Blake Pieroni, Indiana Confident Heading into Big Tens

Men's and Women's Swimming/Diving vs. Florida and Texas, 10/21/16_Mike Dickbernd
Indiana's Blake Pieroni. Photo Courtesy: IUHoosiers.com

By Dan D’Addona.

With four Olympians returning to Indiana, the Hoosiers had a boost of confidence entering the season.

But it wasn’t just the Olympians. The confidence spread throughout the team like wildfire and the Hoosiers quickly found themselves with the nation’s No. 1 ranking.

“I think we knew from the beginning that last year was kind of a learning year and that this year could be something really special if everyone stayed healthy,” said junior Blake Pieroni, an Olympic gold medalist in the 400 relay. “As the weeks rolled on, we realized how good we had become in a short time.

“The guys who went to Rio, we can tell how much more confidence we have. I think that is what has helped us more than anything.”

Now, the Hoosiers head into the Big Ten Championships as the favorite, holding the No. 4 ranking in the country. Becoming Big Ten champs is something the Hoosiers have been focused on all season.

“We talk about it a lot. Since the beginning of the season, we have thought it was a possibility,” Pieroni said.

While some teams could get caught up having the No. 1 ranking, the Hoosiers used it as motivation and remained realistic.

“That ranking was a bit optimistic,” Pieroni said. “We went undefeated this year, but Texas and Florida didn’t have all of their guys there. Championship season is a completely different thing.”

Pieroni has had plenty of championship moments in the past year, competing at the NCAA championships, then the Olympic trials, the Rio Olympics and the short-course world championships.

“It has been a crazy year,” he said. “The past 12 months have been an incredible ride. Everything we have experienced has taught me a lot about swimming.”

But there was nothing like claiming an Olympic gold medal, even as a swimmer in prelims.

“When those guys won, it was the greatest thing watching them swim. I had roomed with Caeleb (Dressel) and Ryan (Held) the previous few weeks,” he said. “It was incredible.”

Now Pieroni will be facing several swimmers he faced a the Olympic trials and in Rio at the NCAA Championships — something unique about the sport of college swimming.

“It is very special. My mood is definitely about the confidence. A lot of the guys who I will be racing will be there,” he said. “It is incredible.”

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B1G Poppa
B1G Poppa
7 years ago

Pieroni and Ryan both have a great shot to be 41+ this week. Love to add Powers to that mix, but he hasn’t shown that back end yet. I think they’re both on target to swim some of the fastest times the Big Ten has ever seen. I’ve followed his curve closely, and I think he’s ready to explode. He was 1:33 in 2015, and dipped to 1:32 last year. He was surprisingly fast in November and has been on-target throughout the season, as has Ryan. Look for them to the be the stars of the meet in Columbus.

That said, Michigan wins behind a wave of 1-2 punches: Powers/Jones, Aubock/Ransford, Sanders/Papendick, Klein/Montague, Smachlo/Tafuto, White/Swanson. Indiana will win more events, but Michigan’s A Final efforts will eventually be too much to handle.

Billc
Billc
7 years ago
Reply to  B1G Poppa

Maybe. Next year however, IU will reign supreme as they are loaded with speed and have the best sprint coach in the world joining the staff in Coley.

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