CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 13, 2019) – The FIU swimmers travel to Cleveland, Ohio on March 14-16 as the Panthers compete in the 2019 CSCAA National Invitational Championship.

Fresh off winning a fifth-consecutive Conference USA title earlier this month, the defending NIC champions are full steam ahead as they look to compete in the prestigious postseason event. 

"The NIC meet is a great chance for our athletes who didn't qualify for NCAA's to compete on a national level and gain postseason experience," Head Coach Randy Horner said. "We are the defending champions of the 2018 NIC meet and we're excited to defend our title."

A total of 594 student-athletes will compete at Robert F. Busbey Natatorium this week, with 12 representing FIU. 

Senior Oceane Peretti will lead the pack alongside junior captain Taylor Grabenhorst. Also competing are juniors Alexa Bryant, Megan Bowen and Carita Luukkanen. The sophomore class is represented by Sara Gyertyanffy, Stephanie Hussey and Melannie Vargas. A quartet of freshmen will appear in the pool for FIU, as Helga Fodor, Paloma Sanchez, Holly Shepherd and Michaela Trnkova make the trip.

As the week unfolds, each Panther will compete in at least five events. A preliminary session will be held at 9:30 a.m. followed by finals competition at 6:00 p.m.

A LOOK BACK
Last year FIU captured the 2018 CSCAA National Invitational Championship. FIU's 400 free relay of Letizia Bertelli, Kyna Pereira, Gyertyanffy and Skye Carey set a new meet record with a 3:18.56 – three seconds faster than the old record – to claim gold. Carey also set a new meet record in the 200 free with a time of 1:47.07. The Panthers trailed on day two of the competition, but a come-from-behind finish on day three put the Panthers in the number one spot. On the final day of competition, the Panthers finished in the top three of four of the final seven events to take the lead with 320.5 points. Denver placed second with 306 points followed by Rice with 294 points.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
**All times EST**
Thursday, March 14
Prelims (9:30 a.m.)
50 Butterfly
50 Breaststroke
50 Freestyle
50 Backstroke
200 IM
50 Freestyle
 
Finals (6:00 p.m.)
200 Freestyle Relay
-10-minute break-
50 Butterfly
50 Breaststroke
500 Freestyle
50 Backstroke
200 IM
50 Freestyle
--20-minute break--
400 Medley Relay
 
Friday, March 15
Prelims (9:30 a.m.)
400 IM
400 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
800 Freestyle Relay (early heats)
 
Finals (6:00 p.m.)
200 Medley Relay
--10-minute break--
400 IM
100 Butterfly
200 Freestyle
100 Breaststroke
100 Backstroke
**20-minute break
800 Freestyle Relay
 
Saturday, March 16
Prelims (9:30 a.m.)
100 IM
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
1000/1650 fastest (early heats)
 
Finals (6:00 p.m.)
1000/1650 Freestyle (fastest heats)
100 IM
200 Backstroke
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke
200 Butterfly
--20-minute break--
400 Freestyle Relay
 
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Click here for all information regarding the NIC. Live results will be run exclusively through the Meet Mobile app. No live broadcast is available for the meet.
CSCAA
Meet Information
Psych Sheet
Records

SOCIAL MEDIA 
Get all the latest information on the team by following on Twitter (@FIUSwimDive), Facebook @FIUSwimmingandDiving) and on Instagram (@FIU_Swim_Dive). General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.