By Patrick Murphy, Swimming World Intern
After hearing the news that the NCAA approved the 100 IM as an event for dual meets and conference meets, I thought it would be cool to retrospectively look back at 2015 Men’s NCAAs. What would have happened if the 100 IM were an event at NCAAs? Who would have contended for a title?
When I think about the 100 IM, I think about versatile swimmers. The race values underwater kicking; where explosive underwaters can make or break a swimmer in a 25. Speed is also important, considering the 100 IM is the most pure sprint event in existence. Obviously, proficiency in all four strokes is crucial. In addition to underwaters, speed, and stroke versatility, the most important aspect of the 100 IM is finishing ability.
Who has the knack for getting his hand on the wall? Who doesn’t lose close races? That racer mentality is essential for the ideal 100 IMer. So what does it take to be an elite 100 IMer? It serves as an event for the fastest swimmers in the NCAA, the swimmers who can split 18/41 on the 200 and 400 freetyle relays, but also dominate underwaters and swim multiple strokes at an elite level. Based on the criteria, there are quite a few names that come to mind when determining who would be the top 100 IMers.
Note: I am not taking event order or a swimmer’s three championship events into consideration. This is simply a look at the eight swimmers in the NCAA who have the makings of an elite 100 IMer.
Here are my 2015 NCAA 100 IM Championship Finalists:
Lane 1: Will Hamilton, Senior, University of California
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: No weak stroke, Butterfly
Weakness: Speed
This may seem like a stretch, but Will Hamilton won the King of the Pool in the fall, including an impressive 100 IM at the end. He can swim all the strokes, and although he does not have the game-changing speed of some of these competitors, he is a tough racer who has some pretty good underwaters as well.
Lane 2: Will Licon, Sophomore, University of Texas
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: No weak stroke, Breaststroke, Finishing ability, Butterfly, Getting hand on wall
Weaknesses: Speed, Underwaters
Will Licon went 1:40.0 in the 200. He also split 21.6 in the fly leg of the 200 IM and 50.9 in the 100 breast on the medley relay, so he has more speed than most think. In the end, speed and underwaters are more important than actual swimming ability in this event, and that hurts Licon.
Lane 3: Caeleb Dressel, Freshman, University of Florida
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: Speed, Speed, Speed, No weak stroke
Weaknesses: Inconsistent, Underwaters???
He’s an 18.6 flat start 50 freestyler who does not have a weak stroke. That sounds like someone with 100 IM potential. While Caeleb Dressel has dominant underwaters compared to other sprint freestylers, does he still have that advantage against some of the best butterflyers and backstrokers in the world? That might determine if he can win this event. Another concern is his inconsistency across his events at NCAAs, but he has the speed to compete with anyone in a 100 IM.
Lane 4: David Nolan, Senior, Stanford University
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: No weak stroke, Underwaters, Speed, Finishing ability, Backstroke, Freestyle
Weakness: Getting hand on wall
David Nolan was the first person to break 1:40 in the 200 IM and he spent four years almost singlehandedly keeping Stanford’s relays competitive. He is a perennial 18 low/41 low split guy. Oh yeah, and in his “weakest stroke,” he split a 51.2 in his breaststroke leg on the medley relay. The only knock on Nolan is that, although he traditionally finishes races well, he has a history of losing some races when he was the clear favorite. Most likely, he wins this race with no problem.
Lane 5: Ryan Murphy, Sophomore, University of California
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: Backstroke, Freestyle, Finishing ability, Underwaters, Breaststroke pullout, Speed, Getting hand on wall, Consistency
Weakness: Breaststroke
Ryan Murphy is the one person in the field who could potentially be in front of Nolan at the 50 mark. As mentioned above, he has a killer underwater pullout that gets him past 15 meters in breaststroke, and he arguably has the best underwaters in the NCAA (at least on his back). He displays the sprint IM necessities as an 18.6/41.1 free split, 20.6 50 back, and 1:41 in the 200 version of this race.
Lane 6: Joseph Schooling, Freshman, University of Texas
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: Butterfly, Freestyle, Speed, Underwaters, Getting hand on wall
Weakness: Backstroke
Joseph Schooling is good enough at everything in this race to compete. He has great speed, evidenced by his 41 free split at NCAAs. He has dominant underwaters and is solid in all four strokes. But he does not possess the power of the three guys seeded in front of him, and that is holding him back.
Lane 7: Gunnar Bentz, Freshman, University of Georgia
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Strengths: Breaststroke, Finishing ability, Getting hand on wall
Weakness: Backstroke
Gunnar Bentz is an interesting name here. He doesn’t have the speed of others and he will be way behind at the 50, but should you ever count out Gunnar Bentz? He has elite finishing ability, so if he’s in it at the 75, watch out. Anyone remember this race?
Lane 8: Joe Patching, Sophomore, Auburn University
Photo Courtesy: Ashley Ward/Auburn Athletics
Strengths: Backstroke, Butterfly, Underwaters,
Weaknesses: Breaststroke, Freestyle, Finishing ability
After David Nolan, who had the fastest front half of the 200 IM at this year’s NCAAs? Ryan Murphy? Nope. Joseph Schooling? No. Yes, Joe Patching from Auburn. He has elite underwaters, but his breaststroke is far and away the worst in the field. He also cannot match the elite speed of some of these competitors.
Wild Cards:
John Murray, Senior, University of Texas
Murray is similar to Dressel in that he’s a 19 low sprint freestyler who can split 23 low in a 50 breaststroke. He’s also a 45 mid flyer, but can he put it all together?
Josh Prenot, Junior, University of California
Historically, Prenot starts races behind and closes on the entire field. As a 400 IM, 200 breast guy, I just don’t think he has enough speed to hang with these boys.
Jack Conger, Sophomore, University of Texas
He rarely swims IM and his career IM times leave a lot to be desired considering his dominance in three strokes
Honorable Mention:
Tom Kremer, Stanford University
Dylan Bosch, University of Michigan
Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez, University of Florida
Kristian Gkolomeev, University of Alabama
It’s seems a little ironic that three are from Bolles School Sharks.
Well had they had this event last March I think I would have put a farthuing on two on guy who won 200 IM or maybe even guy who won 100-200 back.
Or had it been a decade ago the guy who’s wr-holder in 200 m IIM — no, NOT Mikey!
1. Nolan
2. Murphy
3. Schooling
4. Licon
5. Dressel
6. Patching
7. Bentz
8. Hamilton
I do think John Murray would be a better option than Gunnar Bentz though. Interesting article! Is there a women’s follow-up?
Oh, and if there was an all-time 100 IM NCAA final.
Ryan Lochte, George Bovell, Vlad Morozov, Matt Grevers, Darian Townsend, Tom Shields, Duje Draganja, Bradley Ally
David Nolan
Great article! I think Josh Prenot would definitely earn a spot in the final, though. He has the speed; he was Cal’s go-to butterflyer in 200 medley relays in season, often ahead of Justin Lynch. I remember him splitting 20-lows.