The Week That Was: Dressel Stuns While Texas Wins Fourth Straight NCAA Title

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Editorial content for the Commonwealth Games coverage is sponsored by TritonWear. Visit TritonWear.com for more information on our sponsor. For full Swimming World coverage, check event coverage page.

In another incredibly busy week for short course swimming as the University of Texas pulled off another team title at the Men’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships while records fell at the meet left and right. Take a look below to catch up on the biggest swims from that meet and from the week in The Week That Was!

The Week That Was #5 – Katerine Savard Pulls Out of Commonwealth Games

Swimming Canada-finals-5apr2016. Photo Scott Grant

Photo Courtesy: Scott Grant/Swimming Canada

Olympic medalist Katerine Savard announced this week she is withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games next month due to health reasons. Savard is a two-time Olympian who is the reigning gold medalist from the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she set a Games Record (57.40) and also earned a bronze medal as part of Canada’s 4×100 medley relay. Most recently, Savard won a bronze medal as part of Canada’s 4×200 freestyle relay. The 24-year-old has qualified for every senior national team in Canada since 2010 and plans to compete at the Canadian Swimming Championships in Montreal from April 5-8.

The Week That Was #4 – Whitney Hite Out At Wisconsin After Seven Years

Photo Courtesy: David Stluka, Wisconsin Athletic Communications

The University of Wisconsin confirmed that swimming head coach Whitney Hite will be leaving the program after seven years. Hite had a contract that was supposed to run through the 2020 season that was renewed just last year. Hite joined the Badgers in 2011, replacing Eric Hanson, who then went to coach at the University of Arizona. Coaching both the men and women, Hite’s men’s team scored zero points at this year’s NCAA Championships in Minneapolis. The women finished 17th and was highlighted by All-American Beata Nelson, but Olympian Cierra Runge left the program. She decided to transfer to Arizona State.

The Week That Was #3 – Regan Smith Sets NAG Records While ICSA Results Reversed

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week was also a big week for age group swimming across the United States, with 16-year-old Regan Smith smashing through two National Age Group records at the Akron Sectionals in the 200 back, 100 back and 100 fly. Smith swam a time of 1:48.30 in the 200 back, moving to fourth all-time in the event. She broke her own record in the 100 back twice, recording a 51.28 in prelims before going on to post a 50.84 in finals to take the 15-16 NAG record even lower. Smith also set a new NAG record in the 100 fly, clipping Beata Nelson’s 2014 record with a 51.63 to set a new 15-16 record. Meanwhile, records were dropping at the ICSA Junior Nationals in Lynchburg, Virginia before timing discrepancies called into question the legitimacy of the results. After confirming an issue with the Daktronics timing system setup, two of the five NAG records from the first four sessions of the meet were taken back, including Michael Andrew’s 50.79 in the 100 breast (adjusted to a 51.18, still a best time) and the Mason Manta Rays 15-18 Boys 4×50 medley relay. You can catch up on all the fast swimming across the U.S. from this week’s sectionals and juniors here.

The Week That Was #2 – Emory Women, Denison Men Take Home Division III Titles

Photo Courtesy: Linda Striggo

Swimming at the famed IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, the Emory women and Denison men captured the 2018 Division III Swimming and Diving Championship titles. That marks the ninth straight team title for the Emory Eagles and the second title in three years for Denison. Kenyon freshman Crile Hart and Emory senior Oliver Smith were named the CSCAA Swimmers of the Meet after a record-breaking week for both of them. Hart was a three-time champion and set new NCAA records in the 200 IM (1:58.29) and 200 back (1:55.67) while also winning the 100 back (53.61). Smith broke Zack Turk’s long-standing records in the 50 free (19.37) and 100 free (42.98) during the meet, becoming the first Division III swimmer under 43 seconds in the flat start 100. Notably, Denison’s KT Kustritz broke the NCAA record in the 100 breast (59.77), becoming the first Division III swimmer to break 1:00 in the event and also took down the meet record in the 200 breast (2:12.27). The Emory women also broke the NCAA record in the 4×50 medley relay (1:40.12), the 4×100 free relay (3:18.46), the 4×200 free relay (7:13.51). You can see full recaps of all the session from Division III NCAA’s here.

The Week That Was #1 – Texas Wins Fourteenth NCAA Title, Dressel Shatters Barriers

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This year’s men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships was one for the record books, with an insane amount of NCAA and American records falling in the midst of a tight team battle that saw Texas win their fourth straight team title and fourteenth overall. Florida senior and CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet Caeleb Dressel was a standout from the meet, becoming the first man under 18 seconds in the 50 (17.63), under 43 seconds in the 100 fly (42.80), and under 40.0 in the 100 free (39.90). Also smashing through barriers was Texan Townley Haas, who reclaimed his American and NCAA record in the 200 free (1:29.50) after Indiana’s Blake Pieroni became the first man under 1:30 leading off the 4×200 free relay to open the meet. Indiana teammate Ian Finnerty also had a huge meet, becoming the first person under 50.0 in the 100 breast (49.69). NC State also smashed the NCAA records in the 4×200 free (6:05.31) and 4×100 free relays (2:44.31) in a meet that was a tight battle down to the end. You can see race video, interviews, and full recaps of every session by clicking here.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use