This preview of the ECC Collegiate Club Swimming and Diving National Championships is courtesy Kevin Gell, a member of the Northeastern team.
The 1996 Olympic Pool is once again under preparation for another exciting ECC Club Swimming and Diving National Championship hosted by Georgia Tech Swim Club in Atlanta, GA. Reigning Champions Colorado-Boulder look to win their 5th consecutive team title. As in previous years, the Buffaloes will face stiff competition from 73 other club team, bringing the entry total to 1539 swimmers.
The Florida Gators lead a charge of schools who are chasing the Buffs in the team race. Newcomers Duke and Colorado-Mesa University join Northeastern, Penn State, and University of Virginia as the teams vying for an upset this weekend. Duke comes into the meet lead by backstroker Jacob Johnson looking to capitalize on a strong sprint core to be a contender in both individual and relay events. Colorado Mesa will also be a threat in the relay events, boasting 8 of 10 relays seeded within the top 5.
With such a deep field this time around, Colorado will have their work cut out for them if they want to keep their team title. On the women’s side, Casey Wilson will combine with Alaina Gossett to lead the Buffaloes against the likes of returning 5xECC champion Melissa Andruzzi of Illinois as well as strong squads from Florida, Northeastern, and Colorado Mesa University.
On the men’s side, the field looks to be led by a trio of returning Gators in Jeff Reardon, Kristof Kertesz, and James Turner. Reardon will try to repeat his performance from last year, when he won the 50 back, 100 back and 100 IM and earned the meet’s best performance award. Kertesz is looking to defend his crown in the 400 IM and will also pose a threat in the breaststroke events this weekend. James Turner is also back after an absence at the 2014 championship. He will look to re-establish himself as the ECC’s top sprinter in the deepest group of sprinters in the meets history. Other returning ECC champions include VT’s Ben Gastrok in the 200 IM and 200 freestyle, Andrew Smiddy of Penn State in the 200 breaststroke, and Ohio’s Andrew Brower in the 50 and 100 breaststroke
Although most teams are returning to the meet with a strong core of veterans, consider this year’s meet to be highlighted by the newcomers. With a podium finish on the line, it seems like every team has some young guns to help propel them to into scoring contention. Watch for Mia Barone of WCU to challenge Andruzzi for the 200 IM title. OSU hopes to add a champion in Nicole Gill’s 100 butterfly, and Madison Wall of West Virginia looks to hold her top seed in the 100 freestyle. On the men’s side, notable newcomers include distance swimmer Bradley Phillips of Florida and distance/IM specialist David Thornton of Northeastern.
Other names to watch are Duke’s Daniella Saucedo, Ali Wells, Susie Wopat, William Tener, and Daniel Wu, Florida’s Alex Lilley and Melia McMillen, and Kieran Bender and Zach Andregg of Colorado Mesa.
The team race will surely be one of the closest in ECC history. As 1500 swimmers descend on the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center this Friday, it will be anybody’s meet. The weekend will feature an explosive battle between some of the nation’s best teams. Stay tuned as records fall, champions are crowned, and teams get set to make history at the 2015 ECC National Championship!
Yeah I’m pretty fast
Matt go get me Jimmy Johns
I’m most excited to watch former NBAC stud Leander Bechtold swim the 400 IM. Another great swimmer to watch is definitely the Venezuelan legend Diego Lopez!!!
Go Penn State !!
imposter!^^ …. go gators
Liam,
My name is Tiago Schulz I’m president of Florida Club Swim and Dive. I will proudly put my name out there because I have nothing to hide nor does my team.
I will address each of your comments to better educate you, as you are clearly misinformed or blind to the facts on so many different levels.
-Jeff Reardon, is a 5th year masters student in Mechanical Engineering. I know he lives on campus and swims with us because he is my roommate. If you’d like clarification I will gladly bring you any information you’d like to confirm all of the above. I would also like you to site ANY source that says there is a limit… Read more »
I am sorry you felt it was a personal attack on UF.
That was not the intention. The intention is to bring light to the importance of collegiate club swimming and the responsibility to create a well governed event. I feel that collegiate club swimming is going to gain more and more importance as NCAA swimming becomes smaller.
My friends mom swam for Colorado’s varsity program in their last year which was in the 1980’s.
So, there is the answer to that one.
This shouldn’t be about 2 teams, and probably has become because they are typically the top to finishers. So, you are right.. it shouldn’t be an “attack” on UF or CU. I am sure many… Read more »
If Colorado had a varsity swim team, it was so long ago that google can’t find it.
Sleeper Alert: David Thornton, Northeastern.
I have to agree with Liam. Teams bringing in old NCAA athletes is a disrespect to all club swimmers. Teams like Florida and Duke should be penalized for their efforts to win in a corrupt manner. Shout out to teams like Colorado, Northeastern, or Penn State who continually do well with no ex-varsity swimmers.