The majority of the NCAA’s top swimming & diving teams were in action this past weekend, and some blistering swims were posted across the board.
In case you missed some of the highlights, here’s a brief run-through of the best swims from the major meets that went down.
UVA vs Cal
The defending NCAA champion University of Virginia women travelled to Berkeley to take on the Cal Bears in what was the first-ever dual meet between the two schools.
The Cavaliers edged out the Bears by 20 points, winning 10 of 14 events.
On the men’s side, Cal cruised to a 168-94 victory.
Some of the top swims included:
Women
- Gretchen Walsh led the 50 free (21.88), 100 free (48.02) and 100 back (51.15), with the 100 free ranking first in the NCAA this season and the other two second.
- Kate Douglass also scorched the 50 free in 21.96, and picked up a win in the 100 fly (51.51).
- Cal’s Izzy Ivey paced the 200 free in 1:45.27, and also clocked 49.13 in the 100.
- The Virginia quartet of Gretchen Walsh (23.69), Alexis Wenger (26.52), Alex Walsh (23.11) and Douglass (21.33) blasted a 1:34.65 200 medley relay. Only champions NC State (1:33.18) and the Cavs (1:34.13) were faster at NCAAs last season.
- Alex Walsh posted the fastest time in the country in the 200 back (1:53.47) and 200 fly (1:55.07).
- UVA’s Emma Weyant posted very strong swims in the 500 free (4:47.06) and 1000 free (9:52.33).
- Wenger hit 58.54 in the 100 breast, the second-fastest in the country this season.
Men
- Cal’s Bjorn Seeliger (19.70) and the UVA duo of Matt King (19.79) and Matt Brownstead (19.82) were all very fast for this early in the season in the men’s 50 free.
- Golden Bear Hugo Gonzalez had a quick 46.59 effort in the 100 back, while teammate Destin Lasco paced the 200 back in 1:43.25. Lasco also put up the #2 time in the NCAA in the 200 IM (1:46.60).
- Cal’s Liam Bell (52.49) and Reece Whitley (52.90) were fastest in the 100 breast, while Whitley assumed the nation’s top time in the 200 breast (1:54.49).
- The Cavaliers had a huge effort to win the 200 medley relay in 1:25.88, and also picked up a big win in the 200 free relay in 1:18.24. The latter included a sub-19 split from King (18.95).
NC STATE VS TENNESSEE
NC State swept Tennessee, with the Wolfpack women (182-118) and men (205-95) earning decisive decisions over the Volunteers.
Some of the top swims included:
Women
- Kylee Alons won three events for the NC State women, highlighted by a 22.62 in the 50 free. Alons went 22.47 just days prior against UNC.
- Katharine Berkoff put up a 52.15 to win the women’s 100 back and a 1:54.05 to win the 200 back.
- Sophie Hansson dropped 59.34/2:09.89 breaststroke times for the Wolfpack women.
Men
- The NC State men put up a scintillating 1:24.92 in the 200 medley relay, with Kacper Stokowski (21.54), Rafal Kusto (24.44), Nyls Korstanje (20.10) and David Curtiss (18.84) firing on all cylinders.
- Korstanje (19.66), Curtiss (19.74) and Noah Henderson (19.78) put up some top-ranked times in the men’s 50 free.
- Wolfpack swimmer Luke Miller was a standout in the men’s 100 free (43.68) and 200 free (1:34.98).
- Stokowski hit 46.52 in the men’s 100 back and 1:43.83 in the 200 back to rank third and fourth in the nation, respectively.
- Tennessee’s Jarel Dillard unloaded a 52.84 in the men’s 100 breast, which ranks third in the NCAA this season.
USC INVITATIONAL
With their coach put on administrative leave, USC responded with a ton of fast swims at their home invitational in Los Angeles.
The Trojans paced the team standings for both men and women while facing UNLV, TCU and UC San Diego.
Some of the top swims included:
Women
- USC’s Laticia-Leigh Transom swept the women’s sprint free events, clocking 22.43 in the 50 free, 48.41 in the 100 free and 1:43.98 in the 200 free. Those times rank seventh, second and first in the NCAA this season, respectively.
- Trojan transfer Calypso Sheridan shined with three wins of her own, including a 51.79 in the 100 back, 1:55.76 in the 200 IM and 4:07.52 in the 400 IM, ranking third, first and second in the NCAA.
- USC’s Kaitlyn Dobler posted a nation-leading 57.95 in the 100 breast.
- Isabelle Odgers was a stud for USC, earning a win in the 200 breast (2:09.27) and adding runner-up finishes in the 100 breast (1:01.39), 200 IM (1:57.04) and 400 IM (4:13.78). Both the 200 breast and 200 IM times rank her second in the NCAA.
- Austrian freshman Marlene Kahler posted the NCAA’s top time in the 500 free (4:43.94) for USC.
Men
- TCU’s Geremia Freri was a star, winning the 500 free (4:17.71), 1650 free (15:04.35) and 400 IM (3:49.52). Freri now ranks first in the NCAA in both the 500 and 1650, with USC’s Victor Johansson (4:19.38, 15:06.90) right behind him in both.
- USC’s Ben Dillard dropped a 1:54.98 in the 200 breast to rank second to Reece Whitley in the NCAA.
- Trojan Alexei Sancov hit 1:34.97 in the 200 free to rank fourth nationally.
- USC’s Harry Homans moved into the top-five in the country with his 1:46.90 effort in the 200 IM.
TEXAS VS TEXAS A&M
The University of Texas swept in-state rival Texas A&M on Friday, with the Longhorn men winning 185-107 and the women coming out on top 180-112.
Some of the top swims included:
Women
- Kelly Pash won the 100 free (49.22) and 200 fly (1:55.14) for Texas, ranking second in the NCAA in the latter.
- Julia Cook (53.44), Anna Elendt (1:00.26) and Emma Sticklen (53.25) had some of the top swims of the dual in the 100 back, 100 breast and 100 fly, respectively.
- Evie Pfeifer (4:45.12) and Erica Sullivan (4:46.25) went 1-2 in the 500 free, ranking third and fourth in the NCAA, and Sullivan topped the 1000 free (9:44.75) for the nation’s #1 time.
Men
- Daniel Krueger blasted a 43.07 100 free for the Texas men, ranking #2 in the nation.
- Longhorn David Johnston led the way with wins in the 500 free (4:22.50) and 1000 free (8:57.37), with the latter ranking #1 in the country this season.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES
- Gabriel Fantoni (46.09) and Brendan Burns (1:43.18) set new men’s butterfly pool records as Indiana swept Northwestern.
- The Stanford men and women cruised to victory over Utah.
Go bears
Great to see certified big boi Liam Bell crushing it – he’ll be a great addition for the relays I’m sure
huh??
I thought he was refrrring to one of the swimmers as his kitten and I was very concerned
same
It is amazing when you get rid of a tyrant USC Head Coach on how well the swimmers can perform under the new positive team culture and coaching philosophy.
USC is responding very well under Coach Lea Maurer and she should be a solid candidate for the full time position if she so choses. Kudos to Coach Lea and the staff on a fast weekend of swimming.
There are many other candidates who will, rightfully so jump ahead of Ms Mauer.
The coach doesn’t do the swimming
No she should not. She failed miserably at Stanford and should not be considered as a candidate for head coach.
“Failed miserably” is a stretch right? Stanford women were 4th at NCAAs in each of her last two seasons there. They never finished lower than 5th in seven seasons.
If USC women got 4th at NCAAs they’d give her a lifetime contract.
Even if she wasn’t as successful as you think should should have been, does that mean she can never be a head coach again? Or never at a high level? Maybe that experience at Stanford is a huge plus and something she can rely on to be that much better in this situation. Maybe this situation, at this time, is a perfect match now.
Writing some one off completely because they fell a little short of your expectations a decade+ ago is a great way to miss out on some awesome candidates. “Failure” (very loose term here) is part of the learning and growing process and how people get better. Sports history is filled with legends whose early careers… Read more »
I don’t understand your response. I didn’t write her off. I wrote about how much success she had at Stanford.
Accidentally hit reply on your response, as opposed to the initial comment.
Have they actually fired him?
What
His kitten….
is on fire
and his table is broken
The USC Women’s Relays were on fire! If I remember right, I think the 400 Medley in the first session was 2 seconds under the A cut. Gulp …
USC results were FAST! Were they suited? We know UVA wasn’t, but USC??
Nice was just curious! Very fast times by all, impressed with Dobler 57.9 is no joke now! 4:43, and 1:43 are also quick for 500&200 frees
Is there a recap up for the USC meet? I don’t remember seeing one.