Michigan was hoping for a fast start to the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Championships — some momentum that could build toward their goal of reaching third place.
But when their best swimmer was disqualified in the 200 IM, they had to rally.
The result was more powerful than the points Siobhan Haughey would have scored in the 200 IM.
The controversial disqualification ignited the Wolverines, who now had even more motivation to “swim angry” as coach Mike Bottom was heard shouting to his team.
It worked.
Haughey and the Wolverines finished second in the 200 freestyle relay, then third in the 400 medley relay on that first night and cruised to a third-place finish. It was their highest finish in more than 20 years and the first back-to-back top-five performance since 1995-96.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
It was one spot higher than last year, and it wasn’t close. Stanford and Cal took the top two spots as expected, and the Wolverines made sure nobody came close to third, finishing 79 points ahead of fourth-place Louisville.
In Thursday’s 200 IM prelims Haughey was disqualified for taking a second butterfly kick on the pullout of her breaststroke leg.
Unofficial video seems to show that there was a second butterfly kick during that race, but that it was Cal’s Izzy Ivey, rather than Haughey, who was one lane over.
“That first day didn’t really turn out how I wanted it to. About the disqualification, it wasn’t what I was expecting, and I don’t really think it was a fair judgment, but I can’t really control that,” Haughey said. “I know our coaches really tried to argue against it. But it is what it is. I couldn’t control it. I knew the best thing for me and the team was to move on and focus on the races that we had — and we had some great relays.”
Haughey responded by swimming stellar relay splits and making the finals in her other two events. She finished third in the 200 free and the 100 free and scored on four All-American relays, including two right after the DQ. She capped it by being part of the runner-up 400 free relay to close the meet.
“I guess the good thing is I was more rested for those relays,” Haughey said. “I was able to swim faster. I wanted to score points, and since I couldn’t do it in the 200 IM, I had to find other ways to score more. To be able to do that in two relays, and do it with my team, helped me a lot. Everyone took inspiration from what happened and stepped up.”
Michigan freshman Maggie MacNeil made the finals in all three of her events, including a Friday night double in the 100 fly and 100 back. She finished runner-up in the 100 fly.
Senior Catie DeLoof made the finals in the 200 and 100 free, along with Haughey, and was part of several All-American relays. She also scored in the consolation final of the 50 free.
Miranda Tucker made the 100 breast final and was pivotal in the medley relays, that both made the finals. Jamie Yeung made the 100 breast consolation final.
Rose Bi and Sierra Schmidt scored in the 500 free and Bi added the mile.
Meanwhile senior Taylor Garcia and sophomore Daria Pyshnenko were key relay components to multiple All-American relays.
“I think all the girls really stepped up. We wanted a trophy, but we knew we would have to fight for every single point,” Garcia said. “I am really proud of how our younger girls showed up for this meet. Siobhan is such a professional. She knows how to carry herself, especially when things get tough. We all tried to rally around her and fight for those extra points.”
It meant a lot to Haughey and the entire team.
“It takes a whole team to be top three at NCAAs,” Haughey said. “Everyone stepped up and we scored a lot of points. I am so proud of how the team responded. I have seen how far the team has come and what we have been able to build.”
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Congratulations to all