2021 Big Ten Men’s Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2021 BIG TEN MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

• When: Tuesday, March 2nd to Saturday, March 6th | Prelims 11am | Finals 5pm Tues, 6:30pm Wed-Sat (ET)
• Where: Ohio State University (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: Michigan (1x) (2020 results)
• Streaming: Big Ten Network
• Championship Central
• Live Results

Last night, Michigan got off to a strong start, winning both relays and dominating the 200 medley relay especially. Minnesota’s Max McHugh is in top form after blasting the fastest 50 breast split ever (22.40), while Indiana and Ohio State look solid, too.

We’ll know a lot more about how to the team race is shaping up once today’s prelims are through. The order has changed as compared to usual years due to the new COVID-19 schedule; the 200 IM will start us off this morning, followed by the 50 free and 500 free.

WEDNESDAY MORNING HEAT SHEETS

TEAM SCORES (through Day 1)

1. Ohio State – 433
2. Indiana – 319
3. Purdue – 258
4. Michigan – 223
5. Northwestern – 187
6. Wisconsin – 168
7. Minnesota – 162
8. Penn State – 129
9. Iowa – 114
10. Michigan State – 68

200 IM – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 1:41.05, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2019
• Big Ten record – 1:41.05, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2019
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 1:43.79
• Defending champion: Andrew Loy (Ohio State), 1:42.03

Top 8

1. Paul Delakis (Ohio State) – 1:43.34
2. Wes Jekel (Wisconsin) – 1:43.78
3. Van Mathias (Indiana) – 1:43.94
4. Jacob Steele (Indiana) – 1:43.95
5. Trent Pellini (Purdue) – 1:44.00
6. Nicholas Sherman (Purdue) – 1:44.13
7. Caleb Aman (Wisconsin) – 1:44.28
8. Jared Daigle (Michigan) – 1:44.31

Wisconsin’s Wes Jekel dropped a big 1:43.78, just a half-second off of his own program record, to win the final heat over Purdue’s Trent Pellini (1:44.00).

The penultimate heat was a huge battle, as Van Mathias of Indiana took it in 1:43.94, just a hundredth ahead of his teammate Jacob Steele (1:43.95). Wisconsin picked up third in that heat with Caleb Aman (1:44.28).

In heat six, Paul Delakis of Ohio State posted a 1:43.34 for the win, edging out Purdue’s Nicholas Sherman (1:44.13).

After a 1:33 split on the 800 free relay last night, Michigan sophomore Danny Berlitz looked great in heat three, dropping a 1:45.73 to significantly improve on his previous best of 1:47.58 from two years ago. His team led the field until heat six.

Wisconsin, Indiana and Purdue each got two swimmers into the A-final here, while Michigan was only able to get one in at eighth. OSU got just one in, but it’s Delakis, who is the favorite to win tonight.

50 FREE – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 18.69, Bowe Becker (Minnesota) – 2018
• Big Ten record – 18.69, Bowe Becker (Minnesota) – 2018
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 19.32
• Defending champion: Bruno Blaskovic (Indiana), 18.97

Top 8

1. Sem Andreis (Ohio State) – 19.22
2. Jacob Houck (Penn State) – 19.29
3. Gus Borges (Michigan) – 19.32
4. Gabe Castano (Penn State) – 19.36
5. Will Roberson (Penn State) – 19.40
6. Hunter Armstrong (Ohio State) – 19.42
7. Jack Franzman (Indiana) – 19.47
8. Nikola Acin (Purdue) – 19.49

The final heat went to Ohio State’s Sem Andreis with a best time 19.22 to lead this morning’s prelims. The other big swim from that heat was Penn State freshman Jacob Houck, who destroyed his old best of 19.92 from a January dual meet. Houck came to Penn State never having broken 20 seconds in this race by a longshot; he was 20.75 pre-PSU.

Penn State’s Will Roberson was 19.40 for the penultimate heat win, edging out Indiana’s Jack Franzman (19.47). The Nittany Lions had a huge event, getting a conference-leading three swimmers into the A-final.

In heat seven, Michigan’s Gus Borges swam a winning time of 19.32, just ahead of Ohio State’s Hunter Armstrong (19.42).

In heat three, Will Chan of Michigan posted a lifetime best 19.57, dropping .16 from his old best.

In heat two, entered without a time, Penn State’s Gabe Castano popped a 19.36 for the win. He was the 2020 runner-up.

Aside from Penn State’s strong showing, OSU was able to get two into the A-final here.

500 FREE – PRELIMS

• Big Ten meet record – 4:09.29, Felix Auboeck (Michigan) – 2018
• Big Ten record – 4:08.60, Peter Vanderkaay (Michigan) – 2006
• 2020 NCAA invite time – 4:16.49
• Defending champion: Felix Auboeck (Michigan), 4:10.14

Top 8

1. Jake Mitchell (Michigan) – 4:16.99
2. Will Roberts (Michigan) – 4:17.50
3. Josh Dannhauser (Wisconsin) – 4:17.59
4. Patrick Callan (Michigan) – 4:17.88
5. Mikey Calvillo (Indiana) – 4:19.44
6. Charlie Clark (Ohio State) – 4:19.49
7. Connor LaMastra (Northwestern) – 4:19.54
8. Michael Brinegar (Indiana) – 4:20.10

This was a big push for the Wolverines, who got three up into the A-final. Indiana got two, and Wisconsin, Ohio State and Northwestern got one apiece.

The final heat went to Michigan junior Patrick Callan, who cruised to a 4:17.78 ahead of Indiana junior Mikey Calvillo (4:19.44) and redshirt sophomore Michael Brinegar (4:20.10).

In the penultimate heat, Michigan went 1-2, as Jake Mitchell went 4:16.99 ahead of teammate Will Roberts (4:17.50). Wisconsin’s Josh Dannhauser (4:17.59) and Ohio State freshman Charlie Clark (4:19.49) also got under 4:20. Clark dropped over five seconds off of his old best.

Connor LaMastra of Northwestern, a senior and Dartmouth transfer, won heat five with the first sub-4:20 of the morning (at the time of his swim) at 4:19.54. That time held up, getting him an A-final slot here a year after he was the 500 free runner-up at the 2020 Ivy League Championships.

In heat four, Iowa’s Evan Holt swam a 4:21.08 to take the heat.

Bora Unalmis of Michigan posted a 4:20.89 for the heat three win.

Wisconsin freshman Jake Newmark swam to a new best in the 500 free out of heat one, clocking a 4:22.38 to drop almost a second from his high school best. Second in the heat went to Northwestern senior Jeffrey Durmer at 4:24.14, a best by over two seconds.