2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 4
- Saturday, September 4 – Sunday, September 5
- 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST (6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Local Time)
- Piscina Felice Scandone, Naples, Italy
- Short Course Meters (25m – SCM) Format
- ISL Season 3 Schedules, Start Times, & More
- Teams Competing: Cali Condors, LA Current, DC Trident, Aqua Centurions
- Omega Live Results
- Match 4 Preview
TEAM SCORES – DAY 1
- Cali Condors – 266 points
- LA Current – 242 points
- Aqua Centurions – 210 points
- DC Trident – 191 points
After winning both the women’s and men’s 4 x 100 medley relays on day 1 of Match 4, the Cali Condors earned the privilege to decide the stroke that will be raced in both the women’s and men’s 50 skins races on day 2. However, before the Condors were given their opportunity to decide the stroke of the all-important 3-round skins races, both the LA Current and the Aqua Centurions were allowed to eliminate an option.
Due to new rules adopted by the ISL for season 3, the team that scores the 3rd-highest number of aggregate points in the medley relay is given the first opportunity to veto a stroke for the day 2 skins competition. After they have made their choice the team that has accrued the 2nd-highest number of aggregate points in the medley relay is then allowed to eliminate one more option. There is one aggregate point total for the women’s race and a separate aggregate point total for the men’s race, meaning one team might get a vote for the men’s skins but not the women’s skins, or vice-versa. Additionally, a team could win the 4 x 100 medley relay, but if their ‘B’ squad does particularly poorly or gets disqualified, they might not have the final choice of stroke for the skins races on day 2.
In Match 4 of this 2021 season, the Cali Condors had the most points in both the women’s and men’s medley relays, while the Aqua Centurions had the 2nd-most and the LA Current the 3rd-most in each relay, respectively. Therefor, David Marsh of the LA Current had the first opportunity to eliminate a stroke for each skins race, and each time he chose to nix the breaststroke. Then, Matteo Giunta of the Aqua Centurions got to eliminate a stroke, each time taking backstroke off the table. Then, given the final decision, the Cali Condors’ Jeff Julian chose butterfly for the women’s skins and freestyle for the men’s skins.
While the Condor women would have loved the opportunity for a breaststroke skins, they’ll instead rely on Kelsi Dahlia and Erika Brown in butterfly. Still a solid duo, though LA will likely utilize Beryl Gastaldello, while the Aqua Centurions have Elena di Liddo, and DC Trident Linnea Mack. The men’s skins looks like a slam dunk for the Condors who will of course use Caeleb Dressel and probably Justin Ress. Ryan Held has not been particularly sharp for the LA Current so far this season, but Brett Pinfold has been swimming well. The Aqua Centurions have some leverage with Alessandro Miressi, who ought to at least make the skins semis, if selected to swim it. The DC Trident looks vulnerable for Sunday’s skins as neither Zach Apple nor Ryan Hoffer have quite found their groove yet, but maybe day 2 of Match 4 is when it will come together for them.
The medley relay races Saturday amounted to the following point totals for the medley relays.
Women’s 4 x 100 Medley Relay
- Cali Condors = 32 points
- 1st place (18 points + 2 jackpot points)
- 3rd place (12 points)
- Aqua Centurions = 20 points
- 2nd place (14 points)
- 6th place (6 points)
- LA Current = 14 points
- 4th place (10 points)
- 7th place (4 points)
- DC Trident = 8 points
- 5th place (8 points)
- 8th place – Jackpotted – (0 points)
Men’s 4 x 100 Medley Relay
- Cali Condors = 30 points
- 1st place (18 points + 12 jackpot points)
- 8th place – Jackpotted – (0 points)
- Aqua Centurions = 26 points
- 2nd place (14 points)
- 3rd place (12 points)
- LA Current = 10 points
- 4th place (10 points)
- 7th place – Jackpotted – (0 points)
- DC Trident = 8 points
- 5th place (8 points)
- 6th place – Jackpotted – (0 points)
SKINS SELECTION FOR DAY 2
WOMEN
- LA Current eliminates breaststroke
- Aqua Centurions eliminates backstroke
- Cali Condors choose butterfly
MEN
- LA Current eliminates breaststroke
- Aqua Centurions eliminates backstroke
- Cali Condors choose freestyle
I am incredibly confused right now, why did LA eliminate breast, literally anyone with a brain know Cali will never pick the men’s breaststroke (unless nic fink becomes the 100 breast world record holder), as aqua have both kamminga and martinenghi. And considering their relative weakness in freestyle, wouldn’t it make sense for them to eliminate that and force a dressel shields skins, where their odds of winning are much better
A day ago, I’d have argued that LA was strategizing to lock in a second place team finish. (i.e. keep Aqua out of the game…)
But yes, they are close enough to Cali right now that knocking out Men’s breast was a stupid move.
I guess they still don’t think they’d beat Cali.
Got to agree… Lots of jackpot points going the way of Cali in the men’s 100IM and 100back…
I get where you are coming from, but I guess they couldn’t risk Cali choosing breast as Fink did beat Kamminga in the medley relay and dressel is doing A LOT tomorrow even without skins. And because they suck at breaststroke. Right now all they are fighting for is for second, and don’t want the skins to be breast (to give points to aqua).
I cannot understand ISL not listing the times for all eight swimmers at the end of each race. I subscribed because I follow swimming. Part of ‘following’ means (to me) keeping up with the times for various swimmers, first to eighth. If I am forced to stop the video and go to “Results”, I think I might as well cancel my subscription, check results on Swim Swam, and watch the races later on line.
Condors will have no trouble winning both.