2014 Men’s NCAA DI Championships: Final Quotes

Connor Jaeger – 1650 Winner

On winning his last college race: My mentality going into this meet was so different than any before just because of how incredibly sentimental it is to do your last college meet. Maybe I’m going to be lucky enough to continue swimming beyond this but it’s never going to be the same and it will never compare to the years I spent swimming for Michigan.

On defending his title: Coming into the meet I was thinking a lot about defending the title. Then tonight thinking about the team scores I just wanted to get as many points as I could.

Ryan Murphy – 200 Back Winner

On being freshman and a two-time NCAA champion: It’s awesome. It’s been one of the best meets of my life and it’s sad that it’s starting to come to an end. But I think this is great for the team, most importantly. Hopefully we can keep the momentum rolling.

On how this meet differs from others he’s been in: This meet is so physically taxing. I’ve never been an emotional swimmer, but this meet, in order to be successful, you have to swim with a lot of emotion. So it’s been a bit of an adjustment, but it’s so much fun.

Joao De Lucca – 100 Free Winner

On if the meet exceeded his expectations: I didn’t expect to win the 100 free at all. To be honest I really thought (Auburn’s) Marcelo [Chierighini] was going to get this one. He’s done a really really good job this season. I knew he was going to come for me so I changed my strategy. I went out faster.

On his mindset going into the race: I was kind of scared. Definitely winning and beating Marcelo, we’re (national) teammates. We have a big rivalry. He started swimming when he was 15 or so and he’s really good… We have this big rivalry. We’re good friends but the rivalry has always been there and definitely winning this race means a lot to me. I didn’t expect to win at all. I’m shocked. It’s kind of like winning the first time.

Kevin Cordes – 200 Breast Winner

On finishing the meet with a win: It’s really satisfying to end the meet out like this. We had a little rough patch and some bad breaks but I finished it off strong. I couldn’t be happier.

On defending both of his NCAA titles from last year: I definitely wanted to defend my titles and improve on my times and, fortunately, I was able to do that.

Dylan Bosch – 200 Butterfly

On his first NCAA individual title: It feels great. I was a first-seed last year at my first NCAAs. That was a great experience being next to (California’s) Tom (Shields, in 2013). But I kind of wanted to win that one. I was just a freshman so I was pretty young. A year later and it’s an amazing feeling. It’s a really fast meet, it’s probably one of the fastest meets in the world. So, to be on the top of that podium is an awesome feeling and just a testament to how great the guys are at Michigan and how well we all train. I couldn’t have done it without them.

On his race strategy: It’s changed over the two years I’ve been here. I had never really swam yards before since before I came to America. It was a little different experience but my strategy was always just, the first 50, just easy speed, pretty light, and build into the second 50. I had some trouble with that the last couple of races. Then you get tired towards the end but just before the race Mike (Bottom) told me to build into the second 50 from the first one. I tried that and it worked well and that’s the strategy.

Nick McCrory – Platform Diving

On his winning dive: It had been an interesting contest from the start but that last dive is one of my favorites. I’ve been doing it for like six years now and I’m really comfortable with it. But going into it, I was up there doing the math in my head of what I needed to score to win. To be honest I didn’t think I got it when I hit the water. I was surprised by the scoreboard. I saw my dive and I guess it was better than I thought.

On being an NCAA champion: I’m just really proud for my school. They’ve done so much to support me and get me here and keep me going. I’m really happy to be representing Duke.

Marcelo Chierighini – 400 Free Relay

On finishing his senior year with a win: It couldn’t come at a better time. I didn’t have my best times individually. I wasn’t really happy individually but it was the last race and the last relay. I love swimming the relay with my boys and it came at the perfect time. It was super special.

On winning the final race of the meet: It’s really fun. Before the relay we were just messing around and just enjoying the moment. It’s my last time swimming with these guys. It’s awesome.

Many thanks to the University of Texas for hosting a great meet and to Travis Feldhaus (Texas SID) for compiling these quotes each night.

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Patrick Brundage
9 years ago

Braden, it is criminal to eat at TGI Fridays pretty much any time, but, in Austin??? Oh man, that is a sin of the greatest magnitude.

Admin
Reply to  Patrick Brundage
9 years ago

Patrick Brundage – don’t worry, it was years ago, and it wasn’t my choice. Don’t worry, this weekend I ate at one place that was entirely gluten free, one vegan restaurant, and several other places where I thought I might get tetanus. In other words – the full, wonderful Austin experience.

michiganalum
9 years ago

Who won swimmer of the meet, does anyone know?

Zanna
Reply to  michiganalum
9 years ago

Kevin Cordes

floppy
9 years ago

Totally irrelevant fact: Connor Jaeger becomes the first man to swim sub-14:30 twice.

Grodzki, LaTourette, Thompson, Jensen, Rouault, Vendt, Mellouli, Prinsloo, and Dolan have all done it (exactly) once: Connor Jaeger stands 7th all-time, but the only person under that mark twice.

wow
9 years ago

Are there any interviews with Ted Knapp, Scott Armstrong or Eugene Godsoe. I’d be extremely interested to hear what they have to say.

Joel Lin
Reply to  wow
9 years ago

Their comment is: No comment on the meet. Now where is the nearest TGI Friday’s with a Happy Hour?

wethorn
Reply to  Joel Lin
9 years ago

We don’t do TGI Friday’s in Austin.

Admin
Reply to  wethorn
9 years ago

wethorn – that’s not true. I’ve eaten at a TGI Friday’s in Austin.

Wethorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
9 years ago

That’s your bad!

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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