2017 M. NCAA Picks: Schooling Looks to Crash 44-Barrier in 100 Fly

2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

100 BUTTERFLY

  • NCAA record: Joseph Schooling (Texas), 2016- 44.01
  • American record: Tom Shields (Cal), 2016- 43.84
  • U.S. Open record: Tom Shields (Cal), 2016- 43.84
  • 2016 NCAA Champion: Joseph Schooling (Texas)- 44.01

Texas junior Joseph Schooling, the 2016 Olympic champion in the 100 meter fly, returns after coming within hundredths of a 43-second swim last season. While Tom Shields became first man to clear the 44-mark earlier this season at U.S. Winter Nationals, Schooling still has a chance to be the first man in the NCAA to do so. He’s already been as fast as 44.06 this season, which is just .05 off his own NCAA Record.

Schooling will be challenged by teammate Jack Conger and Florida’s Caeleb Dressel, who are the most likely contenders to pull off an upset. Dressel rocked a personal best 44.21 to win the SEC Championship title last month. Conger, on the other hand, posted a 44.56 at the Big 12 Championships, which is just a hundredth short of his best.

NC State’s Ryan Held and Cal’s Matt Josa are also in the running for a top spot. Josa, who boasts a personal best 44.89, transferred to Cal this season after spending 2 years with Queens University. Held (44.79) made a change in his event lineup this season, choosing to swim this race instead of the 200 free.

Returning All-Americans in this event include Cleveland State’s Philipp Sikatzki, Ohio State’s Matt McHugh, Georgia’s Pace Clark, and Alabama’s Luke Kaliszak. The fastest of that group so far has been McHugh, who put up a 44.91 at Big Tens. The field will also see Cal’s Justin Lynch, Indiana’s Vini Lanza, LSU’s Logan Rysemus, Missouri’s Andrew Sansoucie, and Texas’ Will Glass return after scoring in the B final last season. Sansoucie (44.86) is one of a handful of men who enter with sub-45 times.

After taking an Olympic redshirt in 2015-16, USC’s Santo Condorelli will be back at the NCAA meet. He’s one of several Pac-12 finalists competing. Stanford’s Andrew Liang and Arizona State teammates Andrew Porter and Tadas Duskinas will also look to make waves in this race.

TOP 8 PREDICTIONS:

Place Swimmer Team Season Best Lifetime Best
1 Joseph Schooling Texas 44.06 44.01
2 Caeleb Dressel Florida 44.21 44.21
3 Jack Conger Texas 44.56 44.55
4 Ryan Held NC State 44.79 44.79
5 Matt Josa Cal 45.41 44.89
6 Vini Lanza Indiana 45.07 45.07
7 Andrew Sansoucie Missouri 44.86 44.86
8 Matt McHugh Ohio State 44.91 44.91

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Sub 44
7 years ago

43.60 off the relay… He’ll definitely break 44!

Murica
7 years ago

42

Jay
7 years ago

Go Schooling! Let’s aim for 43.01.

SwimGeek
7 years ago

Watched Schooling do 3x50s on 1:00 yesterday (3/21/17) in warm up pool at IUPUI with a fast suit. I assume the 50’s were descend because he was 23.1, 22.6, 20.6….. these were all from a push. To say Schooling won’t drop a half second is a little conservative. He is an Olympic gold medalist and a defending NCAA champion in the 100 fly. 43.10-43.30 is not out of the question.

Attila the Runt
Reply to  SwimGeek
7 years ago

I can’t wait to revisit this thread. The predictions keep getting more insane. I few more comments and he’ll be below 43. You’d think Schooling was Dean Farris.

PsychoDad
7 years ago

And don’t forget: Ringgold is making A final in 100 fly.

Calswimfan
7 years ago

I’d be very shocked if he didn’t go under 44

RUN-DMC
7 years ago

Dressel 43.96 for the win

BearlyBreathing
7 years ago

Imagine if it takes a 44 to make A final. That would be, like amazing.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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