Description
In this issue of Swimming World Biweekly, read about the Cal men’s domination of the NCAA Division I Championships with Ryan Hoffer, and a full recap of the women’s NCAA Division I Championships. Plus several more NCAA highlight features, such as John Shebat with his first individual win on his last night of college swimming, Felix Aubock coming back from a disastrous start to win the 1650 free, Daniel Carr being allowed to reswim a heat by himself and going from 17th to the 4th fastest qualifying time, Beata “swimming just to have fun” Nelson winning three events and setting 2 world records, Abbey Weitzeil injuring her arm in the 200 medley relay, spending hours at the hospital, and then the next day turning out one of the most impressive performances in NCAA history. And of course, much more news from the wide world of swimming!
FEATURES
008 ‘COMPLETE TEAM’ EFFORT LEADS CAL MEN TO DOMINANT NCAA SWIMMING TITLE
by David Rieder
Perhaps the best word to describe the Cal team that won this year’s men’s NCAA Division I Championships and ended Texas’ winning streak at four is “complete”—in all the strokes and all the relays. “We weren’t exceptional in one area… we were just good all the way through,” said Cal coach Dave Durden.
010 JOHN SHEBAT FINALLY GETS ‘PERFECT ENDING’ WITH 200 BACK TRIUMPH
by David Rieder
For the first time in his four-year career at the University of Texas, John Shebat did not leave the NCAA Championships with the team trophy. But on his final night of college swimming—in his home pool in Austin—he finally got his individual championship moment by winning the 200 back.
012 REDEMPTION KING FELIX AUBÖCK WINS 1650 AFTER DISASTROUS START
by Daniel D’Addona
Felix Auböck’s first swim at this year’s men’s NCAA Championships was so awful, it brought him to tears. And his next race wasn’t any better. But instead of letting the collapse continue, the Michigan junior refocused on redemption and responded by crushing the field in the 1650 free.
014 WHY EDDIE REESE CAN’T SLEEP BEFORE MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
by David Rieder
Heading into this year’s men’s NCAAs, Texas coach Eddie Reese had been through an NCAA championship season 40 times and won 14 national titles, including four in a row. And the veteran coach has never been able to sleep in the two weeks before the final meet, including this year. Reese, who admits “a lot of stuff is on his mind”—including fast swimming—tries to explain why.
018 DANIEL CARR TRIUMPHANTLY RE-SWIMS, LANDS COACH DAVE DURDEN ON BACKSIDE
by David Rieder
During the sixth prelim heat of the 100 back, the backstroke wedge in lane one remained in the water, and when Cal’s Daniel Carr turned at the 50, the wedge popped into the air when he nicked it. What resulted was a rattled swimmer who ended up qualifying 17th, but was allowed a re-swim in a heat all by himself. When he finished with the fourth fastest qualifying time, Coach Dave Durden threw his fists into the air in exuberance—only to slip and end up flat on the ground on his backside!
020 2019 MEN’S NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS – FULL FINALS RECAP
by Andy Ross and David Rieder
Full event-by-event coverage of all four nights, March 27-30, from Austin, Texas.
032 ABBEY WEITZEIL POWERS THROUGH PAIN, CAL STAMPS NCAAs WITH RELAY FOR THE AGES
by Daniel D’Addona
After spending hours at the hospital the night before when she injured her right arm at the finish of the 200 medley relay, Cal’s Abbey Weitzeil returned the next day to push through the pain and turn in one of the most impressive performances in NCAA history.
034 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS PROVE NOBODY CAN BEATA NELSON
by David Rieder
Swimming “just to have fun” and not setting any time or placement goals at this year’s women’s NCAAs, Wisconsin’s Beata Nelson proceeded to win three events, set two records and come within 1-tenth of a second of a third record, and was named the CSCAA Swimmer of the Meet.
036 EASTERN MICHIGAN’S DELANEY DUNCAN STUNS WITH NCAA RUNNER-UP FINISH
by Daniel D’Addona
When Eastern Michigan’s Delaney Duncan finished fourth at last year’s NCAA Championships, it was a big deal for the Mid-American Conference and mid-majors across the country. This year, she did one better: she finished second behind the best breaststroker in U.S. history—not a bad way to end a stellar career, proving that mid-majors can make it on the big stage.
037 THE WOMEN’S SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2015 IS ONE FOR THE AGES
by Andy Ross
The high school Class of 2015—with swimmers such as Katie Ledecky, Kathleen Baker, Ella Eastin, Lilly King, Mallory Comerford, Abbey Weitzeil and more—might be considered the “best class ever.” At the very least, it will certainly be one that people will not forget.
038 2019 WOMEN’S NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIPS – FULL FINALS RECAP
by Andy Ross
Full event-by-event coverage of all four nights, March 20-23, from Austin, Texas.
048 HOW THEY TRAIN – LUKAS MACEK
by Michael J. Stott
049 PARTING SHOT
