Swimming World Presents – Guttertalk: What Was The Best NCAA Race You Ever Witnessed? – Sponsored By Colorado Time Systems

Swimming World March 2021 - Guttertalk - Bob Bowman

Coach Bob Bowman

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Guttertalk: What Was The Best NCAA Race You Ever Witnessed?

By Andy Ross

Sponsored By

brett-hawke-
BRETT HAWKE
Former Head Coach, Auburn
[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]
Olivia Scott’s 100 fly in 2013 jumps out to me. Olivia was not the favorite, nor was she in Lane 4 in the final. And it won’t go down as the fastest win in history.

She didn’t particularly have a great morning swim, and her warm-up was terrible. She told me right before the race she felt terrible as well. My last piece of advice to her was, “Well, you have nothing to lose.”

But the thing that sticks out the most is she only took six breaths the whole 100—one on the first lap, two on the second and third laps, and one the last lap. She swam like she had nothing to lose. It’ll go down as one of the gutsiest swims I’ve ever seen!

bridgette-alexander-tyr-pro-indy-2018-3022-e1530288039408

BRIDGETTE ALEXANDER
Former Swimmer, Kentucky; Assistant Coach, Buffalo
[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]

The best race I got to witness at NCAAs during my time at Kentucky was my teammate at the time, Danielle Galyer’s 200 yard backstroke race in 2016. She was right next to Courtney Bartholomew. I did not make the final that year and was bummed about that, but watching her duke it out with Courtney—with it coming down to the finish—was something I knew I would never forget.

When her hand touched the wall first, the sense of pride I felt was unmatched. She was my training mate, and she just won an NCAA title. By far the best race I got to watch.

BOB BOWMAN
Head Coach, Arizona State
[PHOTO BY JOAO MARC BOSCH]

It’s a tie between Kevin Cordes’ 200 breaststroke in 2013 when he went 1:48…and Caeleb Dressel’s 17.6 in the 50 in 2018. Both took their events to a new level.

ELAINE BREEDEN
Former Swimmer and 4x NCAA
Butterfly Champion, Stanford

My favorite NCAA race to watch was the women’s 400 IM in 2010, my senior year. My teammate, Julia Smit, won that race at three NCAAs in a row, and she made the race look so easy every time. She broke the American record at Pac-10s her senior year and was named NCAA and Pac-10 Championships Swimmer of the Meet. It was always so fun to watch her swim that race because she seemed so invincible!

jason-calanog-by Andy Ringgold-Aringo Photos
JASON CALANOG
Associate Head Coach, Texas A&M
[PHOTO BY ANDY RINGGOLD, ARINGO PHOTOS]

I’m a little biased, but to see the 17.6 in person from Caeleb (Dressel)—because I coached him at Bolles. I was standing with his mother (Christina) and Sherridon (Caeleb’s sister), so that was a touching memory for me.
One of the best races I remember was Chris Swanson’s mile in Atlanta in 2016. I didn’t have any dogs in that race, but I had coached Swanson a little at Bolles Swim Camp, so I kind of knew him. So to see him win with five guys in the hunt for that national title…it was amazing to watch!

He just sprinted his last 50 to beat Akram (Mahmoud) from South Carolina. To watch that race was my favorite—to see the changes and (Caeleb’s sister), so that was a touching memory for me.

One of the best races I remember was Chris Swanson’s mile in Atlanta in 2016. I didn’t have any dogs in that race, but I had coached Swanson a little at Bolles Swim Camp, so I kind of knew him. So to see him win with five guys in the hunt for that national title…it was amazing to watch!

He just sprinted his last 50 to beat Akram (Mahmoud) from South Carolina. To watch that race was my favorite—to see the changes and

KATIE ROBINSON
Director, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Northwestern
[PHOTO BY HOPE CARPINELLO, NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS]

Without going back too far in my memory archives, I specifically remember watching Missy Franklin break the 1:40 barrier in the 200 free at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Greensboro (going a 1:39.10). I remember thinking that a glass ceiling for women had truly been broken.

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Swimming World March 2021 Issue

FEATURES

012 THIS SHOULD BE WELL WORTH THE WAIT
by Dan D’Addona
A year ago, all eyes were on Cal and Texas in what looked to be one of the greatest men’s NCAA Championship duels ever. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out that showdown, but spirits are running high one year later—not only for that much anticipated Cal-Texas confrontation, but for the simple fact that college swimmers will again be able to come together and compete at a national championship.

014 YES, VIRGINIA, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE
by Dan D’Addona
For years, Stanford and Cal have been battling each other for national supremacy at women’s NCAAs, with the Cardinal and Golden Bears finishing 1-2 in the last three championships. Before that, Cal had put together four team titles since 2009. But in 2021, look for Virginia to make its move—not only as a new rival, but quite possibly as a new champion!

016 ALL SYSTEMS GO…FOR NOW!
by Andy Ross
Although the NCAA Division III and NAIA had canceled their championship swimming and diving meets in early February, NCAA Division II was still a “go,” thereby preserving the possibility for Queens University of Charlotte to pursue its sixth straight men’s and women’s team titles.

018 DOC’S GUYS
by John Lohn
In the late 1960s into the early 1970s, Doc Counsilman’s Indiana University swimming program was a focal point of the sport. His legendary teams were a dominant presence not just on the collegiate scene, but also on the national—and international—stage.

021 THE “MOUNT RUSHMORE” OF NCAA DIVISION I SWIMMING
by Andy Ross
If there were a sculpture made of the top American NCAA Division I swimmers similar to the one depicting four U.S. Presidents on Mount Rushmore, Tracy Caulkins, Natalie Coughlin, Pablo Morales and John Naber would be worthy honorees. No other swimmer has won more NCAA D-I individual titles than those four.

024 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: OLYMPIC RIVALRIES OF YESTERYEAR
by John Lohn
Rivalries have always defined the sport. Michael Phelps vs. Ian Crocker. Gary Hall Jr. vs. Alexander Popov. Shirley Babashoff vs. East Germany. These are just a few rivalries that stand out and should long be remembered. But what about the rivalries from the early days of swimming? As our “Takeoff to Tokyo” series continues, Swimming World takes a look at some of these rivalries from yesteryear.

026 WHO IS THIS GUY?
by David Rieder
Before the summer of 2019, Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas had been swimming under the radar. But if his performances since then are any indication, the end results could be spectacular. His coaches see his potential as basically unlimited, and recent history makes it tough to disagree. As for Casas, he has similarly lofty expectations for himself.

029 ISHOF: THE VALUE OF SWIMMING IN WAR
by Bruce Wigo
In the early 1900s, there was scarcely an American alive who was unfamiliar with the name of Frederick Funston. He was the most decorated and celebrated hero of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902)—famous in military and swimming history for his willingness to have his men swim across rivers, under fire, when, according to press reports, “They couldn’t otherwise get at the enemy quickly enough to suit them.”

COACHING

041 SPECIAL SETS: BOWE KNOWS SWIMMING
by Michael J. Stott
Bowe Becker has trained with Sandpipers of Nevada coaches Ron Aitken and Cutter Haupt as well as Kelly Kremer at the University of Minnesota (2015-19). The eight-time NCAA All-American, Big Ten champion and conference record holder in the 50-100 free now swims with the ISL’s Cali Condors. Coach Haupt provides some sample workouts from November 2014, which were done prior to that year’s December sectionals.

043 Q&A WITH COACH MATT BARANY
by Michael J. Stott

044 HOW THEY TRAIN MAGGIE PURCELL
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

040 DRYSIDE TRAINING: PULLING POWER
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

046 UP & COMERS: LIAM CUSTER
by Shoshanna Rutemiller

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

009 DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT PRINCE DABULAMANZI & THE BATTLE OF ISANDLWANA?

011 THE OFFICIAL WORD

032 2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY

047 HASTY HIGH POINTERS

048 GUTTERTALK

049 PARTING SHOT

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