OHIO COLLEGE SWIMMERS WIN ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC IN KEY LARGO

January 5, 2023

a man diving into a swimming pool — Women competitors in the Orange Bowl Swimming Classic leap off starting blocks to begin one of 24 heats on Jan. 3 in Key Largo. The University of Findlay, in Findlay, Ohio, placed first overall in women’s and men’s divisions. The classic culminated the winter collegiate swimming training season in the Florida Keys. STEPHEN FRINK/Florida Keys News Bureau/

College swim teams from the Florida Keys to Western Colorado jumped off the blocks for the annual Orange Bowl Swim Classic at Key Largo’s Jacobs Aquatic Center on Jan. 3. Male and female swimmers from Ohio’s University of Findlay came away with the victories following a number of swim events.

Findlay women swimmers accumulated 675 points, edging out the Georgia Southern University team, which collected 652 points. In the men’s division, Findlay swam away from the competition with 983 points, followed by Trinity College of Connecticut and College of the Florida Keys.

Each year, hundreds of college swimmers from various states descend upon Key Largo to compete in the swim classic that’s open to spectators. It’s the culmination of an annual, month-long winter training session in Key Largo.

The warm winter competition is one of several events that were scheduled around South Florida’s Orange Bowl football playoff weekend. The event kicks off the New Year at the Jacobs Aquatic Center, MM 99.6 oceanside, with a series of fast-paced swimming events that include the 200-meter medley relay, 400-meter freestyle, 50-meter butterfly and 100-meter backstroke.