2021 NCSA Spring Invite: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2021 NCSA SPRING INVITE

• March 16-20, 2021
• Orlando, Florida
• Short course yards (SCY)
• Psych sheets
• Meet information
• Live stream
• Results on Meet Mobile

The first night of finals are set for the 2021 NCSA Spring Invite, with Josh Zuchowski looking good to keep climbing the 15-16 rankings. This morning, he dropped a second to go 1:43.03 in the 200 back, which moved him to #10 in age group history.

We’ll also get to see a talented 200 back field on the women’s side light it up, led by Josephine Fuller, while 43-second 100 freestylers Reese Branzell and Will Hayon rematch in the A-final after hitting best times this morning.

GIRLS 200 BACK FINALS

Top 3

1. Josephine Fuller (NOVA) – 1:52.73
2. Maggie Wanezek (EBSC) – 1:53.57
3. Zoe Dixon (NOVA) – 1:54.06

Josephine Fuller of NOVA of Virginia ran away with this event, out in a 54.9 and back in a 57.8, turning in a new lifetime best of 1:52.73. She broke 1:54 for the first time in prelims at 1:53.95, and she’s now a full second faster than that, so this was a huge swim for her. Fuller is now 33rd in the 17-18 age group, still on the younger end of the age group.

15-year-old Maggie Wanezek clocked a 1:53.57, another strong performance from her after her 1:54.22 in prelims took almost two seconds off of her old best. Wanezek is now #23 all-time in the age group, while third-place finisher Zoe Dixon (1:54.06) of NOVA of Virginia now sits within the top-30 in the age group, too. That’s the first time Dixon has been under 1:55.

In fourth was Paige Hall of Machine Aquatics at 1:54.71, shaving .01 off of her morning personal best, while Campbell Stoll swam a big new best of 1:55.88. The Elmbrook Swim Club 15-year-old had never been under 1:58 until tonight.

In the B-final, 16-year-old Carly Meeting of New Albany Aquatic Club touched first in 1:58.53, dropping almost three seconds from prelims.

BOYS 200 BACK FINALS

Top 3

1. Joshua Zuchowski (FAST) – 1:41.68
2. Sam Powe (MCC) – 1:42.39
3. Mateo Miceli (ISWM) – 1:44.26

This morning, 16-year-old Joshua Zuchowski of Flood Aquatics moved to #10 in the 15-16 age group with a 1:43.03, his first time under 1:44 ever. Tonight, 16-year-old Sam Powe of McCallie GPS Aquatics had the edge at the 100, going out hard in 49.67, and Powe held the lead through 150.

But Zuchowski, however, turned on another gear, churning over the final 50 to go 1:41.68 and pass Powe. Zuchowski now jumps to #3 all-time in the age group, behind only NAG record-holder Ryan Murphy (1:40.90) and Carson Foster (1:41.66).

That’s a drop of over a second for Zuchowski, who already had a big drop this morning.

Powe, meanwhile, had a fantastic swim himself; while he couldn’t hold on over the final 50, he still dropped three seconds off of his former best to go 1:42.39. Powe is now #8 all-time in the age group. Third tonight went to iNspire Swim Team’s Mateo Miceli in 1:44.26, dropping two seconds from prelims and almost two from his seed.

Jackson Nester of the H20kies clocked a lifetime best of 1:46.80 to claim the B-final.

GIRLS 1000 FREE FINAL HEAT

Top 3

1. Lucy Malys (OLY) – 9:39.58
2. Claire Dafoe (NOVA) – 9:49.16
3. Kaitlin Russell (NOVA) – 9:57.84

Lucy Malys of OLY Swimming swam fearlessly, including a few 28-splits in the middle of the race before sticking at 29-lows most of the rest of the way. Malys clocked the winning 9:39.58, able to drop almost eight seconds from her old best.

Claire Dafoe of NOVA of Virginia posted a 9:49.16; they were the only two swimmers under 9:50.

BOYS 1650 FREE FINAL HEAT

Top 3

1. Levi Sandidge (COR) – 14:57.96
2. Gio Linscheer/Trey Dickey (COR) – 15:10.03 *TIE*

City of Richardson’s distance group ruled the boys 1650 free, as 16-year-old Levi Sandidge took it in a big 14:57.96.

Sandidge dropped four seconds off of his old best, earning his first sub-15:00 swim ever, and he moves to #9 in the 15-16 age group historical rankings. Previously, he was 15:02.02 for #14 in the rankings.

His teammates Gio Linscheer, 16, and Trey Dickey, 18, tied for second at 15:10.03. Dickey got home like a freight train, splitting a ridiculous 23.94 on the final 50 after splitting 27s and 28s for most of the race.

GIRLS 50 BREAST FINALS

Top 3

1. Lucy Thomas (EBSC) – 27.12
2. Letitia Sim (TNT) – 27.64
3. Zoe Skirboll (RXA) – 27.92

The top three was the same tonight as it was in the morning, with Elmbrook Swim Club 15-year-old Lucy Thomas dropping a big 27.12 to snag the win. Letitia Sim of TNT Swimming and Zoe Skirboll of Racer X Aquatics both got under 28 tonight, though, after not doing so in prelims. Sim was 27.64 for second and Skirboll third in 27.92.

In the B-final, 200 back winner Josephine Fuller of NOVA demonstrated her versatility with a 28.94 win.

BOYS 50 BREAST FINALS

Top 3

1. Daniel Worth (UNAT) – 24.42
2. Ty Spillane (ACAD) – 24.47
3. Kael Mlinek (ISWM) – 24.67

Daniel Worth lunged to the wall first, clocking a 24.42 to edge out Academy Bullets’ Ty Spillane (24.47). In third was iNspire Swim Team’s Kael Mlinek (24.67), while his teammate Luke Barr was 24.74 for fourth.

The top four finishers all dropped time from prelims, all at least a tenth quicker.

GIRLS 100 FREE FINALS

Top 3

1. Lexie Mulvihill (TEAM) – 49.35
2. Zoe Skirboll (RXA) – 49.65
3. Claire Tuggle (SMSC) – 49.69

Lexie Mulvihill of TEAM won this in 49.35, as Zoe Skirboll of Racer X Aquatics was second in 49.65, just ahead of Santa Maria Swim Club’s Claire Tuggle (49.69).

Also getting under 50 seconds was Machine Aquatics’ Paige Hall in 49.98.

14-year-old Levenia Sim was absolutely moving in the D-final, smashing the 50-second barrier for the first time in her young career to go 49.26. That time was actually the fastest out of all five finals tonight. Sim now ranks #11 all-time in the 13-14 age group.

In the B-final, Caroline McCurdy (unattached) went 49.72 for the win ahead of TNT’s Letitia Sim (49.98).

BOYS 100 FREE FINALS

Top 3

1. Reese Branzell (unattached) – 43.63
2. Will Hayon (MWWM) – 43.74
3. Luke Barr (ISWM) – 43.81

The top four finishers were all under 44 seconds tonight, with Reese Branzell able to come back on the second 50 and touch-out Will Hayon (43.74). They both dropped roughly a tenth from their morning times.

Hayon moves to #15 in the 15-16 age group with that swim; he’s 16.

Luke Barr of iNspire Swim Team (43.81) and Grant Bochenski of Hinsdale Swim Club (43.99) were third and fourth, bunched up in a tight finish.

GIRLS 200 MEDLEY RELAY TIMED FINALS

Top 3

1. Elmbrook Swim Club – 1:37.74 *MEET RECORD*
2. NOVA of Virginia – 1:40.51
3. TNT Swimming – 1:40.61

After 10 years untouched, the NCSA meet record fell here. Elmbrook Swim Club demolished the 2011 record held by Aquajets, getting a 24.68 lead-off from Maggie Wanezek, a 27.23 breast leg from Lucy Thomas, a 23.50 fly leg from Campbell Stoll and a 22.33 anchor from Abby Wanezek.

Their time of 1:37.74 was the first sub-1:39 swim at an NCSA Champs, so they really destroyed the mark. They were also just seven-tenths shy of Nashville Aquatic Club’s 15-18 NAG record of 1:37.04.

NOVA of Virginia took second in 1:40.51, getting a 27.92 breast leg from Grace Sheble and a 22.74 anchor from Josephine Fuller.

Levenia Sim, the 14-year-old, blasted a 24.14 lead-off for TNT Swimming, who also got a 27.45 breast leg from Letitia Sim as they took third.

BOYS 200 MEDLEY RELAY TIMED FINALS

1. iNspire Swim Team – 1:27.03
2. Mid-Wisconsin Wave Makers – 1:30.21
3. Saint Andrew’s Aquatics – 1:30.29

Nate Germonprez was 22.01 leading off for iNspire Swim Team, as they got a 23.99 from Kael Mlinek on the breast leg. On fly, they had Mateo Miceli at 21.32, while Luke Barr brought it home in 19.71.

They dominated this heat, with nobody else under 1:30.

Mid-Wisconsin Wave Makers touched second in 1:30.21, getting a 21.07 fly leg from Will Hayon and a 19.94 anchor from Sam Bork, while Saint Andrew’s took third in 1:30.29, as they had Tiago Pereira split a 21.15 on the fly leg and Maximilian Zum Tobel anchor in 20.00.

OLY Swimming was fourth in 1:30.78, with a big 22.66 lead-off from Griffin Curtis, while Hudson Williams dropped a 22.76 leading off New Albany’s fifth-place relay (1:30.81).

TEAM SCORES – GIRLS

1. Elmbrook Swim Club – 297
2. NOVA of Virginia – 290
3. Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – 131
4. OLY Swimming – 124
5. Machine Aquatics – 122

TEAM SCORES – BOYS

1. Inspire Swim Team – 195.5
2. Mid-Wisconsin Wave Makers – 140
3. NOVA of Virginia – 120
4. Hinsdale Swim Club – 114
5. New Albany Aquatic Club/City of Richardson Swimming – 105 *TIE*

TEAM SCORES – COMBINED

1. NOVA of Virginia – 410
2. Elmbrook Swim Club – 379
3. Rockville Montgomery Swim Club – 225
4. Machine Aquatics – 223
5. OLY Swimming – 222