Division II Meet Preview: In-State Rivals Highlight Big D2 Week

As we move further into the fall, teams across the country are preparing for their winter invitationals to get a gauge of their season and where they may stack up at the end of the year in terms of NCAA’s. This week we’ll preview two of the bigger invites happening this week in addition to the match-up of Tampa and Nova Southeastern down in Florida.

Meet Of The Week: Tampa vs. Nova Southeastern

In-state conference rivals University of Tampa and Nova Southeastern University will meet this weekend at Tampa. Nova made history last year, sweeping Tampa by the largest margins in program history (169-93 on the men’s side and 162-100 on the women’s side) to take both wins. This year, Nova should be able to repeat that result, as they are currently ranked #2 (men) and #4 (women) in the latest CSCAA Poll. Tampa is currently only ranked on the men’s side, where they are 12th, while they were ranked as high as 6th in the October poll.

Names to watch for the Sharks include junior Anton Lobanov, the reigning NCAA Champion and NCAA record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, and senior Emma Wahlstrom, who was third at NCAA’s last year in the 200 freestyle and currently sits second in the country in that event (1:51.14). While Tampa’s men will be buoyed by the presence of Martin Hammer in the sprints, they will really need their depth swimmers to step up in order to challenge Nova at home.

Nova was second at last year’s Sunshine State Conference meet, while Tampa was right behind them in third. On the men’s side, the two teams were only separated by 21 points. Regardless of what this meet will tell us when looking toward the end of the year, expect some fast swimming between these two rival teams before they meet again in December for the Spartan Invitational.

A3 Invitational

At the end of the this week the A3 Invitational, hosted by Division II powerhouse UC San Diego on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. This is a high powered meet that includes some big name Division I schools, including Stanford University and UCLA among others. But UC San Diego, who took fifth on the women’s side and fourth on the men’s side last year, should be able to be competitive. The program was recently ranked #3 across Division II men’s schools and #6 among Division II women’s schools in the latest CSCAA Coaches Poll.

That shows a bit of a resurgence for the men’s program, which was 17th at the NCAA Championships last year. UC San Diego’s women were third at that meet, less than 20 points away from second place Wingate. Swimmers to watch for the Tritons include:

Freshman Casey Brotherton, who is currently 3rd in the country in the 500 free (5:01.60) and 2nd in the mile (17:22.86).

Sophomore transfer Amanda Sumrow, who is currently 3rd in the country in the 200 fly (2:02.99).

The breaststroke trio of sophomore Lily Maxfield, junior Anshanika Phetbenjakul, and senior Jaimie Bryan, all three of which are ranked within the top 8 nationally in the 200 breaststroke.

Seniors Michael Cohn and Zachary Yong, who are 3rd nationally in the 200 back (1:49.95) and 200 breaststroke (2:02.62) respectively.

The trio of junior Kevin Wylder, senior Gabriel Hernandez, and sophomore Garrett Tse who are all within the top 8 nationally in the 200 butterfly.

Panther Invitational

Another high level Invitational this week will be the Panther Invitational, hosted by Florida Tech this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some of the best Division II schools in the state will be competing, including #3 University of West Florida, which should lead to some fast times with potential for NCAA qualification later in the year. Look below to see swimmers you should watch over the three day meet:

Sophomore Victor Furtado (Florida Tech), who is currently ranked first in the 50 free (20.62) and second in the 100 free (44.92) and 100 butterfly (48.73).

Senior Theresa Michalak (West Florida), the reigning NCAA Champion in the 100 breaststroke. She has already been faster than her winning time this year, holding the #1 time in the country at 1:00.62. She also is the leader in the 200 IM (1:59.53), an event she was runner-up in at NCAA’s last year, the 50 free (22.53), and the 100 free (49.42).

Junior Madeline Pitt (West Florida), who is currently ranked 5th in the country in the 400 IM (4:26.97). That is faster than she went at NCAA’s last year, and only about a second off from her career best from her conference championships last spring.

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Sharon Harris Klemm

7 years ago

GO SHARKS!!!!

June Turner Hudson

7 years ago

GO GO GO GO GO GO GOOOOOOO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!