2021 NCSA Spring Invite: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2021 NCSA SPRING INVITE

Wednesday Finals Heat Sheet

The 2021 NCSA Spring Invitational continues in Orlando, FL with the finals of the men’s and women’s 200 fly, 50 back, 200 breast, and 800 free relay. Keep an eye on NOVA sisters Grace Sheble and Caroline Sheble, who are the top two seeds in the 200 fly final. G. Sheble is also the second seed in the 200 breast to TNT’s Letitia Sim. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Maggie Wanezek comes in as the top seed in the 50 back. On the men’s side, Inspire Swim Team earned the top seed in the 200 fly (Mateo Miceli) along with the top 2 seeds in the 50 back (Nathaniel Germonprez and Luke Barr). Barr is also the #2 seed in the 200 breast behind NOVA’s Aidan Duffy. Then, the top-seeded NOVA women’s 800 free relay and Long Island men’s 800 free relay will close out the evening.

Women’s 200 Fly Finals

Top 3:

  1. Grace Sheble (NOVA)- 1:54.43
  2. Caroline Sheble (NOVA)- 1:55.83
  3. Campbell Stoll (EBSC)- 1:56.14

Topping the women’s 200 fly A-final was NOVA’s Grace Sheble, winning the race with a time of 1:54.43, taking down her lifetime best of 1:54.84 from the 2019 NCSA Spring meet. That now puts Sheble at 6th in the 18&U age group this season. Taking second place for a NOVA/Sheble 1-2 finish was sister Caroline Sheble, finishing with a time of 1:55.83 to rank in the top-15 18&U times this season. C. Sheble’s lifetime best of 1:55.52 was set earlier this month at the 2021 VA VSI SC Senior Championships.

Taking third place was Elmbrook’s Campbell Stoll at 1:56.14, chopping a full second off her lifetime best of 1:57.18, which is the 3rd-fastest time by a 15-year-old this season. Finishing in fourth was 14-year-old Levenia Sim of TNT Swimming, dropping 4.3 seconds from this morning to hit 1:56.56. Sim is now the fastest 14-year-old in the US this season, as well as the 9th-fastest 13-14 performer in history. Sim’s time is now 0.02s faster than the great Mary T. Meagher at the same age in 1979.

Men’s 200 Fly Finals

Top 3:

  1. Mateo Miceli (ISWM)- 1:45.51
  2. Mason Mathias (BSL)- 1:46.03
  3. Holden Smith (RPC)- 1:46.53

Wining the 200 fly final was Inspire’s Mateo Miceli, dropping three-tenths this morning with a time of 1:45.51. Miceli’s lifetime best was set in December 2020 at 1:44.86, which ranks 10th in the 18&U age group this season. Finishing in second by a half second was Birmingham’s Mason Mathias, slimming from 1:46.36 to 1:46.03. Mathias’ previous lifetime best before today was only 1:49.45, set at the 2019 Winter Junior Nationals – East. Mathias now ranks 18th in the 18&U age group.

Touching in for third place was Race Pace Club’s Holden Smith, gaining three-tenths from this morning with a 1:46.53. Smith’s lifetime best of 1:46.08 from the 2020 WI 18&U Winter Championships, which ranks 20th in the 18&U age group this season.

Women’s 50 Back Finals

Top 3:

  1. Levenia Sim (TNT)- 24.00 *Meet Record
  2. Jessica Geriane (ACAD)- 24.34
  3. Maggie Wanezek (EBSC)- 24.51

Winning the 50 back with a new NCSA meet record of 24.00 and top 18&U time this season was 14-year-old Levenia Sim of TNT Swimming, coming off a 4th-place finish in the 200 fly. Sim is now the fastest 14-year-old in history to swim this event.

Finishing in second place was Jessica Geriane of the Academy Bullets, punching the wall at 24.34. In for third place was this morning’s top prelims seed, Elmbrook’s Maggie Wanezek (24.51).

Men’s 50 Back Finals

Top 3:

  1. Nathaniel Germonprez (ISWM)- 21.70
  2. Josh Zuchowski (FAST)- 21.86
  3. Luke Barr (ISWM)- 21.98

Giving Inspire Swim Team another victory this evening was 16-year-old Nathaniel Germonprez, swimming in a blistering 21.70. Among all 16-year-olds all-time, Germonprez now ranks 5th all-time, just a tenth behind NAG beast Michael Andrew (21.60). Germonprez is also the fastest 16-year-old in the 50 back this season, as well as the 7th-fastest 18&U age group time.

Taking second place was another 16-year-old, Flood Aquatics’ Josh Zuchowski, who clocked in a solid effort of 21.86. Joining Inspire teammate Germonprez in the top three was 17-year-old Luke Barr, also swimming under 22 seconds at 21.98.

Women’s 200 Breast Finals

Top 3:

  1. Letitia Sim (TNT)- 2:09.50
  2. Josephine Fuller (NOVA)- 2:12.77
  3. Zoe Skirboll (RXA)- 2:12.61

After swimming a morning effort of 2:11.95 to take the top seed by a second, TNT’s Letitia Sim did not hold back during tonight’s 200 breast final. Sim won the race by a dominant 3.27 seconds, clocking in a sub-2:10 performance of 2:09.50. That just sliced 0.15s off her current lifetime best of 2:09.65, remaining the 4th-fastest 18&U swimmer in the nation this season. Sim now ranks as the 34th-fastest 17-18 performer in history, now tied with USC freshman Kaitlyn Dobler.

Placing second was NOVA’s Josephine Fuller at 2:12.77, dropping from her 2:13.02 lifetime best set this morning. Yesterday, Fuller was the 2021 NCSA champion in the 200 back. Finishing in third place was Racer X Aquatics’ Zoe Skirboll, who went from a 2:15.71 seed to 2:14.28 in prelims to 2:12.61 in finals. Skirboll now ranks 74th all-time in 15-16 age group history, passing Olympian Katie Hoff. Taking a tight fourth-place finish was Elmbrook’s Campbell Stoll, clocking in a narrow 2:12.76 time after placing third in the 200 fly final earlier in the session.

Men’s 200 Breast Finals

Top 3:

  1. Aidan Duffy (NOVA)- 1:57.28
  2. Luke Barr (ISWM)- 1:57.65
  3. Toby Barnett (RMSC)- 1:57.87

The lead trio distanced themselves from the rest of the 200 breast field heading into the final 50. On the last 25, NOVA’s Aidan Duffy out-swam Inspire’s Luke Barr to get the 0.4s-advantage into the touch while Rockville’s Toby Barnett also pushed on Barr. At the finish, it was Duffy who took the top time with a 1:57.28, dropping four-tenths from this morning.

Settling for second place was Barr, clocking in a 1:57.65, just a second off his lifetime best of 1:56.05 set in December 2020. Barnett took a narrow third-place finish at 1:57.87, breaking 2 minutes for the first time after hitting 2:00.01 in the morning.

Women’s 800 Free Relay Finals

Top 3:

  1. Elmbrook Swim Club- 7:14.18
  2. NOVA of Virginia- 7:16.45
  3. Waukesha Express- 7:20.16

Out of the first of two 800 free relay heats, Waukesha Express took 9 seconds off their seeded relay time to boost from 14th to 3rd overall. The relay was led off by Abby Carlson‘s 1:47.58 split, along with two other sub-1:50 splits.

Into the fastest-seeded heat, Elmbrook’s Reese Tiltmann led the squad off in a 1:48.80 followed by Lucy Thomas (1:49.73), Abby Wanezek (1:47.61) and Sydney Stoll (1:48.04). The Elmbrook quartet wound up winning the 800 free relay with a time of 7:14.18, two full seconds ahead of psych sheet leader NOVA of Virginia (7:16.45), highlighted by Grace Sheble‘s 1:48.17 anchor.

Men’s 800 Free Relay Finals

Top 3:

  1. Cor Swimming- 6:34.90
  2. Oly Swimming- 6:35.67
  3. Hinsdale Swim Club- 6:37.15

During the last heat of the men’s 800 free relay, roughly five relays were swimming within a second of each other heading into the anchor legs. As the anchors dove in the water, Cor Swimming’s Harris Durham took his leg out in a 21.84 while Hinsdale’s Grant Bochenski was out in a quick 20.87 to put his relay in top 3 contention. However, Oly Swimming’s relay also was in the tight race for the NCSA title, featuring Griffin Curtis‘ 1:37.65 and Michael Cooper on the anchor leg (1:38.22).

After Bochenski’s blazing first 50, he faded behind Durham and Cooper. At the touch, it was Durham who touched first out of lane one for Cor Swimming at 6:34.90. Settling for second place was the Oly Swimming relay with a narrow time of 6:35.67 while Bochenski touched third for Hinsdale at 6:37.15.

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swimfan210_
3 years ago

Wow, 24.00 is really fast for a 14 year old. Before the 200 medley relay happens at NCAAs, only 8 DI swimmers have gone a 50 back leadoff faster than that this season.

Hswimmer
Reply to  swimfan210_
3 years ago

She’s one to look out for also 1:00 in LC. Making major improvements

flex tape cant fix that
3 years ago

damn. halfway done with the session and no comments so far. must all be focused on ncaas.

NEWTOSWIMSWAM
Reply to  flex tape cant fix that
3 years ago

It’s not the same meet as in previous years: top teams like NCAP and Aquajets are not there. A few excellent swimmers, but not full of top 18U swimmers as before. Yes another reason could be NCAAs and many other championship meets are happening elsewhere.

About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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