Update: The school confirmed on Saturday afternoon that team activities have been paused due to COVID protocols. “This is an extremely difficult and disappointing way to end a tough year,” said head coach Ian Coffey. “However, the health and safety of our student-athletes and those competing at the other institutions is of paramount importance.”
The University of North Florida has pulled its women’s swimming & diving team from next week’s CCSA Conference Championship meet. The meet is scheduled from Febraury 15-17 at the Liberty Natatorium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The school has said that they have no comment on the reasons for pulling the program, but plan to produce a press release at some point this weekend.
This reduces the field for the women’s meet to 8 teams:
- Florida Gulf Coast
- Campbell
- UNC-Asheville
- Incarnate Word
- Liberty
- Georgia Southern
- Gardner-Webb
- Bellarmine
North Florida is 0-7 this season in dual meets, which means they had one of the most active intercollegiate swimming & diving schedules in the country to this point.
Last year, North Florida finished 5th out of 9 teams at the CCSA Championships, just 8 points ahead of Campbell and 41 points ahead of Gardner-Webb. That was the team’s best finish since 2012, and it came in spite of no top 3 finishers in any events throughout the meet.
Their top seeds going into this year’s meet were due to be junior Ryan Shofety in the 1650 free (8th seed) and freshman Taylor Warren in the 100 back (9th seed).
The school’s most-recent COVID-19 report, for the week from January 29 through February 4, saw 12 students and 4 employees test positive. Those are the university’s lowest numbers since students returned to campus after winter break.
I too am disappointed and confused in light of the last paragraph above. But I know someone who might appreciate getting out of that mile! (Haha). But seriously, we are thinking about you and the team. That meet will not be the same without y’all.
We are all absolutely devastated for these young women. I don’t think any of us could imagine what it’s like being in their position today. Coach Ian is a good man and I have no doubt he will help his team grow from this experience. Those young women were ready to race and represent their families and university at CCSAs. Their energy, fast times and program will be missed.
The pool deck won’t be the same without them.
Wishing them all the best