5 Reasons Every Swim Fan Should Tune In to Championship Season

2016.03.19 2016 Womens NCAA Swimming Championships_Georgia Celebration 20 (8)

Photo Courtesy: Reagan Lunn/Georgia Tech Athletics

By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern

While to the outside world the madness of March refers to basketball’s championship season, the swimming world is less interested in balls and hoops and more interested in the few weekends where the best men and women in the country have the opportunity to compete for the national championship title. March represents the championship season of college swimming, where some of the best swimmers in the world throughout the collegiate level have a chance to represent their school and throw down some incredibly fast swims.

The thing about this meet that is so special is that it is shaped around the power of teamwork. While national and international level meets often come down to a focus on the journey of the individual, NCAA championship’s feature swimmers swimming off events, making strategic relay choices, or packing in an insane schedule of races all in the name of scoring points for their team.

The excitement stems from the competition for the national championship. There is something incredibly special about that. In a sport that is often reduced to being an “individual” sport, and only really celebrated during the Olympic fever every four years, NCAA’s represent a chance for swim fans to come together and cheer on their favorite teams and swimmers all in the name of love for the sport.

With that in mind, here are 5 reasons every swimmer should pay attention to our championship season.

1. The Drama

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

While not every NCAA championship comes down to a nail biter, this year’s women’s NCAA Division I Championship was exactly that. From an unexpected relay DQ at the beginning of the meet, to standout freshman performances, to emotional last swims, to an unexpected and close win, this meet was full of drama that fans live for.

While basketball fans might have spent the weekend either mourning or celebrating their brackets, swim fans had the opportunity to witness the grit of Brittany MacLean overcoming her disappointment in her finish in the 500 free to seize a surprising win in the 200 free, Stanford’s Ella Eastin‘s breakout performance and sweep of the IMs, Rachel Bootsma‘s exciting win in the 100 back, Kelsi Worrell‘s dominance in the butterfly events, and many other dramatic performances. These are the kinds of swims and storylines that fans live for. The more that we all get fired up about them, the better it is for our sport.

2. Depth

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

NCAA’s aren’t all about the top swimmers either. In fact, often they are about being able to put swimmers in multiple spots in order to grab as many points as possible. Jack Bauerle discussed how his team’s ability to put people in places they might not have been expected to be successful in and then grind it out was one of the main reasons they were able to pull off the win.

One of the exciting things about NCAAs is the chance to see what kind of depth each team has and to what lengths they are willing to go to take advantage of it. There are few other meets where you will see a miler taking on the 400 free relay, but at a meet like this, if that’s what it takes to win, that’s what you’re going to see.

3. Coverage

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

It can’t be denied that swimming doesn’t get the same amount of coverage as some other sports in the US. While we may never reach the same level of wall to wall media coverage as basketball in March, the swimming media does go all out to cover the NCAA Championship season, and fans should take advantage of that. From filling Instagram feeds with fun photos and videos from the meet, to tweeting live results, to providing the community with awesome video interviews, this month is one of the best to immerse yourself in the swimming culture.

In a world that loves to tell swimming to wait its turn until the Olympics, it’s refreshing to spend hours celebrating college athletes who work so hard, so far from the spotlight every day of the year, preparing to put it all on the line for their team one single weekend in March.

4. Emotional Storylines

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

One of the greatest things about paying attention to NCAAs is being a witness to all of the emotion that takes places over the weekend. From freshmen and first-timers experiencing their first taste of what it’s like to represent their team on this level, to seniors coming to terms with donning their team caps for the last time, emotion is rampant throughout the weekend.

Swimming is special because for some reason nearly every single one of the athletes that compete in this sport are genuine, caring people who are extremely easy to root for. Bearing witness to their triumphs and disappointments, to their tears of loss and tears of celebration is one of the most powerful moments a swim fan can experience.

5. Inspiration

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

But more than anything, swim fans should watch the NCAA Championship season for the inspiration it will rouse. Because whether or not you’ll ever swim at this meet, whether or not you’re a retired swimmer or an age grouper, this meet is special. This meet represents some of the best of swimming, the idea that we do this not for the personal glory, but for the chance to feel for one instant that we are one living, breathing body moved to do the impossible by the power of teamwork.

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