Florida State Swimmers Secure NCAA Qualifying Times at Bulldog Invitational
Athens, Ga., March 1 – The No. 13/NR Florida State swimming and diving team participated in the Bulldog Invitational Last Chance Meet from February 28 to March 1 at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia. The event saw select Seminole swimmers striving to improve season-best times and solidify their qualifying marks for the upcoming NCAA Championships in March.
The two-day competition featured strong teams including No. 7/16 Georgia, South Carolina (men), Howard, and Georgia Tech, providing a challenging environment for the athletes.
Highlight Performances and NCAA Cuts
Senior Julia Mansson delivered a standout performance on day one, achieving an NCAA-qualifying time of 1:00.22 in the 100 breaststroke. She continued her success by securing another NCAA cut in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall at 2:10.03.
Freshman Ioana Stribu also made her mark, earning an NCAA cut in the 200 freestyle with a finals time of 1:45.30. Fellow freshman Lucy Porter dominated the 200 breaststroke final, winning with a time of 2:08.77, which stands as the third-fastest time in program history and a confirmed qualifying mark.
The breaststroke momentum continued with senior Tommaso Baravelli, who secured second place in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 52.41. He then went on to win the 200 breaststroke in 1:54.70, adding another NCAA cut to the Seminoles’ achievements.
Sophomore Mathias Christensen showcased his talent in the 200 butterfly, posting the third-fastest time in school history during a time trial (1:41.81) to secure an NCAA-qualifying mark. He subsequently won the event on day two with a time of 1:41.99.
Senior Sarah Evans contributed significantly in the backstroke events, winning the 100 backstroke with an NCAA-qualifying time of 52.57.
Team Standings
The Florida State men’s team concluded the meet in first place overall, accumulating 146 points. They outranked South Carolina (112 points) and No. 7 Georgia (86 points), demonstrating a commanding performance. The women’s team also performed strongly, securing second place with 129.5 points.
Upcoming NCAA Championships
Following this successful meet, select Seminoles are set to compete at the NCAA Championships in March. The Zone Diving Championships are scheduled from March 6-11, followed by the women’s NCAA meet from March 18-21, and the men’s meet from March 25-28.
For further updates and exclusive content, fans can follow the Seminoles on Twitter/X (@FSU_Swimming), Instagram (@FSUSwimDive), and Facebook (FSUSwimmingDiving).
Source: https://seminoles.com/news/2026/3/1/mens-swimming-and-diving-florida-state-secures-ncaa-qualifying-times-in-athens
