2019 Men’s NCAA Championships: Cal Leads Day 3 With 8 A-Final Swims

by Maclin Simpson 22

March 29th, 2019 College, News

2019 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thanks in part to a re-swim from sophomore Daniel Carr that catapulted him from first alternate in 17th (45.45) to 4th (44.86), Cal leads all teams on day 3 with both the most individual finals swims (9) and A-final appearances (8). Texas, currently sitting in 2nd place in the team standings after day 2, has the 2nd most overall finals swims individually (7) and A-final appearances (5).

The biggest push for the Golden Bears came in the first two events of the morning – the 400 IM where they put 3 up in the A-final (projected 45 points) and the 100 fly where they put 2 up in the A-final and 1 down in the B-final (projected 39 points). Put this in comparison to Texas who will not score a single point in the 400 IM and 100 fly, but stacked up in the 200 free to put 3 up in the A-final and 1 down (9th) in the B-final (projected 48 points). After those 3 events, it appears to be a wash between the two teams for the rest of the session (excluding 3-meter diving, which favors Texas). Regardless, Cal is projected to score 160 points tonight compared to Texas’ 132.

For those unfamiliar with swimming terminology, the concept of “Ups” and “Downs” is a good way to track which teams performed best during prelims. In prelims at the NCAA Championships, swimmers and divers qualify for one of two finals heats: the top 8 finishers make the A final, and places 9 through 16, the B final. In finals, swimmers are locked into their respective final, meaning a swimmer in the B heat (spots 9-16) can only place as high as 9th or as low as 16th, even if they put up the fastest or slowest time, or score the most diving points, of any heat in the final.

With that in mind, we’ll be tracking “Ups,” and “Downs” after each prelims session. “Up” refers to swimmers in the A final, “Down” to swimmers in the B final.

Day 3 – A/B Finalists*

*3-meter diving not included

Individual Relays 400 IM 100 Fly 200 Free 100 Breast 100 Back 200 Medley Relay
California 8/1 1/0 3/0 2/1 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/0
Texas 5/2 1/0 0/0 0/0 3/1 0/1 2/0 1/0
Indiana 4/2 0/1 0/0 1/0 1/1 2/0 0/1 0/1
Louisville 3/2 1/0 0/1 0/1 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/0
NC State 2/5 1/0 0/0 1/2 0/1 0/0 1/2 1/0
Florida 2/3 0/1 1/1 1/0 0/1 0/0 0/1 0/1
Arizona 2/1 0/1 1/0 1/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1
Missouri 2/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 1/0 1/0 0/0 0/1
Georgia 2/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/0
Virginia 1/4 0/1 1/2 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/1
Stanford 1/2 0/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0
Michigan 1/2 0/0 0/2 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Southern Cali 1/1 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/0 1/0
Ohio State 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0
Georgia Tech 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/1 0/0
Harvard 1/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/1
Penn 1/0 0/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Minnesota 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/0 0/0
Grand Canyon 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0 0/0
Alabama 0/2 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/1 1/0
Arizona State 0/2 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/1 0/0
Florida State 0/1 1/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0
Texas A&M 0/1 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1
Purdue 0/1 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/1
Princeton 0/1 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Towson 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Auburn 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Hawaii 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0
South Carolina 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0
Missouri State 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0
Tennessee 0/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/0

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Steven Czekala
5 years ago

Remember the 100 fly in Iowa when Texas had 6 swimmers in the A final?

Silent Observer
5 years ago

With all the talent NCState has… Interesting that Stewart was their only A finalist, as he accounts for both of the 2 A final placements: 100 fly /back

Plus, he has an arguably equal fighting chance to win both of them

Swimmer
Reply to  Silent Observer
5 years ago

You can say that for a lot of teams. Where are the Texas freshman. They were supposed to be a top 5 team.

DRUKSTOP
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

They got an A and a B final out of two of their freshman today

Swimmer
Reply to  DRUKSTOP
5 years ago

That’s great but the Texas fan base was saying all year that the freshman class by themselves could be a top 5 team.

Editor
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

I’m fairly certain that comment was made by a single commenter who was intentionally over-exaggerating.

Swimmer
Reply to  Robert Gibbs
5 years ago

I am amazed that many Texas swimmers are not dropping time. They don’t taper for conference They dont try to win dual meets. They should be swimming personal bests. Is this another taper fail for Eddie like last year?

eagleswim
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

It’s hard to call anything a “fail” when you’re still in contention for the NCAA title, but when your competition is hitting every single swim like cal is, it’s hard to call it a “successful” taper too.

Admin
Reply to  eagleswim
5 years ago

Andrew hasn’t run final ‘time’ numbers, but it appears that Texas is, overall, having a better meet than last year. Cal is just having a monster meet.

Silent Observer
Reply to  Swimmer
5 years ago

“You can say that for a lot of teams”

That’s quite a broad over generalized statement to make. I was mainly referring to state because some of their finalists in the B finals were A finalists last year… I. E. Vazaios in 100 back

Oldskool
Reply to  Silent Observer
5 years ago

Good question, they got stucked in the B finals with some other talented swimmers.

Molacek: B finals 200 Free, drop from 1:34 (seed) to 1:32
Vazaios: B finals 100 bk, 45.20 just off his best
Ress: B finals 100 bk, 45.33 personal best
Hensley (who??): B finals 100 Fly, 45.48 (not 5 stars recruit out of high school)
Bretscher (who??): B finals 100 fly, 45.6 (not 5 stars recruit out of high school)

Let’s see who missed from Texas:
400 IM: Braden Vines
100 Fly: Max Holter, Tate Jackson
200 Fr: Daniel Krueger, Willenbring, Pomajevich, Zettle
100 Bk: Austin Katz (arguably top 3 recruit in his class, and obviously the defending… Read more »

googoodoll
5 years ago

What in the heck is happening at Tennessee? Zero individual swims thus far even with 2 seeds at 4th position? Diving is carrying swimming in MAN Vol land! Thank goodness – give that diving coach a raise!!!

OTAD
5 years ago

Texas fans start to complain about re-swims in 3 2 1…

50free
Reply to  OTAD
5 years ago

alabama fans*

Coach
Reply to  50free
5 years ago

Alabama fans just want a field goal kicker.

Hutch
Reply to  Coach
5 years ago

Amen to that

Dato
5 years ago

Cal fans start to complain about diving in 3…2…1

Never Was
Reply to  Dato
5 years ago

SwimSwamSwum DiveDoveDUMB

Mike
Reply to  Dato
5 years ago

Texas fans complaining about Cal fans complaining about diving in…-1,…-2,…-3.

Dato
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

Nice. I consider myself more of a Michigan fan though. Anyway, I am always up to watch some fast swimming regardless of what cap their wearing

Mike
Reply to  Dato
5 years ago

Sorry, couldn’t resist. Being a big fan of both Eddie and Dave, I get tired of the noise.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Dato
5 years ago

IF Cal does win, it will be huge because their divers don’t score at all.