2019 NCAA Division III Men’s Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2019 NCAA DIVISION III MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Dates: Wednesday, March 20 – Saturday, March 23, 2019
• Swimming: prelims 10am, finals 6pm; Diving: 2pm
• Location: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champions: Denison (results)
• Digital Program
• Official Psych Sheet
• Live Video
• Live Results │ Diving Results
• Championship Central

DAY THREE FINALS

MEN’S 200 YARD BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 1:44.56 3/17/2017, Brandon Lum, Wash U

1. Brandon Lum, Wash. U – 1:45.48
2. Mitch Williams, Denison – 1:45.62
3. Noah Housekeeper, Denison – 1:47.35
4. Bouke Edskes, MIT – 1:47.61
5. Lucca Delcompare, Williams – 1:47.73
6. Jeffrey Vitek, John’s Hopkins – 1:47.99
7. Andreas Nybo, Cal Lutheran – 1:48.38
8. Richie Kurlich, Denison – 1:48.49

Despite a disappointing finish at last year’s NCAA 200 fly final, where the former champion and current NCAA record holder in Wash U.’s Brandon Lum finished second, Lum proved that he was no fluke: he claimed the top spot in a time of 1:45.48. Although Lum technically lead the race the entire way, Denison junior Mitch Williams had a monster last 50 to almost run him down – he ultimately took second in 1:45.62.

Denison picked up big in this race, as freshman Noah Housekeeper notched third with his time of 1:47.35. His classmate Richie Kurlich settled for eighth with a 1:48.49 final time. MIT senior Bouke Edskes, who finished second to Lum the year the record was established, clocked a 1:47.61 for fourth.

William’s Lucca Delcopmare (1:47.73), John’s Hopkins’s Jeffrey Vitek (1:47.99) and Cal Lutheran’s Andreas Nybo (1:48.38) occupy fifth through seventh.

MEN’S 100 YARD BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 46.62 3/17/2017 Ben Lin, Williams

1. David Fitch, Kenyon – 46.66
2. Jack Bauer, Worcester Polytechnic – 47.03
3. Emile Kuyl, John’s Hopkins – 47.60
4. Benjamin Holstege, Calvin – 47.82
5. Albert Litschgi, Chicago – 47.89
6. Peyton Wilson, Wash U. – 48.30
7. Liam Picozzi, Denison – 48.95
8. Jacob Cost, Wheaton College – 49.05

The innovative David Fitch of Kenyon took his second national title – while sporting some dolphin kicks on his side along the way – winning the 100 back in a time of 46.66, just four one-hundredths off of the national record. He was under heavy pursuit by WPI’s Jack Bauer on the last 25, who claimed the runner-up spot with his 47.03. John’s Hopkins senior Emile Kuyl finished third in 47.60.

Calvin’s Benjamin Holstege, the third seed coming into the meet, picked up a fourth place finish with a time of 47.82. In his NCAA championship final debut, Chicago’s Albert Litschgi finished fifth, stopping the clock at 47.89.

Wash U.’s Peyton Wilson (48.30), Denison’s Liam Picozzi (48.95) and Wheaton College’s Jacob Cost (49.05) composed the rest of the A-final.

MEN’S 100 YARD BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 50.94 3/17/2017 Andrew Wilson, Emory

1. Collin Miller, Wisconsin-Eau Claire – 53.38
2. Lukas Menkhoff, Pomona-Pitzer – 54.20
3. Tiernan Foster-Smith, Denison – 54.30
4. Tanner Sonnek, Gustavas Adolphus – 54.39
5. Nolan Monahan, U.S. Marine – 54.71
6. Jeffery Leckrone, Mary Washington – 54.74
7. Lance Culjat, Chicago – 54.88
8. Chasse Sodemann, Coast Guard – 55.08

As his teammate in Sam Senczyszyn got third in the women’s 100 breast, Collin Miller earned his first NCAA title with a final time of 53.38 for the win – the only competitor in the field under 54. Last year’s national champion, Pomona-Pitzer sophomore Lukas Menkhoff, took the runner-up spot in 54.20.

Finishing in close succession was Denison’s Tiernan Foster-Smith with a 54.30, and Gustavas Adolphus’s Tanner Sonnek in 54.39. Nolan Monahan of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy posted a 54.71 for fifth.

Comprising the remainder of the final heat was Mary Washington’s Jeffrey Leckrone (54.74), Chicago’s Lance Culjat (54.88) and Coast Guard’s Chasse Sodemann (55.08).

MEN’S 800 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

• NCAA Record: 6:29.27 3/22/2013 , Johns Hopkins (Lordi, Kimball, Coggin, Schmidt)

1. Denison – 6:30.57
2. Emory – 6:31.88
3. Kenyon – 6:34.19

Last night’s 200 free champion Drake Horton got Denison’s relay out to a big lead, which was further extended by Bebe Wang’s swift 1:36.43 split. Eric Gerlach (1:39.08) and Ryan Stevenson (1:37.09) brought the relay title home for the big red in a final time of 6:30.57.

Emory’s Trey Kolleck split a quick 1:36.97 to bring the Eagles the second place trophy – Kellen Stillman (1:38.34), Thomas Gordon (1:37.43), and Alex Kohlman (1:39.15) also posted splits to combine for a total time of 6:31.88. Kenyon’s quartet of Nick Tong (1:39.84), Robert Williams (1:36.96), Mick Bartholomew (1:38.86) and Bryan Fitzgerald (1:38.53) hit the pad in 6:34.19 for third.

Top 10 Team Scores:

1. Denison – 426.5
2. Kenyon – 347
3. Emory – 303.5
4. John’s Hopkins – 237
5. Wash U. – 174
6. MIT – 149
7. Williams – 122
8. Chicago – 113
9. Tufts – 102
10. Pomona-Pitzer – 101