Caroline Bryant
Editor-in-Chief
The Mocs completed the 2025 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Championships at the F.A.S.T Center in Ocala this past weekend. The No. 16 men’s team finished in second with 596 points, while the No. 24 women’s team placed fourth with 383.5 points. No. 1 University of Tampa managed to grab first for both teams.
Men’s Team
Second place is the closest the men have been to securing the SSC Championship title since their win in 2022. Half of their eight podium finishes were locked in through relay performances, capturing first place in the 200 and 400 medley relay, and the 200 freestyle relay. Their last session ended with a third place spot in the 400 freestyle relay.
Juniors Matheus Da Rocha and Nino Viallon, and men’s team captain senior Brandon Wilson were key performers throughout the weekend, featured on all four relays. The trio, alongside sophomore Janek Barczyk, assisted both Medley relay’s SSC Conference and program records of 1:25.51 (200) and 3.08.87 (400). The 200 time is just 0.22 seconds faster than the record set by Viallon, Wilson, and alumni Kyle Micallef and Ludwig Miller at last year’s NCAA II Championships.
Wilson was the first to make an individual podium finish with third place in the 50 free, just shy of 20 seconds, performing a 19.97. Da Rocha and Viallon were just wall touches behind Wilson, finishing in fourth and fifth. Freshmen Will Neville and Michael Tretyakov were included in the top-10.
The captain also maintained his title in the 100 backstroke swimming a 46.75, followed by Tretyakov in seventh (48.64) and junior William Eriksson in eighth (48.89).
“Being able to win it again means a lot to me and makes me confident in all the hard work I have been putting in over the years,” Wilson said. “[It] is a good memory to look back upon with my season coming to an end.”
Viallon joined the podium club, earning third in the 100 fly. He swam a personal best and program record in the prelims at 47.19. Sophomore Peter Csicsaky wrapped the weekend up with the last individual podium finish in the 1650 free, grabbing third, as well.
Women’s Team
The women maintained their four-year streak in fourth, finishing behind Lynn University. Two podium finishes aided the team’s rank, the first made by graduate student Vanda Vōrōsházy. Vōrōsházy tied for second with Lydia Douthit (Lynn), setting a school record in the event with a 55.28.
She also contributed in the 400 free relay, aiding a third place finish of 2.28.86 alongside juniors Phoebe Reid and Elizabeth Sikes, and sophomore Sam Hunter. The B team, made-up of sophomore Ainsley L. Bennett, juniors Ana Sales and Emma Sammons, and senior Olivia Miles secured fifth in the B final.
“The support from my teammates was amazing and representing FSC is always a privilege,” Vōrōsházy said. “Everyone put in so much hard work and hand outstanding swims throughout the week– I was just fortunate to secure a medal.”
The Mocs had many near-podium finishes. Fourth trended for the team once again, opening day one with a fourth place finish for the 800 free relay. The A team included Vōrōsházy, Reid, Miles and Bennett, Bennett touching the wall at 7:43.37. The 200 free relay followed suit, as a squad of Hunter, Sales, freshman Kaitlyn Weitz and Reid ended with a 1:34.32.
FSC top-10 1000 free performer Miles swam for fifth in the event and sixth in the 1650. Sikes and Vōrōsházy also placed sixth in 200-yard events, Sikes for fly and Voroshazy for the IM.
NCAA II Championships
The Mocs will be back in action March 11-15 for the 2025 NCAA II Championships in Indianapolis. Those who qualified for A and B-cut times have not been officially announced by the team.
