2022 Big East Men’s Championships: Georgetown Dethrones Xavier by Smallest Margin Since 2009

Photo Courtesy: Georgetown Athletics

2022 Big East Men’s Championships: Georgetown Dethrones Xavier by Smallest Margin Since 2009

The 2022 Big East Men’s Championships were decided by the narrowest margin in more than a decade, with Georgetown claiming its first crown by 9.5 points. That ended the three-year reign of Xavier, which scored 784.5 points, just shy of Georgetown’s 794.

Georgetown grad student Drew Carbone took home Swimmer of the Meet honors for the fourth time by winning three events.

2022 Big East Men’s Championships

Team Scores

 Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 40                      
 
  1. Georgetown University             794   2. Xavier University               784.5
  3. Villanova University              606   4. Seton Hall University           518.5
  5. Providence College                341

Individual Honors

Most Outstanding Men’s Swimmer: Drew Carbone, Georgetown
Men’s Coach Staff of the Year: Jack Leavitt, Georgetown
Most Outstanding Men’s Diver: Michael Ackert, Villanova
Men’s Diving Coach of the Year: Todd Michael, Villanova

Xavier led the meet by 5.5 points after two days thanks to three wins in the Thursday evening session. The Musketeers pulled within 16 points after the 200 butterfly on Saturday, but a win in 3-meter diving by Georgetown’s Charlie Reichle put the meet out of reach.

Carbone was the standout for a Georgetown team that won just one relay and was a runner-up in three others. Carbone won the 200 individual medley on Day 2 in 1:46.66, an NCAA B cut. It was a vital impediment to the Xavier momentum of the night, which included Jackson Parker in second place.

Carbone finished the Friday session by winning the 100 backstroke in 47.88, and he eased to the 200 back title on Saturday in 1:43.06. Carbone also led off the Hoyas’ winning 800 free relay on Wednesday.

Georgetown made its move on Friday, led by freshman Jack Januario. He went from the second seed in the morning to surprise Parker in the final, winning in 3:49.03. Michael Baldini followed with a silver medal in the 100 fly, and William Barao, whose 1:36.96 split was the fastest of the 800 free relay, added bronze in the 200 free. Baldini won the 100 free on Saturday, to complement tying for second in the 200 IM, and Carson Temple capped it be winning the 200 breast for Georgetown.

Xavier’s freestyle depth kept the Musketeers in touch. Andrew Martin blitzed the 500 free field in 4:21.89 to win his second straight title. He lowered his program record in that event and in the 200 free (1:35.80) en route to victory, and finished third in the 1,650.

Xavier won the two sprint freestyle relays, with Martin, Christian Thomas and Ethan Saunders on each squad. Thomas won the 50 free and finished second in the 100 free. Saunders triumphed in the 100 breaststroke. Parker was second in both IMs and third in the 200 fly.

Villanova finished third despite not winning a swimming event until the very last individual race, courtesy of Nolan Danus in the 200 fly. The Wildcats got a boost from a 1-2 finish on 1-meter diving from Michael Ackert and Nicholas Jubilee. Ackert claimed third on 3-meter. Charlie Hinckley (500 free) and Jake McIntyre (1,650 free) complemented individual silver medals with legs on the runner-up 800 free relay. Danus was third in the 400 IM.

Seton Hall won both medley relays but didn’t have the depth to rise above fourth place in the team standings. Ross Pantano, Justin Oosterwyk and Thomas Minar were on both squads. Oosterwyk supplied the race of the meet, outkicking Baldini to the wall to win the 100 fly by .09 seconds in 47.75.

Pantano finished second in both backstroke events, Minar was the 50 free runner-up and freshman Sean Vizzard won the 1,650 free after finishing third in the 500.

Providence yielded a pair of silver medals, via Kevin Hood in the 100 breast and Justin Viotto in the 200 fly.

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