By Olivia McKelvey, Swimming World College Intern.
2018 was one memorable year for college swimming. Powerhouses like Simone Manuel and Katie Ledecky took home gold for Stanford University in Division I, whereas the University of Texas Longhorns put up a tough battle on the men’s side and came out on top, just out-touching Cal by nearly two points in team scores.
Queens University of Charlotte was a commanding leader, winning both titles on both the men’s and women’s teams for Division II. While Emory University’s women’s team swept the NCAA Division III championship title, the men of Denison University scooped up a win to bring home a victory to the Big Reds. In 2018, records were broken, rivalries were challenged, and coaches and athletes were pushed to their limits.
With the dawn of 2019 upon us, what’s next for college swimming? What will boil down the deciding results between the rise of the underdogs and the return of the victors?
Division I: Speed Demons
Mallory Comerford; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Within DI, you have some of the fastest swimmers in the nation: The PAC 12, The Big 10, the ACC, and the SEC are all conferences that are going to display some of the most elite competition the sport has to offer. Make sure to keep an eye on University of Michigan sophomore Ricardo Vargas Jacobo, who moved from the third seed in the 500 free to now the fastest time within just weeks of meets separating the ACC/BIG 10 challenge from the Georgia Invite (where he swam a time of 4:11.45). Will he be able to continue to move up and ward off fellow competitors at championship meets?
Switching from the Big 10 to the ACC, it’s safe to say that people are expecting big swims and record-breaking speed out of senior Mallory Comerford from University of Louisville. Claiming a new short course world title in the 200 free earlier this month, Cardinal fans remain eager to see what Comerford has in store for the ACC.
Division II: Elite Beasts
Photo Courtesy: Queens Athletics
When taking a look at Division II teams, these three are always top leading contenders at the meet: Queens, Drury, and Nova Southeastern. Queens specifically has dominated the championship title for the past four years and is a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, Oklahoma Baptist is definitely a rising star within this division, as they displayed a wide array of depth at last year’s NCAAs and look to do so again this year – but hopefully with more qualifiers to move up in overall team scores.
On the men’s side, Marius Kusch is looking to take records and titles as he wraps up his senior season. Taking home four golds at least year’s NCAA championships, he looks to defend those titles – especially in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly. Other swimmers in the spotlight include Florida Institute of Technology’s Victor Rocha Furtado, who is currently seeded first in both the 50 and 100 free and looks to take over both sprint titles as he wraps up his senior season.
On the women’s side, seasoned professional Bailee Nunn of Drury University – defending champion in the 200 IM, 200 Fly, 100 breast and 200 breast – is expected to make more podium appearances this year. She is already seated first in three out of four events she won last year at this point during the season. Newbie Polina Lapshina, a freshman for Queens, is going to bring some heat to the competition in 2019. She is ranked toward the top in numerous events, such as the 50 and 100 free as well as the 100 fly.
Division III: Lean, Mean, Power Machines
Photo Courtesy: Denison Athletics communications
Last but not least, we have Division III – home to the UAA, the North Coast, and NESCAC conferences: all of which, like any other division, has an elite pool of swimmers to represent each college and university proudly. This year in Greensboro, teams looking to dominate include Denison, Kenyon College, and Emory.
For women, Emory and Kenyon have solid swimmers seeded in the top ranking in numerous events, whereas other teams like NYU and Saint Catherine University have less depth but a few swimmers seeded within the top three places. Look out for St. Catherine distance swimmer Margaret Menso as well as Denison’s KT Kustritz, who is the reigning champion in the 100 and 200 breast and is the top competitor for the 100 breast and 200 IM this season.
Moving over to the men’s side of the competition, we see a similar layout when discussing team scores from 2018. Denison, Emory and Kenyon were all forerunners and look to yet again bring strong teams to the meet in 2019. Dension’s Matt Hedman, who took home two silvers last NCAA’s, is currently the top seed not only in the 1,650 free but also in the 500 free. Will he be able to take home any golds this year?
On the opposite side of events, MIT has junior sprinter Sam Ubellacker, who finished twenty-fourth last year in the 50 yard free yet has already moved up to the second-place seed overall in just a year’s time. In addition to being one of few under 19 seconds, he is sure to spark some rivalry and uproar within the event.
It’s safe to say that in 2019, college records are likely to be broken. There may be upsets or repeat triumphant teams – either way, the next 365 days are going to be filled with ups and downs, adversity and success, wins and losses. One thing that remains constant is the sense of unity and family that is associated with the love of the sport. Good look to all college swimmers this season: may the odds be ever in your favor.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
No mention of the #1 ranked UIndy Hounds… hmm ???
Right? ? Finished third at Nationals last year and lost zero to graduation? GO HOUNDS!! ???
Not much
Seriously? You just finished your article and in DII coverage no mention of UIndy? Think you either have some credibility issues, you do not know the sport enough or both.
The article begins, “…The PAC 12, The Big 10, the ACC, and the SEC are all conferences that are going to display some of the most elite competition…” Yet curiously, defending D-1 Champions and hosts of the 2019 meet TEXAS aren’t in any of those four conferences…they’re in the Big 12 Conference (not to be confused with the Pac 12 or the Big 10 — which has 14 members!)
Where is SIMON FRASER? Top on the list in DII at current moment.