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Men’s NCAA Preview : This Should Be Well Worth The Wait
By Dan D’Addona
A year ago, all eyes were on the Cal and Texas men’s swimming and diving teams in what looked to be one of the greatest 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.
Cal and Texas have had some extremely close clashes over the years at the men’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships—especially the past few seasons. But none were as highly anticipated as 2020 after Cal had won the year before, snapping a Texas four-peat.
Then COVID-19 happened, prompting Cal’s Reece Whitley to say, “It was the fastest NCAAs that nobody ever saw!”
Now a junior on the team that will be vying to win back-to-back team titles, Whitley added, “I think both teams were ready to do something that the swimming world hadn’t seen before. With it being an Olympic year, we were on a roll. We had some dogs who were chomping at the bit. (Coach) Dave (Durden) had us on a leash…and we were ready to break loose.”
As swimmers prepare for their first national college championship meet in two years, that same vibe is slowly taking shape, with Cal and Texas preparing for another elite showdown.
However, after the past year that the world has endured, the thought process for everyone is focused more on hope.
First and foremost, swimmers, coaches and fans hope the meet will take place. They also hope the showdown can live up to the wait. Meanwhile, other teams hope they can join the mix and make a memorable return to the men’s NCAAs.
Usually, Swimming World puts together its predictions of the top 10 teams, including statistical analysis that includes the number of points lost and returning from last year’s teams, giving its readers a realistic expectation of what should take place.
This year, without the championships being held in 2020, that same kind of analysis wouldn’t be appropriate—or accurate. Many of the college teams have only swum in a handful of meets after spending a lot of time out of the water because of different COVID-19 protocols in different parts of the country.
But what we can do is highlight the teams and swimmers to watch for at the upcoming 2021 men’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled for the Greensboro (N.C.) Aquatic Center, March 24-27.
To read more about the NCAA prospects for the Cal Golden Bears,
the Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies, Florida Gators, and more,
Click here to download the complete March 2021 issue, available now!
[PHOTO CREDIT: CONNOR TRIMBLE]
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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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