Florida International University Women's Swimming

Horner enters his seventh season as head coach of the Panthers swimming & diving team in 2016-17. The 2016 Conference USA Coach of the Year, who began coaching at FIU during the 2010-11 season, has brought the program new heights during his first six years. Each year during his tenure, the Panthers have gradually shown improvement in the programs success at conference championships. Through his first five years, Horner and his staff have been active recruiters around the world.   During his FIU tenure Horner has had four conference swimmers of the year, five conference divers of the year and the Panthers have won 40 gold medals in conference championship competition. Horner guided FIU to its second-straight conference title in 2015-16, scoring the second-most points in Conference USA Championship history. The Panthers claimed 15 of the 21 total titles during the four-day championships en route to a 954-point result the most-decisive victory in C-USA Championships history. In all, FIU won 28 medals, including 15 gold, while setting seven school records as Horner was named the C-USA Coach of the Year his third such award since coming to FIU. The Panthers also swept the specialty awards for the championship as Naomi Ruele was named Swimmer of the Meet, Rebecca Quesnel was tabbed Diver of the Meet and Diving Coach Rio Ramirez was awarded Diving Coach of the Year. Ruele and Quesnel also garnered C-USA Swimmer and Diver of the Year honors, respectively, while Jessica Piper earned Newcomer of the Year.   Both Ruele and Quesnel advanced to the NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Georgia with Quesnel becoming the first FIU diver to qualify for the NCAAs.   The squad also earned College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team honors in both the fall and spring. FIU has been named a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team for the seven-straight semesters and 11 th overall since Horner took the programs reigns in 2010-11. During the spring, FIU recorded a 3.42 team GPA swimming and diving's highest semester GPA under Horner. Three Panthers also earned C-USA All-Academic honors ( , and ).   During the summer of the 2016, Horner also served as Olympic swim coach for Botswana, coaching FIUs Naomi Ruele and Nova Southeastern's David Van Der Colff.   In 2015, FIU Athletics history was made when Horner and the Panthers were crowned C-USA Champions, marking the school's first-ever C-USA crown. The conference title gave the Panther swimming and diving team its first ever league championship, as the program started in 2003. For the championship, FIU won eight titles, with seven of them coming in individual events. Johanna Gustafsdottir led the way with three, Silvia Scalia had two, while Kaufmann and Letizia Bertelli each had one. For the four-day event, the Panthers broke a total of 12 school records, with eight coming in individual events, while four of them came in relays. Gustafsdottir, Inghels and Scalia broke two records, while Bertelli and Jessica Chadwick each broke one. Gustafsdottir set record times in her victories in the 200-yard individual medley, breaking the mark she set a year ago, and the 400-IM. Horner was named the C-USA Coach of the Year after the Panthers raised the trophy. In addition to the first conference title in 2015, Horners squad successfully completed an undefeated season in dual meets, by edging the Miami Hurricanes in epic fashion on Jan. 31 in Coral Gables by a score of 150-149. With the win, FIU finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record in dual meets. It marked the first time in program history that the Panthers completed a perfect season in dual meets. Along with the victory over Miami, FIU had another victory over a BCS school in TCU. The Panthers also earned a second place finish at the Mizzou Invite, beating BCS schools West Virginia, Nebraska and Illinois. In addition to the success in the pool for the 2014-15 campaign, Horners squad was named a Nike CSCAA Scholar All-America team. Teams that make the list must have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher, as FIU's team GPA was 3.17. Valerie Inghels (3.92) was additionally named to the Conference USA All-Academic team, which consists of six selections. Horners program became a highlight for the University in 2014, earning a second-place finish at the 2014 C-USA Championships. The Panthers swept the Conference Swimmer and Diver of the Year awards, as Sonia Perez was named C-USA Swimmer of the Year and Sabrina Beaupre was named C-USA Diver of the Year. The Panthers earned two dual meet victories over Florida Atlantic during the 2013-14 campaign as well, with the one on Oct. 5th being the largest margin of victory over the Owls in school history. FIU earned its first-ever victory over a BCS conference opponent, downing Georgia Tech on December 19, 2013. The Panthers finished the dual meet season with a record of 6-1. Perez swam in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and the 200 backstroke at the 2014 NCAA Championships, becoming the first swimmer in school history to qualify for the finals in an NCAA Championship event. She finished 13th overall in the 400 IM, the highest-ever finish for an FIU swimmer in any event. For her efforts at the Championships, Perez was named a CSCAA Honorable Mention All-American. A two-time C-USA Swimmer of the Week, Perez was a conference champion in the 400 IM and was undefeated in all meets in that event prior to competing at the NCAA Championships. Her 400 IM time at the C-USA Championships set the championship record. She finished her FIU career with school records in the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle, 400 IM and 800 freestyle relay. Also joining Perez at the NCAA Championships was Gustafsdottir, who participated in the 200 IM, 100 Back and 200 Back for the third consecutive year. The Panthers finished off the season setting 11 new FIU records along with three new C-USA records. In the teams first-ever appearance at the C-USA Championships in 2014, the Panthers picked up five individual titles. In addition to Perez 400 IM title, Gustafsdottir won the 200 IM and 200 Back events, while Beaupre earned the 1-Meter and platform diving events. Beaupre finished her FIU career with eight conference championship titles (six in the Sun Belt, two in C-USA). Horners 2013-14 squad was not just strong in the water, but also exceptional in the classroom. FIU was named a 2014 Scholar All-America Team by the CSCAA, earning a 3.13 team GPA during the spring semester and a 3.3 GPA in the fall. Perez earned individual Academic All-American honors as well from the CSCAA. To qualify, a swimmer must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and have competed at the NCAA Championships. During Horners his third season at the helm of the Panthers swim program in 2012-13, FIU tied for a league-high six first-team, all-conference selections including Dani Albright, Klara Andersson, Beaupre, Chadwick, Gustafsdottir, Perez and Marina Ribi. FIU additionally had two third team selections in Valeriia Popova and Courtney Vanderschaaf, as the Panthers finished third at the Sun Belt Conference Championships with 711.5 team points. Perez and Gustafsdottir took part in the 2013 NCAA Division I Womens Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. Perez, who captured three Sun Belt Swimmer of the Week awards in 2012-13 and earned First-Team All-SBC honors, swam in the 400 IM and the 200 Back. Perez broke four FIU records during the SBC Championships, including the 1650 Free. She touched the wall in 16:35.87, breaking Claudia Barsis nine-year old record by an astounding 10 seconds. Perez also set new FIU records in the 400 IM and 800 Freestyle Relay. Gustafsdottir set three school records in 2012-13, including the 100 Freestyle and the 200 Freestyle. She is the current record holder for the 100 and 200 Back, winning the gold in both of those events at the SBC Championships. During Horners second year at the helm in 2011-12, the Panthers were recognized by College Swimming & Diving as one of eight female breakout teams for their 2012 Sun Belt Conference Championship performance where FIU swept all the conference swimmer, diver and coaches of the year awards. During the season, the Panthers collectively broke 10 program records, four Sun Belt Conference records, claimed five Sun Belt championships in addition to having nine medalists and 13 finalists in the SBC Championships. For the 2011-12 season, Gustafsdottir was named a Mid-Major All-American byCollegeSwimming.com. Gustafsdottir won three individual Sun Belt titles (200 IM, 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke) at the conference championships in February while competing in the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Additionally, Perez was named an Honorable Mention All-American. On the diving end, Sabrina Beaupre earned the SBC Diver of the Year award for the second consecutive year after taking home both diving titles. Beaupre captured the 1-meter and 3-meter diving titles and set Sun Belt records in the process. In Horner's first season at FIU, the Panthers shattered 11 program records and Beaupre was named the Sun Belt Conference Diver of the Year after winning conference championships in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Also in Horner's first season, the Panthers continued their stellar academics as they were named a Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). With their 3.26 team grade point average, the Panthers had the second best GPA of any Sun Belt Conference team and third best among Florida teams. In his first full season of recruiting, Horner produced the No. 23 recruiting class in the nation according to collegeswimming.com. At his previous stop as head coach at New Orleans, Horner restarted the men's swimming and diving program in 1992 and led the return of swimming and diving to the Lakefront Aquatic Center after the facility was shutdown in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Horner was recognized in New Orleans-based magazine, Gambit Weekly, "40 under 40", which featured community members for their efforts in rebuilding a positive New Orleans. Horner's first men's class was ranked No. 18 in the nation by CollegeSwimming.com. It was the lone Sun Belt squad to achieve the feat. In year two of UNO men's program, a swimmer was named Co-Sun Belt Conference Swimmer of the Year after becoming the first in school history to win a conference event (two). The Privateers consistently improved under Horner. After 12 finals' placements in year one, the program had 26 finals' placements in year two in individual events. After just one relay podium placement in year one, the program had five in year two (Men). The women's team also progressed. After nine finals' placements on women's side from 2004-08, the women's team had 10 in 2009 and another seven in 2010 at the conference meet. UNO women also had the first three podium placements in a relay in school history in 2009, a fourth added in 2010. New Orleans swimmers also became regulars in the Sun Belt weekly awards. From 2008-10, UNO swimmers received 10 Sun Belt Conference Swimmer of the Week accolades (five men, five women) after only receiving two total (all women) from 2004-07. UNO men ranked as high as No. 9 in CSCAA Mid-Major Rankings, a school-record, during the 2008-09 season and again in 2009-10. UNO women ranked for first time in CSCAA Mid-Major rankings at the end of 2008-09 season. Four UNO swimmers combined to win nine national championships in their native countries during the 2009 year (Trinidad, Sweden, Iceland). The UNO men broke all 18 school records from 2008-10 left from previous era of the swimming program. The women's program broke all 18 school records during Horner era, including 17 by Horner's own recruits. UNO achieved plenty of diving success under Horner's watch. Two male divers qualified for NCAA Zone D Regional in 2010 - first UNO regional diving qualifiers since 1985. Four different divers combined to earn 10 Sun Belt Diver of the Week honors from 2008-10. UNO men's divers established school-records in 1-meter and 3-meter events. The UNO program made great strides out of the pool too. In the classroom, UNO men earned CSCAA All-Academic team honors in fall 2008 (3.24 GPA - eighth highest in Division I) and spring 2009 (3.15 GPA - tied for 24th highest in Division I) - despite an all freshmen team. The UNO women earned first-ever CSCAA All-Academic team recognition in school history in fall 2009. In 2008-09, 15 UNO men received SBC academic recognition (all freshmen), along with six women (new school-record for single-year). As an assistant swimming coach at Missouri State (1998-2005), Horner coached 2004 Olympians Raichin Anotonov and Jackie Wellman. Horner is a member of the College Swimming Coaches Association, the American Swimming Coaches Association and United States Swimming. He is an avid runner and likes to participate in triathlons, as Horner was an Ironman finisher in 2002. Additionally, Horner enjoys scuba diving, golf and surfing in his free time. Horner earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Missouri State University in 1994.    

Cleary returned to the FIU Athletics program as the Director of Operations for the FIU Golf, Tennis and Track & Field/Cross Country teams in September of 2010. She added the Swimming & Diving program to her responsibilities in 2013. Previously, Nika worked as the Senior Operations Assistant for FIU Football during the 2007-2010 seasons.   Nika is responsible for all operational activities for the FIU Golf, Swimming & Diving, Tennis and Track & Field/Cross Country teams. She coordinates team and recruiting travel arrangements and logistics including hotel, transportation, and meals; oversees the student-athlete academics; monitors each team budget, orders, inventories, and distributes team uniforms and equipment; and acts as main contact for home events. Nika has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Management at FIU.       Nika Cleary Director of Operations Nika Cleary returned to the FIU Athletics program as the Director of Operations for the FIU Golf, Tennis and Track & Field/Cross Country teams in September of 2010. She added the Swimming & Diving program to her responsibilities in 2013. Previously, Nika worked as the Senior Operations Assistant for FIU Football during the 2007-2010 seasons.   Nika is responsible for all operational activities for the FIU Golf, Swimming & Diving, Tennis and Track & Field/Cross Country teams. She coordinates team and recruiting travel arrangements and logistics including hotel, transportation, and meals; oversees the student-athlete academics; monitors each team budget, orders, inventories, and distributes team uniforms and equipment; and acts as main contact for home events. Nika has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Management at FIU.      

Ramirez enters his fifth season in 2016-17 as FIU's diving coach. Ramirez, a three-time All-American at the University of Miami, brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest levels of diving. The 2016 Conference USA Diving Coach of the Year had a pair of divers qualify for NCAA Zone Diving (Lily Kaufmann and Rebecca Quesnel, while Quesnel became the first FIU diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships (platform). The C-USA Diver of the Year, Quesnel claimed the gold medal in the 1-meter and platform programs, while placing second in the 3-meter at this year's C-USA Championships. She set the school record in the platform during the championships, posting a score of 299.80.  A five-time C-USA Diver of the Week, Quesnel competed at the 2016 Senior Nationals and Olympic Trials for Team Canada during the summer of 2016.   Ramirez had two swimmers in Kaufmann and Quesnel qualify for NCAA Zone Diving during the 2014-15 campaign. At the Conference USA Championships, Kaufmann stepped up big for FIU, as the Panthers missed their top diver in Quesnel due to an injury she suffered at Canadian Junior Nationals. Kaufmann went on to earn her first-ever C-USA title, winning the platform diving event. In the squads first year in Conference USA, Ramirez was named the leagues Diving Coach of the Year after guiding Sabrina Beaupre to the leagues Diver of the Year. Beaupre, who was named C-USA Championships Diver of the Meet, earned conference titles in the 1-meter and Platform Dives. She completed her FIU career with a strong showing at NCAA Zone B diving, missing out by one spot of earning a berth in the NCAA Championships in the platform dive. A three-time C-USA Diver of the Week in 2014, Beaupre holds school records in all three diving categories. Ramirez made a great impact on FIU divers in his first season in 2012-13, as he was named the 2013 Sun Belt Diving Coach of the Year. Beaupre was named Sun Belt Conference Diver of the Year as she won nine diving events on the year and took home both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving titles at the SBC Championships. "Rio is a great addition to our coaching staff, Horner said. His extensive experience as one of the greatest NCAA divers will be valuable in elevating our diving program to the next level." A native of Camagüey, Cuba, Ramirez defected from the Caribbean island in 1993 during the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico. After enrolling at Miami in 1996, he instantly became one of the best divers in the country, capturing the NCAA Individual National Championship in the 1-meter from 1997-99 and the platform in 1999. The list of accomplishments associated with the former USA Diving Team member is extensive and includes a Pan-American Championship (1991), USA National Champion in synchronized 3-meter diving (2000), a first place finish at the FINA Grand Prix in the 1-meter (2000) and a third place finish at the 2000 Olympic Trials. He was even a lead character in the Cirque du Soleil productions of the O show in Las Vegas, Nev., from 2004-07. Ramirez graduated from the University of Miami in 2001 with a bachelors degree in business administration and holds the NCAA Championship record (1990-99) in platform diving with a score of 901.6