ball, Pearl, Dressel, and Bella Garofalo combined for a time of 1:37.37 and placed 19th.

Madden closed out her 2019 NCAA Championships with a score of 278.90 on the 3-meter. She placed 32nd in the prelims.

The Gators close out the 2019 NCAA Championships on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT. The prelims begin with the 200 Back.

From the coaches – Head Coach Jeff Poppell

"I'm super proud of our women's efforts today. Both Sherridon Dressel and Kelly Fertel earned All-American honors, placing in the top-8 of their respective events. It was the first time we've had a swimmer in the top-8 at the NCAAs since 2016. Pretty exciting! Looking forward to finishing the meet strong tomorrow!"

From the coaches – Diving Coach Bryan Gillooly

"Not Brooke's best day today, but I am just as proud of her as I was yesterday. She did everything possible to put herself in a position to succeed, it just wasn't her day. That's the nature of this sport and it can be heartbreaking at times."
"She represented herself and the Gators very well this whole season. Every year she continues to improve. Congratulations to her for a great meet!"

Team Standings
1. California – 328
2. Stanford – 299.5
3. Michigan – 233
4. Louisville – 163
5. North Carolina State – 141
6. Tennessee – 138
7. Minnesota – 131
8. Virginia – 128
9. Texas – 127.5
10. Indiana – 122
11. Southern California – 103
12. Auburn – 93
13. Arizona – 86.5
14. Texas A&M – 72.5
15. Wisconsin – 70
16. UCLA – 66
17. Kentucky – 49.5
18. Arkansas – 46
19. Florida – 44
20. Missouri – 42

Results
400 IM
A Final
8. Kelly Fertel – 4:09.92
Prelims
8. Kelly Fertel – 4:05.32 – PR
17. Hannah Burns – 4:08.52
24. Vanessa Pearl – 4:09.98
36. Savanna Faulconer – 4:13.55
37. Mabel Zavaros – 4:13.86
100 Fly
Prelims
41. Georgia Marris – 52.81
200 Free
Prelims
47. Taylor Ault – 1:47.50
100 Back
A Final
7. Sherridon Dressel – 51.03
Prelims
8. Sherridon Dressel – 51.04
T27. Emma Ball – 52.42

Event Schedule
Prelims - Saturday (9 a.m. CT)
200 Back
100 Free
200 Breast
200 Fly
400 Free Relay Platform Diving (11:15 a.m.)
1,650 Free - All but last heat of timed finals
Finals - Saturday (5 p.m. CT)
1,650 Free - Last heat of timed finals
200 Back - Consolation
200 Back - Finals
100 Free - Consolation
100 Free - Finals
200 Breast - Consolation
200 Breast - Finals
200 Fly - Consolation
200 Fly - Finals
Platform Diving - Finals
400 Free Relay - Consolation
400 Free Relay - Finals

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