The Week That Was sponsored by Suitmate.
Read the five biggest stories of the week in The Week That Was sponsored by Suitmate. This week was highlighted by Regan Smith crushing her signature events, USA Swimming announced their 2021-22 Calendar, Claire Curzan added three new records to her book, Wyatt Collins was named associate head coach at his alma mater, and London Roar snagged the fourth match of the ISL.
The Week That Was #1: Regan Smith Aces 200 Back-200 Fly Double on Final Night of NC State Invitational
Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports
In the college swimming championship program, two of Smith’spremier events fall on the final night, the 200 back and 200 fly. In long course, Smith is the world-record holder in the 200-meter back and the Olympic silver medalist in the 200-meter fly. In short course yards, Smith has the American record in the 200 back and ranks second all-time in the 200 fly.
At the NC State Invitational, Smith practiced that back-to-back and ended up with two victories. First, she won the 200 back in 1:48.91, well off her own record time of 1:47.16 but faster than rival Rhyan White swam at the Tennessee Invite (1:49.73). At last year’s NCAAs, only national champion Phoebe Bacon was faster than Smith’s mark Saturday (1:48.32). Stanford teammate Lucie Nordmann took second in 1:51.16, and NC State’s Katharine Berkoff grabbed third in 1:51.62. 200-meter back Olympic finalist Taylor Ruck, also of Stanford, placed fourth in 1:52.09.
Smith had less than an hour of rest before she returned for the 200 fly. She won that event by almost two seconds in 1:52.48, while teammate Lillie Nordmann (younger sister of Lucie) placed second in 1:54.43, one hundredth ahead of NC State’s Kylie Alons (1:54.44).
The Week That Was #2: USA Swimming Announces 2021-22 Calendar, Including National Championships
Photo Courtesy: Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports Images
With December just around the corner, it seemed an appropriate time to provide a reminder of the USA Swimming schedule for the 2021-22 season. The first big meet of the campaign is scheduled for the first week of December, with the U.S. Open taking place in Greensboro, N.C.
The 22-event schedule features National Championships, USA Swimming Championship Series events, an international Trials qualifying competition and the return of the 18&Under Spring Cup, following its successful debut in the Spring of 2021.
| 2021* | ||
| DATES | USA SWIMMING EVENT | LOCATION |
| December 1-4 | Toyota U.S. Open | Greensboro, N.C. |
| December 8-11 | Speedo Winter Junior Championships (East) | Greensboro, N.C. |
| December 8-11 | Speedo Winter Junior Championships (West) | Austin, Texas |
| 2022* | ||
| DATES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| January 12-15 | TYR Pro Swim Series at Knoxville | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| March 2-5 | TYR Pro Swim Series at Des Moines | Des Moines, Iowa |
| March 30-April 2 | TYR Pro Swim Series at San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas |
| April 1-3 | Open Water Nationals | Fort Myers Beach, Fla. |
| April 26-30 | Phillips 66 International Team Trials | Greensboro, N.C. |
| May TBD | 18&Under Spring Cup | 4 sites TBD (1 per Zone) |
| June 29-July 2 | TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo, Calif. |
| July 27-30 | Futures Championships | 4 sites TBD |
| August 2-6 | Phillips 66 National Championships | Irvine, Calif. |
| August 8-12 | Speedo Junior National Championships | Irvine, Calif. |
| November 29-December 3 | Toyota U.S. Open | TBD |
| December 7-10 | Speedo Winter Junior Championships (East) | TBD |
| December 7-10 | Speedo Winter Junior Championships (West) | Federal Way, Wash. |
*Subject to change.
The Week That Was #3: Claire Curzan Smashes Three Short Course Meters National High School Records in Chattanooga
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
First, Curzan swam a 57.08 in the 100 butterfly, crushing the independent school record of 1:01.01 set in September 2021 by Aspen Gersper. Curzan also broke the overall high school record held by Samantha Woodward at 1:00.57, a record that dates back to 2005.
Next, Curzan led off Cardinal Gibbons’ 200 free relay in 24.94, edging out the independent schools record and overall record held by Erica Pelaez since September at 25.01. Her third record came in the 100 back, where her 58.40 crushed the 59.87 independent and overall record set by Baylor’s Ellie Waldrep at the same meet two years earlier.
In her final swim of the day, Curzan led off Cardinal Gibbons’ 400 free relay in 54.80, finishing just 0.05 off the independent and overall records of 54.75 that Palaez set a few months ago.
The Week That Was #4: Wyatt Collins Promoted to Associate Head Coach at University of Texas
Collins, who served as assistant coach for the Texas men’s swimming and diving program the last five seasons, was promoted to associate head coach, head coach Eddie Reese announced on Monday.
In his seven years on UT’s staff, five as an assistant and two as a volunteer coach, Collins has been an integral part of the Longhorns success. In those seven seasons, Texas has won five national championships and was the runnerup in the other two. The Longhorns have swept all seven Big 12 Conference Championships during that time as well.
Prior to launching his coaching career, Collins swam two seasons at Boston University (2008-2010) before transferring to Texas and competing for one season with the Longhorns (2011-12). A two-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll at UT, Collins earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Texas in 2013.
The Week That Was #5: ISL Playoff Match 4: Led by Duncan Scott and Kyle Chalmers, London Roar Beat Cali Condors
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Four of the six matches of the ISL playoff round are complete, and in a surprising twist, there have been four different match winners so far. Cali Condors edged Energy Standard in the first match before LA Current used an incredible comeback to take down London Roar in the second. Earlier this week, Energy cruised in the third match, and here, London used an all-around dominant performance to defeat the defending champion Condors for the second occasion this season.
After day one, London led by 49.5 points, but Cali steadily closed the gap through the middle portion of day two, with Hali Flickinger, Caeleb Dressel, Lilly King and Nic Fink among those claiming individual victories before Cali picked up a big win in the mixed 400 medley relay. At one point, the lead was down to just 17 points, but London asserted itself with Sydney Pickrem (women’s 400 IM), Scott(men’s 400 IM) and Minna Atherton (women’s backstroke skins) winning three straight events for the Roar.
Also for London, Olympic star Emma McKeon earned one individual victory on day two, and Chalmershad first-place results in both the 100 free and 200 free.