Swimming World March 2021 Issue

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MARCH 2021 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.

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026 ON THE COVER In the spring of 2019, Shaine Casas was showing promising ability, but nothing that indicated that the then-19-year-old would win a national title in a few months. Certainly, no one imagined that Casas would soon become the country’s best collegiate swimmer. Now, the 21-year-old Texas A&M junior enters the college championship season with the top time in the country in four events while threatening American records. He has never competed internationally, but he has become a contender, if not a favorite, to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. (See feature, pages 26-28.) [PHOTO BY CONNOR TRIMBLE]

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.”

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

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

047 HASTY HIGH POINTERS 048 GUTTERTALK 049 PARTING SHOT

SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE (ISSN 0039-7431). Note: permission to reprint articles or excerpts from contents is prohibited without permission from the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for errors in advertisements. Microfilm copies: available from University Microfilms, 313 N. First St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Swimming World Magazine is listed in the Physical Education Index. Printed in the U.S.A. © Sports Publications International March 2021.

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A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

BY JOHN LOHN

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic began to run rampant through North America last March, there was little thought this virus would remain a dictator for an entire year.

Yet, 12 months later, we are indeed still dealing with the coronavirus, its power continuing to affect all aspects of life. Healthcare workers have been pushed to their max. Many schools are operating in a hybrid form. Businesses—large and small—have faltered.

As the vaccine to counter COVID-19 is slowly distributed, we can only hope this twoprong step is successful in neutralizing what has been a global tragedy.

As the world seeks to move out from under the COVID Cloud, adaptation has proven to be a key trait in taking a step forward. And with the Olympic Games seemingly set to unfold in Tokyo this summer (following a one-year delay), our sport has demonstrated a measure of flexibility that deserves applause.

How can we provide athletes the chance to pursue their dreams during a pandemic? It is a question that had to be answered by sporting officials around the world. And swimming has operated in fine form by seeking out thoughtful and creative ways not to further punish individuals who have dedicated years of their lives to their sport.

A decision by Swimming Canada in late January nominated six athletes—five women and one man—to represent the Maple Leaf in Tokyo. With COVID-19 disrupting training and requiring significant restrictions on the Canadian Olympic Trials, the nation’s governing body for the sport opted for a path that honored the efforts of its top stars and alleviated worry, such as if COVID-19 struck during the qualifying process.

More, Swimming Canada still intends to hold a qualifying competition for those seeking to join the anointed six—Penny Oleksiak, Kylie Masse, Maggie MacNeil, Taylor Ruck, Sydney Pickrem and Markus Thormeyer. If an athlete performs at a high-enough level at Trials, he/she will also earn a ticket to Tokyo.

“What is being presented allows us to have more options in an uncertain situation,” said John Atkinson, Swimming Canada’s High Performance Director. “It gives us greater ability to nominate the best teams to represent Canada, and it gives the athletes greater ability to train and compete to make Team Canada.”

Not long after the Canadian announcement, USA Swimming unveiled its plans for a two-tier version of its Olympic Trials. After much deliberation, USA Swimming revealed a format that will consist of Wave I and Wave II competitions. The top two finishers in each event in Wave I will advance to the Wave II meet, which will feature the top athletes and serve as the selection event for Tokyo.

Behind a little creativity, USA Swimming developed a setup that will give more than a thousand athletes the chance to race at the Olympic Trials, while also ensuring that the best of the best are advantageously positioned to chase berths to the Olympic Games.

Most important, the format respects the seriousness of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing.

“We figured out this was the best option and that it still allowed all athletes to have a crack at the Olympic Trials, which, for many athletes, is the pinnacle of their careers,” said Mike Unger, USA Swimming’s Chief Operating Officer. “But it also then allowed us to pick the best Olympic team.”

Most recently, Swim Ireland used its discretion to grant Shane Ryan and Darragh Green Olympic bids. In the days ahead, it would not be surprising to see additional governing bodies follow suit.

It will be interesting to see how the next few months unfold, and whether there is a need for further adjustments by governing bodies around the world. If nothing else, some of the early adaptations we have seen suggest open-minded approaches that deserve a tip of the cap.

John Lohn

Associate Editor-in-Chief Swimming World Magazine

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DID YOU

KNOW ABOUT PRINCE DABULAMANZI AND THE BATTLE OF ISANDLWANA?

BY BRUCE WIGO

> Dabulamanzi, half-brother of King Cetshwayo, commander of the Zulu army at Isandlwana

> Zulus crossing a river

INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME

A

little less than three years after George Armstrong Custer’s “Last Stand” in the battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana, a British army suffered a similar fate in Africa.

Just as the United States government in Washington viewed Native Americans, the British government in London saw the independent Zulu Kingdom in Southern Africa as a threat to their imperialistic designs and expansion. This led to a series of demands upon the Zulus, which were nothing more than a pretext for war.

The Zulu Chief, Cetshwayo, hoped for a peaceful settlement, but when he would not accept the most outrageous and unacceptable ultimatums, Lord Chelmsford led a force of 3,400 British troops—and an equal number of Natal natives—into Zululand on Jan. 11, 1879. Chelmsford then proceeded to Isandlwana Hill, about six miles inside Zulu territory, and made camp. Unbeknown to Chelmsford, when an invasion seemed imminent, Cetshwayo had mobilized a force of 24,000 warriors.

At Isandlwana, the Zulus fought the British with dauntless courage and the fury of tigers. They rushed into the face of artillery and rifle fire without the least concern for the hundreds falling in their ranks or the bodies barring their way. They pressed on to get to close quarters as speedily as possible to bloody their spears, disdaining the gun as the weapon of cowards.

Among the Zulu warriors was a half-brother of Cetshwayo, Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande. His name, DABULAMANZI, meant “one who divides the waters” or “Lord of the water,” denoting his skill as a swimmer. He was described as being “a handsome man, well-featured, with most beautiful teeth, tall, graceful and stately, and decidedly aristocratic in manner.”

From the image in Harper’s Weekly, he also had the physique of a swimmer, with long, lean musculature and not overly-muscled.

It was the swimming ability of the Zulus that enabled their armies to cross rivers and streams without the delay of building ferries or bridges, as was the case with the British.

When a Zulu army on the line of march came to a river in flood—and the breadth of the stream was out of their depth— they plunged in, in a dense mass, holding onto one another, those behind forcing them forward, and, thus, were able to succeed in crossing without losing a man.

It was unthinkable that a “native” army armed mostly with spears and cowhide shields could defeat the troops of a Western power armed with modern rifles and artillery, let alone wipe it out. But wipe it out the Zulus did—in part to their skills in the water.

Naturally courageous and vain of their prowess, the Zulus firmly believed that their numbers would win the day and, as a warrior society, accepted the sight of their comrades falling in all directions in total indifference. Their faith and courage may have won the battle of Isandlwana, but over time, it was no match for European technology and armaments.

See page 29 for a related story: “The Value of Swimming in War.”  This story by Bruce Wigo is adapted from Harper’s Weekly. The illustrations are also from Harper’s Weekly (author’s collection).

MARCH 2021

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BACK TO COMPETITION:

AN OFFICIAL’S PERSPECTIVE

BY JASON JOHNSON

T

hroughout this period of fewer and smaller-than-normal meets, the goal of USA Swimming cannot be ignored. We must assemble and prepare the best possible athletes to represent the United States in the Olympic Games rescheduled for this summer.

Our swimmers need professional and competitive meets, but they must be safe for all involved. They must also follow local mandates and directives, which can vary from region to region.

This process began again with the first TYR Pro Swim Series Meet of 2021. Extraordinary steps were taken to ensure that all participants (swimmers, coaches, facility staff and officials) would remain healthy.

Once the venues had been selected, every effort was made to invite officials who would require minimal travel and who had not tested positive for COVID. All officials were required to take a COVID test 72 hours before they arrived at the facility.

Test results, which were emailed to USA Swimming, needed to be negative before an individual could enter the facility. There were temperature and credential checks at the entrances...and masks were required at all times. Even the meeting room for the officials was arranged such that all chairs were six feet apart, and each person was assigned his/her own chair. The meeting times were also cut in half to minimize the time spent in the meeting room, and only pre-packaged food was allowed.

Once on deck, the main goal was to safely perform the duties required for the event—observing the competition and recording the backup times—while maintaining a safe distance. To achieve this goal, all movements of the officials were analyzed and adjusted throughout the meet and for each event.

For example, the officials’ chairs would normally be on deck next to the chairs for the athletes. For the TYR Pro Swim Series, there were only chairs for the athletes. The officials remained off deck as long as possible. At the conclusion of each heat, the officials left the deck before the athletes exited the pool. There was no interaction between officials and swimmers, and clipboards and watches were sanitized before and after each session. All this was done for a television audience only. No spectators were allowed.

While this article only touches on the safety measures taken, it is a picture of what meets may look like for a while longer.

If we want to provide meets that will prepare our athletes for international competition (and we know we must), we should also be willing to take the extra steps to keep all involved safe. For officials, that will mean a far different experience...but one that is still rewarding!v Jason Johnson serves as an official for the North Texas Local Swimming Committee.

EXCELLENCE AWARD

CYNTHIA SHANNON Cynthia Shannon has dedicated much of her life to volunteer work, community programs, church programs and education programs. She is extremely dedicated to the sport of swimming, teams, individuals, families and community.

Cynthia, who received North Carolina Swimming’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2019, has worked at swim meets as a timer, hospitality chair, concessions manager, meet director and CTS operator, running video wire and helping out in any other area needed. She has always used her knowledge and expertise gained in these positions to improve and advance to the next volunteer opportunity. As a USA official, Cynthia is very knowledgeable in setting up all levels of meets, and inspires the volunteers to orchestrate every aspect with precision and professionalism. She never hesitates to coach, mentor or counsel swim officials, swimmers or parent volunteers.

Cynthia regularly makes long trips to help support meets, perform clinics, evaluate officials for advancement and provide direction at all levels. To understand just how valuable she is to the sport, her USA Swimming Official Tracking System history that shows the 200plus sessions she’s performed in a single year speaks volumes.

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MEN'S NCAA PREVIEW

THIS SHOULD BE

WELL WORTH THE WAIT being an Olympic year, we were on a roll.

A year ago, all eyes were

BY DAN D'ADDONA We had some dogs who were chomping at on the Cal and Texas men’s the bit. (Coach) Dave (Durden) had us on a swimming and diving teams in what looked leash...and we were ready to break loose.”

As swimmers prepare for their first national college championship to be one of the greatest NCAA Championship meet in two years, that same vibe is slowly taking shape, with Cal duels ever. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic and Texas preparing for another elite showdown.

However, after the past year that the world has endured, the wiped out that showdown, but spirits are thought process for everyone is focused more on hope. running high one year later—not only for that First and foremost, swimmers, coaches and fans hope the meet much anticipated Cal-Texas confrontation, but will take place. They also hope the showdown can live up to the for the simple fact that college swimmers will wait. Meanwhile, other teams hope they can join the mix and make again be able to come together and compete at a memorable return to the men’s NCAAs. Usually, Swimming World puts together its predictions of the top a national championship.

10 teams, including statistical analysis that includes the number of 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

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.

>>PICTURED ABOVE: U.S. national champion Reece Whitley has put together quite a resumé in his swimming career, but the Cal junior is still looking for his first NCAA individual title, which could very well come at this year’s meet. Two years ago, he was selected the Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Freshman of the Year, and this year, he should be a major contributor in Cal’s pursuit of back-to-back team titles. [PHOTO BY CONNOR TRIMBLE]

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1. CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Dave Durden 2019 finish: 1st (560 points) Cal is loaded with returning talent, led by a senior class that has put together elite performances at NCAAs when they were freshmen and sophomores: •

Ryan Hoffer is an NCAA champion, winning the 50 free in 2019 and leading the Bears to the sprint relay title—and the team title.

•

Daniel Carr has been a key contributor in the backstroke, while Sean Grieshop will be a contender to win the 400 IM title.

•

Trenton Julian has been an All-American and leads the Bears in the IM and butterfly events, while fellow senior Bryce Mefford has been a key sprinter and backstroker for Cal.

As for the underclassmen, Whitley, now a junior, is looking for his first individual NCAA title after earning All-America honors as a freshman. He was the 2019 U.S. national champion in the 200 meter breast and could contribute major points in both SCY breaststroke races plus the medley relays.

Meanwhile, junior Hugo Gonzalez has been a big boost for Cal in the 200 IM, and freshman Bjorn Seeliger from Sweden has already made an impact this season in the sprints.

2. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Coach: Eddie Reese 2019 finish: 2nd (475 points) While Texas was winning four NCAA titles in a row from 201518, it boasted Hall of Fame rosters during those years with stars such as Joseph Schooling, Will Licon, Jack Conger, Clark Smith, Townley Haas and John Shebat...to name a few.

And although those swimmers are gone, the Longhorns have ushered in a new era of Texas speed. The Foster brothers—Carson and Jake—lead this new, young group with loads of potential.

The senior leader is Austin Katz, an All-America backstroker returning for his senior season. He keys the medley relays and could be a big scorer in individual events and relays.

Meanwhile, junior sprinter Drew Kibler will be in contention for NCAA titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle and should anchor several relays. Junior Daniel Krueger is another key freestyler who could make his biggest impact swimming on relays. Breaststroker Caspar Corbeau should play a key role as well.

One of the key components for the Longhorns will be diving.

Jordan Windle is a returning NCAA champion and could give Texas a huge boost as it looks to keep pace with Cal in their long-awaited showdown.

3. GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Coach: Jack Bauerle 2019 finish: 18th (86 points) The Georgia Bulldogs have Javier Acevedo back this year after taking an Olympic year redshirt last season. He will be an NCAA title contender in the backstroke events and a key relay component for Georgia.

Andrew Abruzzo returns and has a versatile touch that could play a big factor. Butterflyer Camden Murphy looks poised for a breakout finish, while Jake Magahey has been swimming well this season.

But the biggest boost to the Bulldogs is the addition of freshman Luca Urlando, who can swim any event at a high level and will be a major point scorer at NCAAs.

4. TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Coach: Jay Holmes 2019 finish: 17th (93 points) Shaine Casas has become one of the nation’s elite college swimmers the past couple of years, and just continues to get faster (see feature story on Shaine in this issue, pages 26-28).

Casas will be an NCAA title contender in the backstroke events as well as the 200 IM to lead the Aggies.

Texas A&M also has plenty of other swimmers waiting to make their big move this season and will need more than Casas to prove it has one of the elite teams.

5. FLORIDA GATORS

Coach: Anthony Nesty 2019 finish: 6th (164 points) Despite losing superstar Caeleb Dressel to graduation in 2018, Florida continues to build strong teams, as evidenced by its sixthplace finish in 2019. For 2021, the Gators are led by the dynamic distance duo of Kieran Smith and Bobby Finke, who are both considered favorites to claim NCAA titles.

Smith, a junior and 14-time All-American, holds the American record in the 500 free (4:06.32) from the 2020 SEC Championships, and he won the 200 IM at SECs his freshman year. In addition to winning the 500 free at last year’s SECs, he added titles in the 400 IM and 800 free relay. Finke, a junior, has equally impressive credentials: the four-time All-American destroyed the U.S. record in the 1650 by more than six seconds (14:12.08), also swum at last year’s SECs. And like Smith, Finke was an SEC champ as a freshman, winning the 1650 and 400 IM. Sophomores Trey Freeman (freestyle) and Kevin Vargas (IM) could also play big roles for the Gators.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Virginia will have freshman Matt Brownstead, a national age group record holder who has already broken the Cavaliers’ school record in the 50 and 100 freestyle—and he’s just getting started. He is a dynamic changer on a team full of strong swimmers that give Virginia a lot of depth—and a lot of potential.

Michigan is led by seniors Gus Borges, Ricardo Vargas and Patrick Callan, while sophomore Cam Peel could provide a huge boost in the sprints and relays. It isn’t the most top-heavy of recent Wolverine teams, but the trio of seniors, along with their depth, could provide a good amount of points for Michigan.

North Carolina State will have plenty of depth, but perhaps without a big-name superstar this season. But strong relays can go a long way at the NCAA Championships, and that depth will keep the Wolfpack in the mix.

The same could be said for the Louisville Cardinals, although Nicholas Albiero gives the team a title contender.

The Indiana Hoosiers will have Bruno Blaskovic, Gabriel Fantoni and All-America diver Andrew Capobianco who could score some major points.  Dan D’Addona is the managing editor and lead college swim writer for Swimming World. He has covered swimming at all levels since 2003, including the NCAA Championships, USA Nationals, Duel in the Pool and Olympic Trials. He also is the sports editor of The Holland Sentinel in Holland, Mich.

TOTAL ACCESS MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEN’S AND WOMEN'S NCAA DIVISION I COLLEGE SWIMMING. NOT A TOTAL ACCESS MEMBER? YOU’RE JUST A CLICK AWAY: SWIMMINGWORLD.COM/VAULT MARCH 2021

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WOMEN'S NCAA PREVIEW

YES, VIRGINIA, NOW IS THE TIME

TO MAKE YOUR MOVE dominating three-peat by Stanford (2017For years, Stanford and

BY DAN D'ADDONA 18-19), Virginia rose to the top team in the nation last season, only to see the women’s Cal have been battling NCAA Division I Championships canceled.

After finishing sixth in 2019, the Cavaliers lost their chance to each other for national supremacy at prove they could unseat Stanford and push past Cal and the other women’s NCAAs, with the Cardinal contenders.

2021 brings an opportunity for Virginia to showcase its best team and Golden Bears finishing 1-2 in school history—and possibly keep it going for a number of years, ushering in a new rivalry with Stanford. Virginia already features in the last three championships. underclassmen Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh, while Stanford Before that, Cal had put together will add Regan Smith and Torri Huske next year to what should be another formidable team. four team titles since 2009. But in Usually, Swimming World puts together its predictions of the top 10 teams, including statistical analysis that includes the number of 2021, look for Virginia to make its points lost and returning from last year’s teams, giving its readers a expectation of what should take place. move—not only as a new rival, but realistic This year, without the championships being held in 2020, same kind of analysis wouldn’t be appropriate—or accurate. quite possibly as a new champion! that Many of the college teams have only swum in a handful of meets

Every team and every athlete has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but, perhaps, no college team has been affected as much as the University of Virginia women’s swimming and diving team.

As the women’s swimming world was coming off of a

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 women’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, scheduled for the Greensboro (N.C.) Aquatic Center, March 17-20.

>>PICTURED ABOVE: NCAAs may have been canceled last year, but Virginia’s Kate Douglass still had a stellar season, being named ACC Freshman Swimmer of the Year and becoming the fourth-fastest all-time NCAA performer in the 200 yard IM. At ACCs, she was the second highest point scorer, winning five titles for 91 points. 2021 brings an opportunity for Virginia to showcase its best team in school history. [PHOTO BY UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ATHLETICS]

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1. VIRGINIA CAVALIERS

Coach: Todd DeSorbo 2019 finish: 6th (188 points) Virginia has built an elite group led by a youth movement. The leader has been Kate Douglass, a sophomore who has helped usher in the new era.

Douglass qualified for NCAAs in a number of events, including the 200 yard breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 IM. Her versatility allows her to swim in a wide variety of events and still score points in bunches.

The Cavaliers also have a lot of other pieces this year, which combined with Douglass’ versatility, could lead to a more complete lineup on the national stage.

Freshman Alex Walsh is a U.S. national team member and two-time Pan American Games gold medalist. She can swim any stroke and score points, making her part of a pivotal 1-2 punch with Douglass.

But it isn’t just the young guns.

Senior Paige Madden was the 2020 ACC Swimmer of the Year and is a nine-time All-American and eight-time ACC champion. She won the 200, 500 and 1650 free at ACCs. Put her with sophomore distance specialist Maddie Donohoe, and Virginia should score lots of points in the distance events alone.

Emma Weyant, another national teamer, deferred her enrollment until next year, when she’ll help an already talented team become even better.

2. STANFORD CARDINAL

Coach: Greg Meehan 2019 finish: 1st (456.5 points) When Stanford won three straight NCAA team titles from 201618, they had it all: superstars and depth.

Gone are the big names such as Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky and Ella Eastin, but the team is still loaded with talent.

Brooke Forde, an NCAA champion and U.S. national team member, is the new leader for the Cardinal. At the 2019 NCAAs, she won the 500 freestyle and was part of the winning 800 free relay.

Other returning NCAA qualifiers from two years ago include breaststroker Zoe Bartel, freestylers Amalie Fackenthal and Morgan Tankersley, breaststrokers Allie Raab and Grace Zhao and the versatile Lucie Nordmann and Lauren Pitzer plus divers Mia Paulsen and Carolina Sculti.

3. CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS

Coach: Teri McKeever 2019 finish: 2nd (419 points) After all the talk about Virginia and Stanford, one mustn’t forget Cal. After all, the Golden Bears have finished among the top three each year of the last decade: first place 3x, second 4x, third 3x. And the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) ranked them No. 1 (up from No. 7) in February.

Yes, Cal is still extremely talented, but it is also in transition.

The team is led by NCAA relay champion and six-time AllAmerican Isabel (Izzy) Ivey. A mid-year enrollee at Cal for the spring 2019 semester, she made the NCAA finals in the 100 backstroke (fourth) and 100 butterfly (sixth) and won the B-final of the 200 IM two years ago.

Breaststrokers Ema Rajic and Ali Harrison will be an important 1-2 punch, while freestyler Robin Neumann will provide individual and relay power. Freshman Isabelle Stadden will be a huge addition in the backstroke events and medley relays. Junior Alicia Wilson (IM) could provide a spark along with diver Briana Thai.

While Cal might not have as much depth as in previous years, the strength of the Golden Bears has always been their relays.

4. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Coach: Mike Bottom 2019 finish: 3rd (314 points) Michigan has been one of the top teams in the NCAA the past few years, and that should continue this season.

The Wolverines are led by Canadian Maggie MacNeil, a multiple NCAA title winner—both individually and on relays—and the 100 meter butterfly gold medalist at the 2019 World Championships. The 2020 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year finished second in the 100 yard fly two years ago and will be the favorite at NCAAs this season.

Senior sprinter Daria Pyschnenko has been a multiple AllAmerica relay performer and will likely continue to anchor several relays. Senior distance specialist Sierra Schmidt could be a title contender in the mile and will provide a huge 1-2 distance punch for Michigan along with sophomore Kaitlynn Sims, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Senior divers Nikki Canale and Christy Cutshaw could be poised for a big finish, while butterflyer Olivia Carter will contribute to the medley relays.

Freshmen Kathryn Ackerman and Claire Tuttle also could provide a boost, while swimmers such as Caroline Sisson and Victoria Kwan could be poised for breakout seasons.

5. NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK

Coach: Braden Holloway 2019 finish: 7th (187.5 points) NC State will be without the speed and leadership of Ky-lee Perry, who graduated last season. But the team has several elite swimmers ready to prove they can lead the Wolfpack to new heights.

Sophomore backstroker Katharine Berkoff is looking to make a breakout finish in her first NCAA championship season. Junior Sophie Hansson is an All-America breaststroker and will be key to the Wolfpack medley relays. Junior sprinter and backstroker Kylee Alons will also be a key contributor.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Texas returns sophomore sprinter Grace Ariola and the versatile senior Evie Pfeifer from its fifth-place squad in 2019. But it is the newcomers who are making the Longhorns a challenger this season. Freshmen Anna Elendt (breaststroke) from Germany and Olivia Bray (butterfly) are not only expected to score points in their individual events, but should also help the Longhorns score big in the medley relays.

Georgia is a few years removed from a run that included multiple NCAA championships, but the Bulldogs seem to be back on the rise. Seniors Courtney Harnish (freestyle), Danielle Della Torre (breaststroke) and Gabi Fa’amausili (backstroke), along with sophomore breaststroker Zoie Hartman should play a big role as well as junior butterflyer Dakota Luther.

Tennessee is led by senior breaststrokers Nikol Popov and Tjasa Pintar as well as senior diver Ana Celaya Hernandez. The team isn’t as powerful as it has been in recent years, but the Lady Volunteers aren’t a team to look past, either.

Another SEC power, Florida, has some big pieces that could come together this season. Junior breaststroker/IMer Vanessa Pearl is having a strong year. She was U.S. national runner-up in the 200 meter IM and was poised for a strong 2020 NCAA meet that never happened. Diver Ashley McCool transferred from Arizona State last year and is looking for her first NCAA meet as a Gator. Dan D’Addona is the managing editor and lead college swim writer for Swimming World. He has covered swimming at all levels since 2003, including the NCAA Championships, USA Nationals, Duel in the Pool and Olympic Trials. He also is the sports editor of The Holland Sentinel in Holland, Mich.

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[PHOTO BY ZBJ PHOTOGRAPHY/QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS]

ALL SYSTEMS GO...FOR NOW! 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.

BY ANDY ROSS

NCAA DIVISION II

March 17-20 Alabama CrossPlex (Birmingham, Ala.) Hosted by University of Montevallo In a year like 2021, nothing is for certain. But in Division II swimming circles, one certainty remains: Queens will be a national title favorite in swimming and diving.

Heading into the 2021 championships, the Royals lead the nation in three of the five women’s relays, with Drury leading the other two. Queens has won the last five team titles, dating back to 2015, and had the lead last season when the meet was canceled after just three sessions because of COVID-19.

The Queens women are led by senior distance swimmer Francesca Bains, who leads the nation in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyles this season. The thing about Queens is that even when they seem to graduate a big class, they always bring in swimmers capable of scoring in the national A-final. And this year is no different.

Freshman Sophia Lange ranks right behind Bains in all three distance events, so when Bains graduates, Lange should be ready to take over as the new elite distance swimmer on Queens’ roster. But for now, the Bains-Lange duo provides a strong 1-2 punch for this year’s championships. Lange is also the top-ranked swimmer this season in the 200 butterfly.

Juniors Kayla Tenant and Hannah Foster as well as sophomore Danielle Melilli are another big reason why this Queens team looks 16

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poised for a sixth straight national title. Tenant is NCAA D-II’s top swimmer in the 100 fly, and Melilli leads the nation in the 100 free. Foster is ranked in the top eight in both IMs as well as the 200 free. And all three swimmers will be counted on to help the Royals’ relays.

But if anyone poses a risk at defeating the reigning champs, it could be Drury, which was the last team to win it all back in 2014. In fact, before Queens, Drury had won five of the previous six championships and six of eight.

The Panthers are led by junior Laura Pareja, the nation’s leader in the 100 and 200 back, and distance swimmer Allison Weber, another junior, should be competitive with the Queens duo of Bains and Lange. Sophomore Kasia Rogowska is one of the top sprinters in Division II and is expected to do battle with Queens’ Melilli in the 50 free. She’s also among the top five swimmers in the 100 fly and will be a factor on Drury’s medley relays.

The University of Indianapolis, which has become a Division II powerhouse the last few years, also poses a threat for a top-three finish, with senior Marizel van Jaarsveld, who leads the nation in the 200 IM and is second in the 400 IM to junior teammate Katie McCoy. Indy also has the sprint depth to match Queens and Drury on relays, with junior Johanna Buys and senior Krystal Caylor. *** On the men’s side, Queens’ title run has been identical to the women, although last year, it looked to be in danger of ending when

<< The women’s swimming team at Queens University of Charlotte (N.C.) is led by senior distance swimmer Francesca Bains, who was leading the nation this season in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyles as of early February. Both of the Royals’ women’s and men’s teams will be vying for their sixth straight national team championship. When the meet was halted a year ago after five events due to COVID-19, their women were in first place, while the men were in fourth.

McKendree University jumped out to the lead after three sessions before the meet was halted.

This year, however, Drury, which had won 10 team titles in a row from 2005-14, looks to be the team to beat, with freshman Karol Ostrowski—who set the NCAA record in the 50 and 100 freestyle in December—leading the way. That speed has helped the Panthers lead the nation in all five relays—points that will be hard to overcome for Queens to capture a sixth straight title.

And it’s not all Ostrowski for the Panthers. Juniors Nathan Bighetti (200 back) and James Brown (200, 400 IM) lead the nation in their respective events, and their contributions could be what push Drury to the top.

Queens should still have a strong showing at the championships— especially with juniors Alex Kunert (200 fly) and Luke Erwee (500, 1000 free)—but their team winning streak looks to be in jeopardy.

And McKendree, last year’s “leaders,” could still be a factor, but the Bearcats don’t look as strong as they did last year, although they do return 1000 champ Fabio Dalu, last year’s 50 runner-up Gregg Lichinsky and sprint free specialist Alexander Skinner. McKendree’s relays are always strong, but it’s just a matter of how they’ll be able to attack this year’s NCAAs after having last year’s proverbial rug pulled out from underneath them when all the momentum was going their way. 

NCAA D-III, NAIA CHAMPIONSHIPS CANCELED With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, the NCAA Division III and NAIA Championships were canceled in early February.

During its review of the declaration data, the Division III Championships Committee determined participation numbers in all nine winter sports were well below the established threshold to provide a national championships experience. Division III powerhouses Kenyon, Emory and Williams had all already opted out of the season due to COVID concerns, leaving Denison as what would have been the runaway favorites.

The decision to cancel NAIAs came after the Columbus Aquatic Center in Columbus, Ga. determined it would be unable to fulfill its hosting obligation due to COVID-19 concerns. 

TWO POOLS. ONE MEET.

VIRTUAL MEETS HAVE ARRIVED. Colorado Time Systems is pleased to introduce our new virtual meet solution, which facilitates dual meets at two separate facilities and shares real-time data between the two sites for the ultimate experience in virtual competition.

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© 2021, Colorado Time Systems

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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.

BY JOHN LOHN

W

ords were not necessary. All that was required was a glance around the natatorium. A look at the banners that celebrated past championships...A look at the honor roll of Olympians...The intensity and purpose that defined the workouts taking place in the pool...The concentration in the eyes of the coach monitoring the work that was underway.

When Doc Counsilman took the reins of the Indiana program in 1957, the Big Ten Conference belonged to Michigan and Ohio State. Within a few years, though, Counsilman shifted the balance of power to the Hoosier State, and that control endured for two decades, with Indiana also emerging as a major force at all levels of competition.

From 1961 to 1980, Counsilman led the Hoosiers to 20 consecutive Big Ten Conference crowns, and Bloomington, Ind. became a hub for top talent. Athlete after athlete—and team after team—passed along vast expectations in two departments. First, the Hoosiers were going to win, plain and simple. They were going to contend for championships and compete at an elite level. More, they were going to conduct themselves with class, and honor the traits of their coach—humility, dedication and loyalty.

NOBODY BETTER

“I don’t think there has ever been a coach in any American collegiate sport that has done more for his sport or more thoroughly 18

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dominated his sport than Doc Counsilman.”

The preceding quote was once uttered by legendary Indiana basketball coach Bob Knight, a man who shared a campus with Counsilman. While the two men were opposites—Knight’s explosiveness contrary to Counsilman’s serenity—there was an appreciation for the success each maintained. And, boy, did Counsilman excel in his profession!

Nothing matched what Indiana was able to conjure up during the height of the Counsilman era, defined as the mid-1960s into the mid-1970s.

At the 12 NCAA Championships held between 1964 and 1975, Indiana put together a sensational run that included six team titles and five runner-up finishes. During that stretch, the rivalry between Indiana and the University of Southern California (coached by another legend, Peter Daland) was second to none—regardless of the sport. Every year in which Indiana was the second-place finisher at the NCAA Champs, USC was the victor. Meanwhile, in four of Indiana’s championships, Southern Cal was the runner-up.

DYNASTIES AND RIVALRIES

What the University of Texas has done under the guidance of Eddie Reese is certainly worth mentioning in the same breath as Counsilman’s Indiana heyday. Since Reese arrived at Texas in 1979, he has led the Longhorns to 14 NCAA team titles (a record) and

<< Dr. James E. “Doc” Counsilman started his coaching career at Indiana University in 1957. From 1961 to 1980, he led the Hoosiers to 20 consecutive Big Ten Conference crowns, and Bloomington, Ind. became a hub for top talent. On that 1961 team were (from left) Stan Hurt, Dick Beaver, Frank McKinney Jr. and Bill Barton. [PHOTO FROM SWIMMING WORLD ARCHIVES]

12 runner-up finishes. In the 41 NCAA Champs Texas has contested with Reese in command, the team has finished among the top three on 33 occasions.

Before both Counsilman and Reese, Robert Kiphuth had his own dynasty at Yale, where he compiled a 528-12 dualmeet record and won four NCAA titles between 1918-59. The Bulldogs added eight runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships, and Kiphuth was known as an innovator through the implementation of interval training and dryland work that emphasized weightlifting.

No, swimming is not a contact sport like football, where players from rival teams can physically punish one another >> In 1968, Counsilman’s Hoosiers won the first of six straight NCAA team championships, a record that has not through a crushing blow in the open field. been matched. That same year in Mexico City, IU swimmers (from left) Don McKenzie (2), Mark Spitz (2) and Charlie Still, the rivalry between Indiana and USC Hickcox (3) went home with seven Olympic gold medals among them. Of course, four years later in Munich, Spitz was fierce. captured that many gold medals all by himself! [PHOTO PROVIDED BY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME] “I wouldn’t say there was hatred. That might be a little too strong,” said Gary Hall individual medley at the 1968 Olympics, where he also picked up a Sr., a three-time Olympian who competed silver medal in the 100 backstroke and added another gold medal in collegiately for Indiana. “But we didn’t like one another. That the 400 medley relay. wasn’t a mystery.”

Also hailing from Indiana’s most-dominant days were individual The truth is, Indiana could easily have captured its first NCAA Olympic titlists Don McKenzie (100 breaststroke) and Jim team title in the early 1960s. Fueled by Hall of Famers Chet Montgomery (100 freestyle), with Mike Stamm (100 backstroke/200 Jastremski, Mike Troy, Ted Stickles and Kevin Berry, the Hoosiers backstroke) and John Kinsella (1500 freestyle) capturing were loaded, and had little difficulty reigning atop the Big Ten silver medals.

Conference. However, due to infractions by the football team, all Indiana teams were barred from NCAA championship contention from 1960 to 1963.

ALWAYS STRIVING FOR SUCCESS Not surprisingly, the atmosphere at the Midwestern school was intense, team members pushing one another to reach their goals and STACKED WITH TALENT to achieve the next significant milestone within their reach. The Finally, in 1968, the breakthrough came for Counsilman’s option to coast through a workout did not exist—not with teammates program, as the Hoosiers raced away from their NCAA counterparts. and not with Counsilman.

That championship marked the first of six straight titles, a record “When I got there, I knew the tradition was rich,” Hall said. that has not been matched. As Indiana rolled through the opposition, “Everyone knew about the past, and that’s why they gave themselves it did so behind rosters that were stacked with talent. to the program. There was an obligation to carry on the tradition by Actually, calling these Indiana squads loaded would be an stepping up and doing your part. We came to be part of this family, understatement. A fan of the program once quipped that Counsilman and it was important to do whatever was needed to maintain a high went to battle with an atomic bomb, compared to the water gun of level. Nothing less was accepted. Every day, we tried to one-up each his foes. Meanwhile, experts suggested that if Indiana had faced any other. We were all trying to get Doc’s attention.” country in the world in a dual meet, it would have prevailed.

The trust the athletes had in Counsilman was immeasurable, The biggest weapon in the Indiana arsenal was undoubtedly and that faith came from two primary areas. More than anything, Mark Spitz. The 11-time Olympic medalist, who is best known for Counsilman’s track record spoke for itself, and his troops knew his seven gold medals at the 1972 Games in Munich, flourished for exactly what his leadership produced. As a complement, Counsilman the Hoosiers from 1969-72. Although Spitz rated as the world’s was an innovator and unafraid to introduce new tactics and training premier swimmer, he was treated like any other member of the methods.

Indiana roster.

Counsilman placed an emphasis on strength training and film “What Doc had was this great ability to make you feel like the analysis, and he frequently called his athletes into his office to most important person in the pool,” Spitz said. “Everyone came analyze 16-millimeter film and study ways they could cut time. away with that feeling, whether he was a Mark Spitz or a walk-on.'”

Counsilman also emphasized underwater filming and was known Among the other standouts at Indiana during its heyday years to place lights on the fingers, hands and arms of his swimmers and, were Hall and Charlie Hickcox. Hall was a world record holder in with the natatorium lights shut off, use the lights to detect proper multiple events and medaled in three Olympiads (1968, 1972 and 1976). As for Hickcox, he won double-gold in the 200 and 400 hand and arm entry into the water.

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DOC'S GUYS / CONTINUED FROM 19

>> Including Counsilman and diving coach Hobie Billingsley, 15 swimmers/ divers/coaches from Indiana University have been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame—with 11 swimmers having trained with Doc. (Pictured: Gary Hall Sr., Class of 1981, signs his honoree display at the Hall of Fame Museum in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) [PHOTO PROVIDED BY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME]

THE X-FACTOR: DOC

However, the Indiana program was not suffocating. Rather, it stressed accountability and taught the swimmers the importance of self-reliance and responsibility to others. This mentality was engrained in the Hoosiers and passed along from class to class.

“Great swimmers usually have an innate sense of how they function. They seem to know instinctively how hard they need to work and when they need to ease off,” Counsilman said. “There’s no need for the slave-driver approach to coaching. By respecting the swimmer’s perceptions about his swimming—and by good communication—a coach can develop the sensitivity to understand the swimmer’s basic needs.

“The great coach must have two basic abilities: He must be a good organizer and a good psychologist. The good organizer will have the large team, will attract the good swimmers from other teams, and develop (Mark Spitz) and (Gary Hall). The good psychologist will be able to handle the parent problems, get along with the city council and be able to communicate successfully with the swimmers. He will have the super teams.”

Outside of the pool, Indiana’s legendary teams were tight-knit, with a common gathering place the home of their coach. While Counsilman monitored his athletes’ academic progress and allowed the use of his personal office as a work or study center, his wife, Marge, played the role of team mom. Marge Counsilman often cooked meals for the Hoosiers and provided them with a comfort zone, especially those feeling homesickness. *** The potential of an NCAA program, including top guns Texas and Cal-Berkeley, winning six consecutive team championships would be quite a challenge in the current era, due largely to greater depth from coast to coast. So, Indiana’s record is likely safe, the passing of time only adding to the legend of what Counsilman constructed.

“Doc was unusual in a lot of ways compared to others I’ve known in the sport,” Hall said. “He was intelligent and had incredible personality traits. He made everyone feel special, and that was a key with the superstars. He related to everyone on the team and spoke a vernacular that resonated with the guys on the team. He used his share of four-letter words, and he was funny. He showed such humility, and the team followed his example. It was an honor to be coached by him and to be part of that program.” 

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THE

MOUNT RUSHMORE

OF NCAA DIVISION I SWIMMING 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 U.S. swimmer has won more NCAA D-I individual titles than those four.

BY ANDY ROSS

>> PICTURED ABOVE (FROM LEFT): PABLO MORALES, TRACY CAULKINS (PHOTO BY HORST MULLER), JOHN NABER (PHOTO BY BOB INGRAM) & NATALIE COUGHLIN (PHOTO BY TONY DUFFY)

>> Tracy Caulkins was often referred to as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time, but she was only able to compete in one Olympics, where she won three gold medals. The U.S. boycott the Games in 1980, and Caulkins retired from the sport after the ’84 Games at the age of 21. [PHOTO BY USA SWIMMING/PROVIDED

BY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME]

TRACY CAULKINS, FLORIDA (12)

100 breast 1984; 100 fly 1982; 200 fly 1982-84; 100 IM 198283; 200 IM 1982-83-84; 400 IM 1982-83-84 (also swam on four winning relays) Tracy Caulkins won 12 NCAA titles in her career at the University of Florida from 1982-84. But she was in a unique position compared to other swimmers who competed after her: Back then, swimmers weren’t limited to the number of individual events they could swim. That changed in 1987 when NCAA rules stated that swimmers would be limited to three individual events and four relays or two individuals and all five relays.

Then again, Caulkins only swam three years of college instead of four, forgoing her senior year and retiring after the 1984 Olympics in pursuit of completing her schooling—she earned her bachelor’s CONTINUED ON 22 >> MARCH 2021

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MOUNT RUSHMORE OF NCCA SWIMMING / CONTINUED FROM 21

degree in broadcasting in 1985.

As a freshman in 1982, she won five titles: 100 breast, 100 fly and all three IMs—100, 200 and 400. She also helped the Gators win the 400 medley relay en route to Florida winning the first championships ever held for NCAA Division I women.

In 1983, she added four more individual titles: the 200 fly plus another 100-200-400 IM sweep. Later that year, the NCAA coaches proposed changes to the championship meet format that would eliminate the 50s of strokes (excluding freestyle) and the 100 IM. With her college/national/international success, Caulkins is still regarded today as one of the best American swimmers ever.

Her 400 yard IM American record of 4:04.63 set in 1981 lasted for 11 years until it was finally broken by Stanford’s Summer Sanders in 1992. And her 200 IM mark of 1:57.06 from 1984 lasted until Sanders broke it in 1991. Her times from the ’80s would still be competitive today...and she didn’t have the advantage of kneeskin techsuits, polyurethane caps or really any knowledge on underwater kicks.

NATALIE COUGHLIN, CAL (11)

100 back 2001-02-03-04; 200 back 2001-02-03; 100 fly 200102-03-04 (also swam on one winning relay) Natalie Coughlin was near perfect in her NCAA career, winning 11 of a possible 12 NCAA individual titles in her four years at CalBerkeley from 2001-04. She won four titles in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, and three in the 200 back.

In her freshman season, she secured two of her three wins over Olympic gold medalists. In the 100 yard fly, she upset Stanford’s Misty Hyman to set an NCAA record at 51.18. In the 100 back, she bested Hyman again and future Olympian Haley Cope for an American record of 51.23. In the 200 back, Coughlin bested 1996 Olympic gold medalist Beth Botsford of Arizona by four-and-a-half seconds to take nearly two seconds off the American record with a 1:51.02.

Her three NCAA records (she just missed Jenny Thompson’s 100 fly American mark of 51.07 set in 1998) landed her on the cover of Swimming World (May 2001) and launched herself as a household name. She had also been an excellent high school swimmer (SW’s Female High School Swimmer of the Year, 1998), but she took that next step in her rookie year of college.

The following year, 2002, was, perhaps, the best of her college career. As a sophomore, she destroyed the American record in the 100 fly, becoming the first woman to break 51 seconds and almost the first to break 50—a 50.01, which stood as the American record for 13 years. In the 100 back, she did break that magical 50-second barrier with a 49.97, which lasted as the American record for 15 years until 2017. On the last day of the meet, she set two more American standards: a 1:49.52 in the 200 back (which stood until 2009) and a 47.47 in the 100 free in leading off the 400 free relay.

Coughlin again won the 100 fly and both backstroke races in 2003, and in her senior year, she had a chance to finish her four-year college career by winning all 12 of her individual events. Despite a relatively disappointing showing on the two relays on Day 1, she bounced back with wins in the 100 fly and 100 back on Day 2. That left the all-important 200 back as her final hurdle.

This was before meets were streamed live online, so when ESPN2 televised its tape-delayed coverage of the 2004 NCAA Women’s Championships, it waited until the very end to show the 200 backstroke—even after the 400 free relay—to give its audience the opportunity to see whether or not Coughlin could make history.

In 2004 (and one other time in 2000), the events were held short course meters instead of yards. The 200 back was an event in which Coughlin held the world record...and Cal’s golden Golden Bear was under world-record pace at the 50, 100 and 150 (by nearly a full 22

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>> Sixteen years after her college career at Cal, Natalie Coughlin was still competing at the age of 38, representing the DC Trident of the International Swimming League.

[PHOTO BY MIKE LEWIS ]

second). But on the final 50, Coughlin struggled (“I couldn’t move my legs, I couldn’t kick,” she would say later). Auburn’s duo of Kirsty Coventry and Margaret Hoelzer both passed Coughlin, with Coventry (the eventual Olympic gold medalist in 2004 and 2008) touching in 2:03.86, the second-fastest 200 back in history.

Still, Coughlin finished her career with 11 individual victories, second only to Caulkins.

PABLO MORALES, STANFORD (11)

100 fly 1984-85-86-87; 200 fly 1984-85-86-87; 200 IM 198586-87 (also swam on three winning relays) Stanford’s Pablo Morales is officially the winningest male swimmer in NCAA Division I history with 11 individual titles from 1984-87. John Naber had held that distinction after the 1977 season with 10 wins, but Morales passed him after taking Titles #9, 10 and 11 at the 1987 NCAAs at Texas.

He swept all four years of the 100 and 200 butterfly, and won three titles in the 200 IM during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. However, as a freshman, Morales, swimming in his very first college championship finals, finished fourth in the medley (1:48.08), albeit only 13-hundredths off Ricardo Prado’s (SMU) winning time of 1:47.95.

Two days later at that 1984 meet, Morales held off Prado in the 200 butterfly (in which Prado was the defending champ) by 1-tenth of a second, 1:44.33 to 1:44.43. On the meet’s middle day, Morales clocked an American record in the 100 fly (47.02).

In 1985, Morales broke American records in both butterfly events, becoming the first man to break 47 seconds in the 100 (46.52) and the first to break 1:43 in the 200 (1:42.85). He also won the 200 IM in 1:46.08.

1986 was more of the same for Morales, who broke the American record again in the 100 with a 46.26 in prelims, taking the final in 46.37. His 200 IM inched closer to the American record of 1:45.08 with a 1:45.43, and his 200 fly (1:43.05) was just a couple tenths

Naber won the 100 against some stiff competition from Indiana (John Murphy, Mel Nash and Bill Schulte) in 49.94... but a day earlier, Naber became the first swimmer to break 50 seconds for 100 yards of backstroke with his 49.85 leadoff leg for the 400 medley relay.

The 200 was a different story, as he won by 3-1/2 seconds with a 1:46.82—two seconds faster than his American record from the year before. His winning time was faster than the 200 yard butterfly American record for the first time in history.

After starting his college career a perfect six-for-six, Naber tasted defeat for the first time in 1976 when Long Beach State freshman Tim Shaw, the reigning 200-400>> Not only did Pablo Morales become the winningest NCAA Division I male swimmer in history with 11 individual 1500 meter freestyle World champion, beat titles, but he also was a member of five NCAA championship teams at Stanford—three in swimming (1985-87) and two in water polo (1985-86). [PHOTO BY TIM DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY ] him in the 500.

It was tabbed as the race of the meet, and it lived up to the hype. Shaw and Naber away from his own record (1:42.85, 1985). became the first two swimmers to go under 4:20, with Shaw coming As a senior in 1987, Morales needed two victories to tie Naber out on top at 4:19.05 to Naber’s 4:19.71. as the winningest male swimmer in NCAA D-I history...and three That race almost repeated itself the next night when Naber held wins to surpass him. off Cal freshman Peter Rocca in the 100 back final, 49.93 to 49.95.

The 200 IM on Night 1 was, perhaps, his toughest challenge. He But in the 200 back, Naber put a bit more distance between himself had been leading at each turn, under record pace through 150 yards. and soon-to-be Olympic teammate, winning in 1:46.95 to 1:48.09.

But Texas’ Doug Gjertsen was charging hard on freestyle, and A few months later, those two swimmers repeated their 1-2 finish Morales was hurting. Feeling the effects of a 21.9 butterfly split on in the 100 and 200 meter back at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. the opening 50, Morales was still able to hold on to win in 1:45.42 In his final NCAA meet in 1977, Naber (4x Olympic gold to Gjertsen’s 1:45.82. He missed UCLA’s Bill Barrett’s American medalist, 1976) and Shaw (400 free Olympic silver medalist, 1976) record (1:45.00, 1982) by less than a half-second...but the hard part met once again in the 500 free. Shaw won again, this time in 4:17.39 for Morales was over. (the third fastest time in history) to Naber’s 4:19.07.

In the 100 fly, Morales, with a 46.47, also just missed his own In the 100 back, Naber broke his own American record with a American record from a year before, but he solidified a 1-2-3 finish 49.36 to win his fourth straight title in the event, then finished with with Stanford teammates Jay Mortenson and Anthony Mosse, being the only swimmer to break 47 seconds. a 1:46.09 in the 200 back for another American record.

The final night in the 200 fly, Morales led from the outset and Besides all of his individual successes, Naber helped USC win was hardly challenged, winning with an American record of 1:42.60, four team titles all four years of his college career.  ahead of Mosse at 1:44.25. It was a perfect ending for Morales, who had become the top male swimmer in college history with 11 NCAA individual titles.

JOHN NABER, USC (10)

500 free 1974-75; 100 back 1974-75-76-77; 200 back 197475-76-77 (also swam on five winning relays) USC’s John Naber had held the record for most NCAA D-I individual titles for a decade after he won 10 from 1974-77, sweeping the 100 and 200 back all four years, as well as earning two wins in the 500 free.

As a freshman in 1974, Naber swam his first college championship final in the meet’s first race, the 500 free. All he did was upset Indiana’s John Kinsella, the American record holder (4:24.49), who was vying for his fourth consecutive title. Naber won in 4:26.85; Kinsella finished sixth in 4:33.69.

It was an auspicious start for the Trojans—and a not-so-welcome start for the Hoosiers. By meet’s end, USC beat Indiana by one point to put a halt to IU’s six-year winning streak.

Naber would go on to win the 100 and 200 backstrokes, both in American record time (50.51, 1:48.95), as the Trojans celebrated their first national title in eight years.

As a sophomore in 1975, Naber blasted an American record in the 500 free with a 4:20.45—more than six seconds faster than his winning time a year earlier. And he added two more American records in his specialty, the backstroke.

>> While John Naber was at USC, winning 10 individual titles and four team championships, he also competed at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where he won four gold medals—all in world-record time—and one silver medal.

[PHOTO BY BOB INGRAM ] MARCH 2021

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OLYMPIC RIVALRIES OF YESTERYEAR

BY JOHN LOHN | PHOTOS BY INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME

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?

Many of these duels have been forgotten, lost over time. As our “Takeoff to Tokyo” series continues, Swimming World takes a look at some of these rivalries from yesteryear.

ZOLTAN HALMAY vs. CHARLES DANIELS As the Modern Olympics gained traction and grew in popularity, Hungary’s Zoltan Halmay and the United States’ Charles Daniels engaged in what can be considered the first true rivalry in the sport.

On four occasions between the 1904, 1906 and 1908 Olympic Games, Halmay and Daniels produced gold-silver finishes, with each man winning a pair of titles.

Halmay got the early advantage on Daniels, winning the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, with Daniels claiming the silver medal in each event. Daniels, however, had the stronger overall Olympiad, thanks to victories in the 220 freestyle, 440 freestyle and in the lone relay contested.

On a head-to-head basis, Daniels took control of the rivalry at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens and the 1908 Olympic Games in London, where he prevailed in the 100 freestyle. The 1906 title is considered unofficial, however, as those Games are not recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Halmay and Daniels each held world records during their careers in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle.

Halmay won nine medals during his Olympic career to the eight medals earned by Daniels, although Daniels held the edge in gold medals with five to Halmay’s two. Both men are inductees of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

RIE MASTENBROEK vs. RAGNHILD HVEGER Most rivalries feature multiple major faceoffs over several years, but the rivalry between the Netherlands’ Rie Mastenbroek and Denmark’s Ragnhild Hveger consisted of one race. Yet, their one duel was an epic battle in the 400 freestyle at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

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>> Zoltan Halmay & Charles Daniels

>> Rie Mastenbroek & Ragnhild Hveger

>> Andrew Charlton & Arne Borg

>> Dawn Fraser & Lorraine Crapp

>> Murray Rose & Tsuyoshi Yamanaka

SPONSORED BY

The race was held on the last day of the Games, but by that point, Mastenbroek had enjoyed a fruitful competition. With gold medals already secured in the 100 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay plus a silver medal won in the 100 backstroke, Mastenbroek was a star and merely looking to finish the Olympiad with a flourish. Meanwhile, Hveger was hoping to play the role of spoiler. Little did she know, she’d also play the role of motivator.

Before the start of the 400 freestyle final, Hveger was given a box of chocolates, which she shared with her teammates and several competitors. Among those who did not receive a chocolate was Mastenbroek, who took the snub personally and used it as fuel for the final race of the Games. While Hveger held the lead for most of the race, Mastenbroek shifted into a higher gear down the stretch and reeled in her foe to prevail by more than a second and in Olympicrecord time.

While Mastenbroek became a swim instructor the next year, thereby losing her amateur status and Olympic eligibility, Hveger figured to have future opportunities for Olympic gold. But with World War II forcing the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Games, Hveger didn’t get that chance at her peak. She was also banned from the 1948 Games for her ties to Nazism, and while she raced at the 1952 Olympics, she was past her prime and finished fifth in the 400 freestyle.

ANDREW CHARLTON vs. ARNE BORG At the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, Johnny Weissmuller was the undisputed star, thanks to back-to-back victories in the 100 freestyle and a gold medal in the 400 freestyle. In the shadow of Weissmuller, though, Australia’s Andrew “Boy” Charlton and Sweden’s Arne Borg built a strong rivalry.

In four individual races featuring Borg and Charlton between the 1924 and 1928 Games, each man walked away with four medals, including one gold medal. There was no doubt they defined the distance-freestyle events, their Olympic excellence supported by world-record performances, although the bulk were posted by Borg.

Charlton took the upper hand in the rivalry at the 1924 Olympics in Paris when he topped the field in the 1500 freestyle, leaving Borg with the silver medal. Borg added another silver medal in the 400 freestyle, with Charlton picking up the bronze medal. But Weissmuller was too much for either opponent to handle, as he won the race by more than a second despite being better known as a sprinter.

At the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Borg reversed the finish of four years earlier by capturing gold in the 1500 freestyle, with Charlton grabbing the silver medal. Charlton (silver) and Borg (bronze) again medaled in the 400 freestyle, but as was the case at the previous Olympiad, they were beaten for the gold, this time by Argentina’s Alberto Zorrilla.

individual showdowns, Fraser and Crapp produced a split, Fraser winning the first of three consecutive Olympic titles in the 100 freestyle and Crapp winning convincingly in the 400 freestyle.

Together, they helped Australia to gold and a world record in the 400 freestyle relay.

While Fraser and Crapp exchanged world records in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle early in their rivalry, Fraser took command in that area in 1956 and never yielded either standard back to her countrywoman, although Crapp maintained her world mark in the 400 freestyle. Meanwhile, Fraser beat Crapp in the 100 freestyle at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

The missing element in the rivalry was a 1956 showdown in the 200 freestyle. The event would have allowed for the women to meet at a point between their strengths, Fraser moving up from the 100 freestyle and Crapp moving down from the 400 freestyle. However, the 200 freestyle did not become part of the Olympic schedule until the 1968 Games.

MURRAY ROSE vs. TSUYOSHI YAMANAKA The best rivalries are those that go back and forth, neither competitor with an overwhelming edge. On occasion, however, rivalries exist in which one athlete is dominant. Such was the case when Michael Phelps sat atop the sport and repeatedly owned his meetings with fellow American Ryan Lochte and Hungarian Laszlo Cseh.

A half-century earlier, Australian Murray Rose and Japan’s Tsuyoshi Yamanaka had a similarly one-sided rivalry. Between the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and the 1960 Games in Rome, Rose and Yamanaka met in four distance-freestyle finals. In three of those events, Rose and Yamanaka posted sweeps of the gold and silver medals, with Rose standing on the top of the podium each time.

At a home Olympiad in 1956, Rose set a world record to beat Yamanaka in the 400 freestyle, then held on to defeat his future University of Southern California teammate in the 1500 freestyle.

Four years later, the 400 free produced an identical result, this time Rose claiming a three-second win over Yamanaka. In the 1500 freestyle, Rose was dropped to the silver medal by Aussie John Konrads, while Yamanaka finished out of the medals in fourth.

At the 1961 Amateur Athletic Union Championships, Yamanaka finally reversed his fortunes, as he beat Rose in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle, the shorter distance producing a world record.

For Yamanaka, the effort couldn’t erase his Olympic losses to Rose, but nonetheless was satisfying, given a statement he made months earlier.

“Before I die, I want to beat Murray Rose,” Yamanaka said. 

DAWN FRASER vs. LORRAINE CRAPP The passing of the torch is a common way for rivalries to develop, largely due to the incumbent not wanting to yield power to the upstart. This scenario played out between Australians in the 1950s, as Dawn Fraser—her country’s rising star— supplanted Lorraine Crapp as the big name in a country that loved the sport.

The 1956 Olympics allowed Fraser and Crapp to meet in their homeland, as Melbourne served as the host. In two MARCH 2021

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WHO IS

THIS GUY?

[PHOTO BY CONNOR TRIMBLE ]

Before the summer of 2019, Texas A&M’s Shaine Casas wasn’t exactly impressing anyone with his swimming. 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.

BY DAVID RIEDER

I

n the spring of 2019, Shaine Casas was showing promising ability, but nothing that indicated that the then-19-year-old would win a national title in a few months. Certainly, no one— at least no one outside of his inner circle—imagined that Casas would soon become the country’s best collegiate swimmer.

The last time the United States held a major selection meet, the 2018 summer nationals, Casas was a total non-factor. He swam five events and qualified for two B-finals, one C-final and two D-finals. At his first NCAA Championships eight months later, Casas finished as high as 11th in the 200 fly in two consolation finals appearances.

Now, the 21-year-old McAllen, Texas, native and Texas A&M junior enters the college championship season with the top time in the country in four events while threatening American records. He has never competed internationally, but he has become a contender, if not a favorite, to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. And the person least surprised by all that success?

Shaine Casas.

ALL HE NEEDED WAS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD “I definitely believed I was talented, and I was very ambitious,” Casas said. “I just felt like I didn’t have the same resources or opportunities as other swimmers. I felt like I had to wait to get my chance. I had to move for a summer just to get a chance to train with a really good club program doing doubles and a somewhat thought-out and methodical weight program with Nitro. I always felt like I was at a disadvantage until I got to the level that everybody was at, and I felt once the playing field was even, I could really explode and put distance on people.”

Since the summer of 2019, Casas has been on a hot streak, seemingly surpassing every expectation in sight, and he oozes confidence in his abilities. He’s flown somewhat under the radar 26

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since not a single national-level meet has been held since U.S. nationals in August 2019, but it was at that meet when Casas made his career breakthrough, posting massive time drops to win the 100 meter back and finish second in the 200 back (behind Austin Katz) and the 200 IM (behind Ryan Lochte).

In his sophomore season swimming for the Aggies (2019-20), Casas was masterful. He won SEC titles in the 200 yard back and 200 IM and finished second in the 100 back to reigning 50 meter back World champion Zane Waddell. He led off four A&M relays, including a victorious effort in the 200 medley, and the team finished in an impressive second place. He was set up to star at NCAAs, seeded first in the 200 back and 200 IM and second in the 400 IM. But when the NCAA meet was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Casas lost his big chance. Soon after, he lost another opportunity when the Olympic Trials and Olympics were postponed to 2021. Carrying so much momentum and knowing he had such a huge chance to prove himself on a significant stage, the cancellations were a severe bummer.

“I felt like I didn’t have any closure, really,” Casas said. “I was pretty frustrated, and I was upset for a while because I felt like I was robbed. Going into a meet seeded first, there was a good possibility I could have won. I could have lost, also, but I felt like I had a lot to prove that season.”

SOMETHING SPECIAL When Texas A&M men’s head coach Jay Holmes and associate head coach Jason Calanog were interviewed together, they recalled their first impression of Casas upon his arrival in College Station in the summer of 2018...and both men laughed.

“He broke his ankle at U.S. junior camp, so he was on crutches for six to eight weeks when he got here, so he wasn’t

doing anything. He was just a lazy bum just hanging out at practice, just pulling,” Calanog said. “He really went to nationals (that year)—I swear to God...what was it, Jay, after like three or four weeks of training?...and he went all best times and was (the top 18-and-under finisher at nationals).

“Really, that’s when we knew that we had something special.”

The coaches described the swimmer they now see every day in practice as a relatively normal college swimmer who “just happens to be super-talented at swimming”...and a good teammate who rarely takes things too seriously, but he can be stubborn and complain about a set he doesn’t like.

“His brain is really like a 10-yearold, but he’s in a 21-year-old body,” said Calanog, who actually believes that Casas has the same natural talent and abilities of a high school swimmer he once coached in Jacksonville: a certain Caeleb Dressel.

“He just doesn’t know his potential yet because it’s literally limitless. With strokes, distances, he has no idea. And we have no idea. We’re just trying to prepare him the best we can,” Calanog said. “I never thought I would have another chance to coach somebody this good,” he added.

Exactly what boundaries can he push? >> In the 100 meter back, his 52.72 from 2019 nationals made him the seventh-fastest American of all-time in the event, and he finished the year ranked fifth globally and second among Americans behind Ryan Murphy. His He’s already within striking distance 200 back time of 1:55.79 was good for sixth in the world in 2019, third among Americans behind Ryan Murphy of American records in backstroke and and Austin Katz. (Pictured: Casas after winning 100 back at 2019 U.S. nationals) [PHOTO BY CONNOR TRIMBLE ] butterfly short course, and his coaches insist he’s even better long course. His PROGRESSION OF TIMES weak stroke? Not breaststroke. “He talks a SCY PREVIOUS BEST 2019-20 2020-21 ALL-TIME RANK lot of trash to our breaststrokers,” Holmes said. “He has gotten up and raced them a 100 Back 45.94 44.48 43.87 4th couple times in practice and given them all 200 Back 1:39.84 1:37.20 1:36.55 4th they can handle.”

100 Fly 45.91 45.26 44.98 Just outside top 25 But remember, Casas is just 21, a 200 Fly 1:41.31 1:40.33 1:39.23 8th college junior with untapped capability, but a long process of growth ahead of him 100 IM — — 47.23 1st (unofficial) as he seeks to join the swimming world’s 200 IM 1:42.29 1:39.91 1:38.95 3rd elite ranks.

Even as they marvel at his capabilities, coming back to training for a second time to be even more difficult, Holmes and Calanog want to make sure and briefly, he even questioned whether he could return to his usual they help set him up for sustained improvement and consistency. form. But as the college season began, those questions quickly That means teaching him skills in mental preparation, and Calanog went by the wayside as he put together brilliant performances meet has been applying what he learned from his days at Bolles working after meet. with Dressel, Ryan Murphy and Joseph Schooling. Sometimes, “I think my physical maturity has finally matched my talent,” they have to preach patience.

Casas said. “I felt like whenever I got here, my strokes were fine, “We encourage Shaine to grow, but we’re not trying to have but I was too weak, too slow off the walls, not enough power in him grow up too fast because he needs to be able to go through and out of turns. I really focused in the weight room, lost fat. I’ve this process himself and be able to figure all this stuff out,” Holmes had a dramatic physical change.” said. “We’re not trying to run too fast here. We want Shaine to be The highlights from Casas’ brilliant fall include a stunning 200 Shaine and grow up and experience this. I really believe the older yard fly at a dual meet against TCU. Casas had come to college he gets, the more dangerous he’s going to get. It’s going to be fun as a butterflyer, and his only junior nationals title had come in for us.” the 100 meter fly as a 17-year-old in 2017 when he tied for first with Alexei Sancov in 53.24. He swam mostly butterfly through REBOUNDING FROM COVID-19 his freshman year before his backstroke exploded and suddenly Shortly after returning to swimming in late spring last year, become his best stroke. Still, he was training fly, so he expected Casas had to take another break from the pool when he contracted COVID-19. While he did not suffer from severe symptoms, he found that stroke might catch up to his backstroke eventually.

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SHAINE CASAS / CONTINUED FROM 27

will be chasing tough American records in all his events, but his recent progression shows that breaking national marks is inevitable.

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter what I swim,” Casas said. “I’m just focusing on being a racer and being in the moment and doing what I can to win, because that’s honestly the only thing that matters these next couple meets. Times are cool, but it’s all about winning. First place is the one that’s remembered.”

KILLER INSTINCT After the college season, Casas intends to chase the Olympics. In the 100 meter back, his 52.72 from 2019 nationals made him the seventh-fastest American of alltime in the event, and he finished the year ranked fifth globally and second among Americans behind Ryan Murphy. His 200 back time of 1:55.79 was good for sixth in the world in 2019, third among Americans behind Murphy and Katz. And he bears watching in the butterfly events, as well.

But on top of that, Casas has started to build that edge, the killer instinct you see in all the great champions—that little bit extra that could push him over the top.

Take his mentality regarding training >>(From left) Texas A&M associate head coach Jason Calanog and head coach Jay Holmes recalled their first impression of Shaine Casas when he arrived on campus as a freshman. Casas had broken his ankle at U.S. junior and racing: “Honestly, it starts months camp, yet he still went to nationals that year after just three or four weeks of training. “And he went all best times before,” he said. “As the season starts, and was (the top 18-and-under finisher at nationals),” said Calanog. “That’s when we knew that we had something special.” [PHOTO BY CRAIG BISACRE/ TEXAS A&M ATHLETICS] you’re thinking about, ‘Oh, what’s this guy doing? How hard is this guy pushing himself?’ It’s just the little details and how “I went about a second-and-a-half faster than I thought I was going. I thought I was going about 1:40 or 1:41-low, and I looked, you can beat them at every single thing so that when it comes and I was 1:39-low, and I was like, ‘OK, that’s pretty cool.’ I didn’t down to it, you just don’t lose. really know my butterfly yet, but I’ve kept at it, and it’s finally “There’s a physical part—just outwork your competition—and gotten to the level of my backstroke,” Casas said. “That was just then the mental part, which is even more important...which is just a random stellar swim that I had. I honestly couldn’t explain that knowing and being 100% confident that you can beat them, no one to you. It just happened.” matter what. Even if they want it, you just want it more.”

And then, at A&M’s Art Adamson Invitational, Casas swam the 200 yard IM in the same pool where Dressel had annihilated *** the American record (1:38.13) almost three years earlier, and Casas blasted a 1:38.95 200 IM, good for the third-fastest Still, Casas is a normal college kid who loves playing video performance ever. games whenever he gets the chance—“I have a big range of “When Caeleb went that, I was like, ‘That pool record might games,” he said—and he loves his three brothers, Sean, Seth and stay for 20, 30, 40 years,’” Calanog said. “When (Casas) goes 1:38 two years after, I was like, ‘Oh my God, Jay! Maybe that thing’s Jimmy, and his mother, Monica. It’s just that every chance he’s actually going to be broken!’” had to race in the pool over the past two years, he has simply In early January, Casas competed in long course for the first been astonishing. time since 2019 nationals when he swam at the TYR Pro Swim Of course, COVID has limited those chances, and Casas never Series in San Antonio. There, he won the 100 fly in 51.91 and also got to show just how good he could be in 2020. But when those finished second in both the 100 (54.32) and 200 back (1:58.04), championship meets do return, Casas will get his chance to close on both occasions behind Olympic champion Murphy, who Casas out a season on his own terms. was racing head-to-head for the very first time.

“I feel like a legacy I would love to have is to be just the guy So in his event lineup, Casas has options. That includes on the that could do anything, basically,” Casas said. “I’m no Michael NCAA level, where he would be a massive national title favorite Phelps. There can only be one. I just want to be known as the kid in both backstroke events and the 200 IM, but also a massive threat that just always seemed to flip the switch and keep going, even in both butterfly events, where he could face off deep fields that when people thought it was done, or keep surprising them, even include Georgia’s Luca Urlando and Camden Murphy, Texas’ Alvin Jiang and Sam Pomajevich and Cal’s Trenton Julian. Casas when they thought they had seen everything.”  28

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INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME

THE VALUE OF

SWIMMING IN

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.”

Funston was a man who, upon his untimely death in 1917, had forts, camps, streets, avenues, schools, statues and even a class of naval transport ships named after him. In Iola, Kan., his boyhood home has been preserved and still operates as a biographical museum.

But today, he is the target of a “cancel culture” that seeks to remove his name from public spaces, along with the names of Columbus, Paul Revere, Washington and Lincoln.

By his own admission, Funston committed what would be considered to be war crimes against the Filipino insurgents, and while the imperialist subjugation of the Philippines was an atrocious affront to U.S. ideals, there are things that can be learned from Funston’s story and the role he played in American history and swimming.

ALWAYS KNOWN AS A “FIGHTER” Funston was a “little” man—only 5 feet 4 inches tall and 100 pounds—but so was Napoleon a small man. In spite of his size—or because of it—he was always known as a “fighter.”

His early adult life was one of almost unbelievable adventure.

In the early 1890s, he participated in scientific expeditions in the Dakota Badlands, Death Valley and in Alaska along the Klondike and Yukon Rivers. Then in 1896, he sneaked into Cuba to join insurgents in their revolution against Spain—and he found his calling.

He fought in 22 battles against the Spanish, was wounded three times, and had several horses shot out from under him. When America declared war on Spain, he returned to Kansas, where he was appointed a colonel and commandant of the 20th Kansas Volunteers. The war ended before his unit could join the fight, but he finally got to see action in the Philippines, fighting the Filipinos who opposed America’s imperialistic ambitions and sought their own independence.

The Kansas 20th had their first encounter with the enemy in

>> Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston was on the cover of Harper’s Weekly on Nov. 11, 1899. He served 19 years in the military from 1898-1917 and was promoted to major general in November 1914.

March of 1899 when they reached the banks of a stream and came under fire from the rebels entrenched on the opposite bank. Funston selected 20 men who could swim and instructed the rest of the company to keep the heads of the enemy below their trenches, using their Mauser rifles and Colt-Browning machine guns.

With a shout of “Let’s go, men,” and holding his revolver up out of the water, he led the swimmers across the river. On reaching the other side, the protective fire stopped, and the little band of Kansans charged and captured 80 Filipino insurgents. A “hero” was in the making.

In the weeks that followed, Funston and his men proved the utility of swimming in combat situations several more times. On April 25, their advance was halted by another river. Outmanned and outgunned, the Filipinos had retreated across a railroad bridge, which they destroyed after the last man had passed. Now they were entrenched on the opposite shore.

Thinking it important to get after them at once, Funston and several volunteers crawled along the wreck of the bridge, dodging a few happily misdirected bullets. When the bridge could take them no farther, Funston dropped into the water and swam to the beach, followed by the others. Emerging from the water with a yell and a few shots, they captured what was left of the rebels. The opposite bank secure, engineers were able to construct a foot bridge over the broken span of the Bag-Bag Bridge, and the rest of Funston’s infantry continued their advance.

SWIMMING EXPLOITS OF PRIVATES WHITE & TREMBLEY Two days later on April 27, the 20th Kansas Volunteers reached CONTINUED ON 30 >> MARCH 2021

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the Rio Grande, where they found the locals again entrenched in force on the opposite shore, protecting the remnants of another bridge. Some 600 yards below the bridge, scouts found a small raft that the enemy had unsuccessfully attempted to burn. To turn this raft into a small ferry would require swimmers to carry a heavy rope to the other side, necessarily within close proximity to enemy trenches.

When he asked for volunteers who could swim, Pvt. Edward White and Pvt. William Trembley were selected.

“White and Trembley stripped stark naked behind the cover of a clump of bamboos,” Funston wrote in his report.

“They took the ends of the rope between them and plunged into the river. As soon as they did, the ‘music’ began. They were powerful swimmers, but their progress was >> American soldiers in the Philippines swimming to an assault on the insurgent entrenchments. slow, owing to the strength required to drag [DRAWN BY FREDERIC REMINGTON] the heavy rope, which was being paid out to them by their comrades on the bank.”

The “music” Funston referred to was the sound of a hundred men firing automatic rifles, the Hotchkiss revolving cannon and Colt machine guns. “The greatest lover of the sensational could not have wished for anything more thrilling,” Funston wrote.

“The two men battling slowly across the current with the snakelike rope dragging after them; the grim and silent men firing with top speed over their heads into the trenches on the other bank; the continuous popping of the revolving cannon, a gun of the pompom type, the steady drumming of Gatling guns and the constant succession of crashes from the big field pieces; the thin film of smoke rising along both banks of the river, and the air filled with dust thrown up by striking shells and bullets, made the scene that could not fade from one’s memory in many a lifetime. There was now being carried out one of the most difficult of military operations, for the Rio Grande was, in fact, a vast moat for the defense on the north bank.

“Finally, the two swimmers, panting and all but exhausted, dragged themselves out on the other bank at the base of the world that had been so mercilessly battered. The fire of the artillery and the machine guns now ceased for fear of hitting the two men, and only a few of the detail of infantrymen were allowed to fire, under strict supervision, as their bullets must clear White and Trembley by only a few feet if the latter stood up. There was, however, no cessation of the fire on the works between them and the north end of the bridge.

“The situation of the two naked and unarmed men was, of course, precarious, as they were separated from all the rest of the division, while all around them were hundreds of the enemy, who were, however, prevented from molesting them by the fire still sweeping adjacent trenches. Finally, White and Trembley made a noose in the end of the rope, gathered in several feet of slack, and, astonishing to relate, made a dash for the trench and slipped it over one of the bamboo uprights of the work, returning then to the river bank, while we opened fire again directly over them to prevent the occupants of the trench from cutting the rope.”

The ferry line now established, it was found that the raft would >> Outmanned and outgunned, the Filipinos had retreated across a railroad bridge, support only eight men at a time. So Funston and seven others which they destroyed after the last man had passed. Now they were entrenched on pulled themselves across by the rope, and in a few moments, had the opposite shore. Thinking it important to get after them at once, Funston and joined White and Trembley on the other bank. Two men took the raft several volunteers crawled along the wreck of the bridge, dodging a few happily back for another load, and as soon as two dozen had landed, they misdirected bullets.

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captured what remained of the enemy.

NATIONAL HEROES The “yellow press” turned Funston, White and Trembley into national heroes. They were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and Thomas Edison’s film company reenacted their feats with actors in New Jersey. The fame of Fred Funston and the 20th Kansas Volunteers was further magnified in popular culture through musical compositions for both piano and community bands. Among the titles were “Funston and His Men,” “Funston’s ‘Fighting 20th’” and “The Dare Devil March.”

Editorials declared that their feats >> To turn a raft into a small ferry (top illustration) required two swimmers were “likely to make swimming so to drag a heavy rope to the other popular that everybody and everything side of the Rio Grande within close will adopt it,” and that “ambitious proximity to enemy trenches. Privates William Trembley and Edward White youths will hereafter begin preparations (inset illustration, from left) did so for their careers by learning to swim.” amidst the firing of automatic rifles, This led to a boom in pool building in a Hotchkiss revolving cannon and Colt machine guns! Successful in their communities and schools across the mission, the two men, along with Funston, became national heroes and were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. nation as well as swimming instruction for our nation’s military.

For his work, President McKinley rewarded him a promotion to brigadier general when he was only 36 years old. In 1906, Gen. Funston was in command of the military base at the Presidio in San Francisco when the earthquake struck. His leadership and actions were widely praised and credited with saving the city from chaos, starvation, looting and destruction.

In 1914, when the Mexican Revolution broke out, President Wilson assigned Funston to oversee the occupation of Veracruz. He was later put in charge of the 150,000 men assigned to protect the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border.

Among his subordinates were Douglas MacArthur and John “Blackjack” Pershing.

Shortly before the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, Funston, now a major general since November 1914, was destined to lead the American Expeditionary Forces to Europe, but he died of a heart attack a month-anda-half earlier at the age of 51, leaving the position to General Pershing. 

Bruce Wigo, historian and consultant at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, served as president/CEO of ISHOF from 2005-17. The illustrations provided with this story are from his private collection.

In this month’s March issue, Bruce Wigo explores the value of swimming to military history. For a related story, see page 9 (“DID YOU KNOW: about Prince Dabulamanzi and the Battle of Isandlwana?”)

>> The fame of Funston and the 20th Kansas Volunteers was further magnified in popular culture through musical compositions for both piano and community bands. Among the titles were “Funston and His Men,” “Funston’s ‘Fighting 20th’” and “The Dare Devil March” (pictured).

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SWIMMING WORLD PRESENTS

2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY The listings on pages 32-39 are advertisements.

AADVANCED REMOTE SWIM CAMPS

THE ARETE SWIM CAMP & CLINICS

THE BOLLES SCHOOL SWIM CAMPS 2021

Bob Prichard, Director 4 Tara Hill Road Tiburon, CA 94920 415-435-9880 bprichard@somaxsports.com www.somaxsports.com/swimcamp.php

Coach Chuck Warner, Camp Director Arete Swim Camp 1050 Dellwood Rd. Martinsville, NJ 08836 areteswimcamp@gmail.com www.areteswim.com

Peter Verhoef, Coach 7400 San Jose Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32217 904-256-5216 VerhoefP@bolles.org www.Bollesswimming.org

Camp Dates: Feb. 1 - Dec. 31, 2021

Super-Strokes & Skills Clinics: To Be Determined

Elite I Camp: June 6-13 Elite II Camp: June 13-23

Our 2021 private remote camps accommodate up to three swimmers from the same family. Each five-day camp teaches one stroke. We teach swimmers to swim efficiently like world record holders (our swimmers have set 11 world records and have won 43 gold medals) by using frame-by-frame underwater stroke analysis and our exclusive drills, stretches and exercises. Swimmers have reduced their stroke count 30-50%.

We teach parents how to teach their kids.

A parent will record videos and supervise practices as we talk and watch via Zoom. During dryland sessions at home, we will analyze underwater strokes via Zoom, measure strokespecific flexibility and then teach stretches and exercises to relax muscles that are restricting breathing, shoulders, hips and legs.

A complete camp description can be found at www.somaxsports.com/swimcamp.php.

The fee for each private remote camp is $13,500 for all instruction, our custommade Powerbelts and a 2,500-yard practice laminated drill card.

Camp Dates: To Be Determined: June 20-24?? at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, N.J. We are uncertain whether the ARETE Swim Camp will launch its 24th year due to health considerations around COVID-19. Our intense instruction led by three-time USA National Team Coach Chuck Warner has helped transform more than 4,000 swimmers. For 18 consecutive years, ARETE has sold out most sessions. Our four core objectives are: Immediate Skill Improvement, Self-Esteem Development, Teamwork and “WOW Experiences.”

Each swimmer is filmed underwater and has permanent access to their own recording. A coach analyzes each stroke with each swimmer using our camp workbook. A key aspect of our camp is our “Inner Engineering Curriculum,” and we have a coach-to-swimmer ratio of 1:9 or better.

Coach Warner’s experience includes: • Four-time Big East Conference Coach of the Year •

Author of …And Then They Won Gold; Four Champions, One Gold Medal; EDDIE REESE: Coaching Swimming, Teaching Life

•

Former president of the American Swimming Coaches Association

For experienced competitive swimmers 13 and over

Camp sessions will focus on elite training in a team environment that includes technical teaching Dryland sessions focus on swimmingspecific strength and conditioning Olympic Camp: June 23-July 3

For experienced competitive swimmers 13 and over

Coaches and athletes will focus on the training, teaching and competitive aspects that make up competing at the Olympic level with daily viewing of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials as they happen Dryland sessions will focus on swimmingspecific strength and conditioning Campers will compete at the Bolles Classic Swim Meet (entry fees/USA Swimming registration included) Speed Camp: July 5-11

For competitive swimmers 13 and over

•

Swimmers will explore the technical and physiological aspects of swimming faster

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Individual technical instruction and video sessions will be included for each camper, and practices will feature measurable and specific sets to focus on speeds for events ranging from 50 to 800 meters

•

Dryland sessions will focus on plyometric and power movements

2019 Clinic Fees: $215 all three/$85 per.

2019 Camp Fees: $590-710 commuter/$765-900 resident (early registration discounted). Ages: 7-18.

COMBINATION OPTIONS FOR AFOREMENTIONED CAMPS AVAILABLE

CONTINUED ON 34 >>

CHECK OUT OUR CAMP LISTINGS ONLINE AT WWW.SWIMMINGWORLD.COM/CAMPS 32

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[ PHOTO COURTESY LARRY THORNTON ]

2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY / CONTINUED FROM 32 Day Camp: June 8-17 (Day Sessions) Dates: June 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17 •

Technical one-day camp for swimmers age 12 and under

•

Camp will include teaching, training and camp activities

•

Registration is limited to 30 participants per day

Note: Be assured COVID-19 procedures are in place to mitigate risks and keep campers as safe and healthy as possible.

See display ad on page 35.

CAMP CHIKOPI Founded 1920 For Boys aged 7-17 Colette Duenkel 373 Chikopi Rd., Magnetawan, Ontario, POA 1PO Canada 705-387-3811 (In Season) • 954-566-8235 (Off Season) campchikopi@aol.com www.campchikopi.com https://www.facebook.com/CampChikopi/ https://www.instagram.com/campchikopi/

national, university and high school champions.

It was voted “one of the best boys sports camps in Ontario.” Ahmic Lake is a quiet, pristine freshwater lake. Chikopi has over 2,000 feet of waterfront, offering multiple swimming options; a 50-meter swimming pool built into the lake and three sandy beaches.

Our swimming program covers every level— beginning with our respected water safety and learn-to-swim program to our admired and highly competitive swim team. No matter which level of swimming your son is at, he will improve with our personalized program, tailor-made to fit his ability and needs.

Located on 400 acres of the Almaguin Highlands, we offer over 30 land and water sports, all of which complement our swimming program. As well as specializing in swimming, soccer and triathlon, Camp Chikopi offers unique activities such as open water swimming, wilderness mountain bike trails, competitive war canoe and canoe tripping.

Campers range from boys who are here to have fun playing sports and being outdoors to gifted athletes. We have programs to fit everyone’s needs and fulfill their summer goals.

Chikopi is extremely proud of our diversity and inclusiveness. We are very international and welcome every nationality, language and custom at Chikopi. It is an excellent opportunity for boys to be technology-free and immersed in a variety of cultures.

Our wilderness location and rustic setting add to the extraordinary experience that a summer at Chikopi provides.

THE WORLD’S FIRST SWIM CAMP FITTER AND FASTER SWIM CAMPS

Two-Week Camps: June 30-July 14 July 14-28 July 28-Aug. 11 Three-Week Camps: June 30-July 21 July 28-Aug. 18 Four-Week Camps: June 30-July 28 July 14-Aug. 18 Five-Week Camps: June 30-Aug. 4 July 14-Aug. 18 Six-Week Camps: July 30-Aug. 11 Seven-Week Camps: June 30-Aug. 18 Specialty session pre-arranged with directors Camp Chikopi is a unique mix of a traditional and competitive sports camp. Chikopi was founded in 1920 by U.S. Olympic swimming coach Matt Mann II. We are renowned for being the world’s first swim camp and the oldest competitive sports camp in the world.

Chikopi has a long history of Olympic,

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www.FitterandFaster.com When: Year-round Where: 40+ states, Canada & Bahamas Elite Clinicians: 150+ Fitter & Faster safely produced more than 100 swim camps in 40 states during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reduced session sizes and practiced detailed safety protocols.

Fitter and Faster’s high volume of camps has enabled their clinicians to achieve an experience and competency level that is unmatched in the industry.

As a year-round organization that produces swim camps anytime and anywhere—they are able to cap their session sizes at the smallest volume of any swim camp in the world. That means more expert-level attention for your swimmer.

• Each camp has a specific, unique curriculum centered around technique and race strategy •

Your instructors are in the water, demonstrating and making corrections.

•

Each camp is an enriching experience where swimmers with professional clinicians who have competed in college, World Championships and Olympics.

•

Participants engage in conversations about technique, race strategy, balancing school

and swimming, nutrition, psychology, training, taper and other aspects of life in and out of the pool that have made your clinicians successful.

Visit FitterandFaster.com to find a swim camp or to request one near you.

See display ad on page 33.

GOLD MEDAL SWIM CAMPS AND CLINICS Courtney Hart, Head Coach Georgia Tech Swimming and Diving 404-867-3766 buzzswimming@gmail.com www.goldmedalswimcamp.com Link to registration page: https://portal.campnetwork.com/Register/ Register.php?camp_id=397055 Head coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Courtney Hart invites you to take part in our Spring Clinics and Summer Camps.

The Gold Medal Swim Camp coaches are some of the best in the business. With two former Olympians, former national team members, experienced collegiate coaches and Georgia Tech Swimming & Diving team members, the camp promises to have some of the best technical instruction available in a camp setting.

Camp Dates: June 7-10 Session 1 July 6-9 Session 2 CAMPS: This year, our Competitive Swim Camp is a commuter-style camp that will include a water session, technical instruction, video work and dryland instruction.

Swimmers will be in the water two-plus hours each day and hear from some of the best coaches in the business.

Our camp is located at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology at 750 Ferst Drive.

Clinic Dates: Saturday April 17 Starts and Turns Sunday April 18 Freestyle and Backstroke Sunday April 25 Butterfly and Breaststroke Saturday May 8 Starts and Turns Sunday May 9 Freestyle and Backstroke CLINICS: Our clinics are designed to provide competitive swimming technique training for intermediate to advanced competitive swimmers. Our clinics are two-and-a-half hours long, to the point and full of information!

Get ready for the summer competition season with one of our focused clinics. Get individualized attention from our former Olympians and collegiate coaches.

Our clinic is located at the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology at 750 Ferst Drive.

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SWIM CAMPS E X P E R I E N C E T H E E XC E L L E N C E

Elite Camp I

Elite Camp II

June 6–13

June 13–23

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JOIN THE TRADITION

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L I V E T H E PA S S I O N

For experienced competitive swimmers Camp sessions will focus on elite training in a team environment that includes technical teaching Dryland sessions focus on swimming specific strength and conditioning

Olympic Camp June 23–July 3

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Coaches and athletes will focus on the training, teaching and competitive aspects that make up competing at the Olympic level with viewing and updates from the US Olympic Trials as they happen.

Dryland sessions will focus on swimming specific strength and conditioning.

Campers will compete at the Bolles Classic Swim Meet (entry Fees/USA Swimming Registration included)

BOLLES SHARKS SWIM CAMP ADVANTAGE n

Speed Camp July 5– 11

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n

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Swimmers will explore the technical and physiological aspects of swimming faster Individual technical instruction and video sessions will be included for each camper and practices will feature measurable and specific sets to focus on speeds for events ranging from 50 to 800 meters Dryland sessions will focus on plyometric and power movements

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Learn from Bolles coaches with Olympic swimming and coaching experience.

Live, eat, train and learn on the beautiful Bolles riverfront campus with swimmers from around the world.

Classroom sessions, Dryland training and FUN Camp activities/ outings are all included.

Transportation shuttles to/from the Jacksonville International airport are included on check-in and check-out days.

Due to COVID-19 there is a limited number of dorm rooms available.

If you and/or your family are interested in staying in a nearby hotel, we can direct you to one offering a discounted price.

Registrations will open online in December.

Be assured COVID-19 procedures are in place to mitigate risks and keep campers as safe and healthy as possible.

Combination options are available for all camps listed. Camps listed are overnight camps. Camps are for athletes 13 years and older. Must be 13 on or before final day of camp.

For information contact: Jeff Pishko, Senior Assistant Coach (904) 256-5215 | PishkoJ@Bolles.org

www.BollesSwimming.org

2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY / CONTINUED FROM 34 LONGHORNS SWIM CAMP Jon Alter, Camp Director The University of Texas P.O. Box 7399 Austin, TX 78713-7399 512-475-8652 • Fax 512-232-1273 longhornswimcamp@athletics.utexas.edu www.LonghornSwimCamp.com Four one-week sessions from May 24-June 19 43 years of excellence! Headed by threetime Olympic and Texas head men’s coach Eddie Reese, 2019 World University Games and women’s coach Carol Capitani, former USA Swimming National Junior Team Director and assistant women’s coach Mitch Dalton and 2018 Team USA Pan-Pac and assistant men’s coach Wyatt Collins, the Longhorns Swim Camp is the most exciting camp in the country! Guest coaches and speakers include Olympians and national team members Ian Crocker, Josh Davis, Colleen Lanné-Cox, Garrett Weber-Gale, Townley Haas, Whitney Hedgepeth, Will Licon, Madisyn Cox and Jimmy Feigen. Open to male and female competitive swimmers, ages 8 to 18.

Camp is held at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus, home to 23 NCAA team champions.

Facility includes an indoor 50-meter by 25yard pool, a 25-yard by 25-meter pool and a BRAND NEW 50-meter by 25-yard outdoor pool.

Four training groups based on age and ability, with a 1:7 coach/swimmer ratio in technique sessions.

Daily training includes challenging longcourse sessions Monday-Friday mornings; technique sessions Monday-Thursday afternoons and evenings, with start/turn work included. Classroom sessions on technique and race strategies held. Underwater video of each camper analyzed by a coach. Daily social activities and field trips offered. Multiple-week stays include planned weekend activities with supervision. Experienced, mature, adult staff provides 24-hour supervision. Cost: Overnight Camp $1,070; Day Camp $970. Complete camp information and online registration available at Longhornswimcamp.com.

Per NCAA rules, sport camps and clinics conducted by The University of Texas are open to all entrants. Enrollment is limited only by age, grade level, gender and capacity restrictions as specified by each camp. NCAA guidelines prohibit payment of camp expenses by a representative of The University of Texas’ athletics interest. NCAA rules also prohibit free or reduced camp admission for prospects (9th grade and above).

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MICHIGAN SWIM CAMP at The University of Michigan 8160 Valley View Drive Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734-845-8596 umswim1@gmail.com www.michiganswimcamp.com or www.camps.mgoblue.com/swimming Four sessions open to any and all entrants, limited to age and 195 campers per session in Canham Natatorium at the University of Michigan. A staff of 60+ and three instructional sessions per day ensure the individual attention necessary for significant improvement.

Coaches Mike Bottom, Dr. Josh White, Rick Bishop, Sam Wensman, Nikki Kett, Kurt Kirner and Roger Karns are directly involved in coaching and teaching campers.

All campers HD-filmed, 1:1 analyzed, and receive a written stroke analysis. Optional custom video and/or Kistler start-and-turn analysis available for an additional fee. Choose the Intensive Training Track or the Technique Development Track. World-class staff provides leadership and mentoring that encourage each swimmer to strive for excellence in and out of the pool.

While the status of summer camps for 2021 is uncertain, we will resume hosting athletic camps when it is safe to do so. Please continue to follow us on mgoblue.com for the latest updates. Stay safe and Go Blue.

NAVY SWIMMING CAMPS 2021 Bill Roberts, Camp Director Navy Swimming Camps 2021 566 Brownson Rd., Annapolis, MD 21402 410-293-5834, 410-293-3012 Fax 410-293-3811 navyswimmingcamp@usna.edu www.navyswimmingcamp.com or www.navysports.com Facebook search: Navy Swimming Camp June 15-19 Session I June 21-25 Session II Clinics: June 19 & 20 (see website for 2021 clinic offerings) Now going into our 23rd season, expect direct results by being part of the 2021 Navy Swimming Camp this summer! Our principal goal is to provide you the very best in individual instruction, evaluation, camper experience and safety/supervision. The purpose of our camp is to offer you a unique environment to learn and develop your competitive strokes, including all related starts, turns and finishes.

Navy Swimming Camp is a stroke-intensive camp. Swimming campers will receive individual attention. Additional training sessions are offered to all needing to maintain conditioning while at camp. Video analysis, dryland activities designed to improve individual fitness levels, performance, training, goal-setting, leadership presentations and the Severn River boat cruise are all part of the schedule for 2021. Also, outstanding and accomplished guest speakers

and presenters all scheduled for this year’s edition of the Navy Swimming Camp.

Campers will learn, train and reside in an amazingly safe and unique environment on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy.

Additionally, teamwork and leadership are important points of emphasis for every camper.

The Navy camp is led by an experienced camp staff while providing the very best in 24-hour supervision.

See www.navyswimmingcamp.com for greater detail, including brochure, application, daily schedule and frequently asked questions.

Cost for each camp: $725/commuter camper (ages 8-18), $775/extended day camper (ages 8-18), $825/resident camper (ages 9-18). All campers receive a NAVY swimming shirt & an exclusive NAVY backstroke flag. Go Navy!

2021 NEAL STUDD SWIM CAMP AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Dan Carrington, Camp Director Florida State University 2560 Pottsdamer St. Tallahassee, FL 32310 850-644-5946 dcarrington@fsu.edu www.fsuswimcamp.com June 14-18 Session 1 June 21-25 Session 2 The Neal Studd Swim Camp at Florida State University is a camp that focuses on giving each swimmer, ages 7-18, the tools to improve his or her overall technique. The camp focuses on fitness, stroke technique, starts, turns, nutrition and mental training.

Each camper will receive specific instruction on all four strokes, turns and starts. There will be classroom sessions on these principles as well as talks on nutrition. We will also have champion swimmers come in to talk to our campers.

Our goal each session is to give your camper the tools to improve his or her swimming as well as give them a renewed love of the sport!

We love to hear from our campers each year that they have a “renewed love of the sport” and/or that they “were so excited to drop time.”

We’ve earned a reputation with the clubs of our campers returning to their teams with better technique, improved fitness and more confidence!

Additional camp information can be found at: https://www.fsuswimcamp.com/

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2021 SWIM CAMP DIRECTORY / CONTINUED FROM 36 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO SWIMMING CAMPS Lisa Ebeling, Camp Director University of Northern Colorado 970-451-1476 Lisa.ebeling@unco.edu www.uncswimmingcamps.com June 28-July 2 Session 1 July 12-16 Session 2 UNC Swimming Camps are designed to teach athletes the technical aspects of swimming to help them achieve success at the next level. The main focus of our camp is on stroke analysis and technique for starts and turns through in-depth video review. We also provide elite high-altitude training sessions, team building activities, nutritional education, competition preparation tools and mental training.

We group athletes according to skill level, and are able to accommodate swimmers of all levels, ages 8-18.

UNC Swimming Camps are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender).

Join Coaches Lisa Ebeling and Brody Lewis to learn the techniques used by NCAA and Olympic champions. Camps are filling fast, so register now to reserve your spot!

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SWIMMING CAMPS

THE RACE CLUB 2021 UPCOMING SWIM CAMPS https://theraceclub.com/swim-camps/swimcamp-details/ Swimmers will focus on all strokes, swimming starts and swimming flip turns while improving freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly swimming techniques. Learn four different types of dryland training, the science of swimming and the five disciplines of fast swimming. Develop seasonal planning, mental training and swim race strategy techniques that are sure to give you an edge over your competition.

Whether you’re a beginner, Masters or a competitive swimmer, we recommend that all campers attend every swim camp session to gain a comprehensive knowledge of our methodologies to improve your swimming technique.

The Race Club Swim Camps are unlike any other swim camps or clinics. Sign up for the sessions you’d like during a camp. We coach a morning and an afternoon session on each scheduled camp day. Morning sessions are three hours at $250 per session, and afternoon sessions are two hours long at $150 per session.

We encourage all campers to attend all eight sessions to gain the full benefit of The Race Club methodology. If you register 30+ days before the camp start date, you will receive a $200 discount off the full camp rate of $1,600.

Link to camp info: https://theraceclub.com/ swim-camps/swim-camp-details/

http://www.pittswimmingcamp.com/ Pittsburgh Swim Camp Dates: June 13-17 June 20-24 Our swim camp is designed to inspire competitive swimmers to develop their strokes and training while swimming under the guidance and experience of some of the best collegiate coaches in the country!

University of Pittsburgh head coach and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, John Hargis, along with his coaching staff will instruct campers how to develop their strokes, starts and turns. We will also instruct campers on how to maximize daily training while at camp and when they return to their home club. Each day will consist of water workouts plus a classroom session to watch and analyze swimming videos, as well as other topics such as preparing for college, sport nutrition and goal setting. Camp will also include individual stroke analysis and instruction via video review, and a low camper-to-staff ratio.

We will be taking additional measures based on guidance from our local health department and the Pitt Athletics department to limit any COVID exposure.

Campers can also purchase additional video analysis that includes all four strokes, starts, turns and underwater kick footage.

Video analysis is done by collegiate coaches and delivered to the camper digitally for unlimited playback.

Cost: $500. Additional camp information can be found at: http://www.pittswimmingcamp.com/

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SPIRE INSTITUTE & ACADEMY 440-466-1002 info@spireinstitute.org https://www.spireinstitute.org Stroke Camp Dates: June 6-10 June 13-17 June 20-24 Aug. 8-12 Start & Turn Camp Dates: May 28-30 June 11-13 June 18-20 Aug. 13-15 SPIRE offers five-day Stroke Camps and three-day Start & Turn Camps for ages 12 and older. These competitive swimming camps are either boarding or non-boarding and are for competitive swimmers.

Stroke Camps are structured around a philosophy of teaching skill acquisition and development in all four competitive strokes as well as starts and turns. Two daily water sessions are led by a world-class staff.

Workouts are structured to improve stroke technique with a combination of drills, skills and training.

Each athlete will have opportunities to enhance all phases of competitive swimming

through individualized attention from our excellent coaches and counselors. Individual stroke analysis, dryland instruction and lecture sessions will give the campers one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date training camp experiences available in the United States.

The Competitive Start & Turn Camp will only focus on starts and turns. Emphasis is about turning these often-overlooked skills into a true competitive advantage. Swimmers will receive intensive instruction on the forward and backstroke starts with safety being a priority.

Fast, legal turns for all four competitive strokes and the IM transition turns will be covered. Each athlete will receive individual attention from a staff of outstanding coaches and instructors.

See display ad on page 37.

STR SPEEDWEEK SWIM CAMPS USING SCIENCE TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUE swimmingtechnology.com Are you: • looking for a significant time drop?

• serious about improving your technique?

• hoping to reduce or eliminate shoulder pain?

• ready to compete at the next level?

• interested in extending your swimming career to college?

If you are, then an STR SpeedWeek is your best swim camp option! We are the only camp with scientific studies that confirm the effect of our technique improvement strategies.

In the morning classroom instructional session, swimmers learn specific cues to see and feel so they can swim like MONA, a biomechanical model of optimal technique.

The following pool session includes deliberate practice strategies to help the swimmers optimize technique—short swims at a slow stroke rate with lots of individual feedback.

In the afternoon, swimmers are tested in the pool and analyzed in the classroom with Aquanex—our patented system that captures synchronized underwater video and hand force data. This science-based analysis is unlike anything else in the world of swimming, giving swimmers the information they need to fine-tune their technique and make drastic time drops.

You will learn to: • Optimize the non-breathing head position • Control the base of support to minimize resistance and maximize propulsion • Benefit from elbow flexion at the beginning of the pull • Vary the arm index of coordination in freestyle • Minimize shoulder stress on the freestyle and butterfly arm entry • Reduce fluctuations in body velocity in breaststroke and butterfly • Gain extra propulsion on the freestyle push phase • Eliminate wasted arm motion in backstroke • Practice deliberately to make technique changes quickly

The STR bottom line: We guarantee we can show every swimmer how to swim faster.

SpeedWeek helps you make technique changes based on scientific data rather than opinion. Our campers have incomparable progress and learn practice strategies that help them continue to improve on return to normal training.

Each SpeedWeek is limited to 12 swimmers to ensure maximum individual attention by Dr. Rod Havriluk, world-renowned biomechanist and technique expert. Dr. Havriluk is internationally recognized for his unique approach to accelerating skill-learning and preventing shoulder injury. He is a frequent conference presenter (ASCA, ASCTA, BMS, FINA, IOC, ISCA, USAS, USMS, USSSA) and is widely published. In 2015, he was selected by Swimming World Magazine as one of the top 10 individuals making an impact on swimming.

Check our website for more info: swimmingtechnology.com

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AGGIE SWIM CAMP Shannon Clark, Camp Director aggieswimcamp@gmail.com www.aggieswimcamp.com May 23-28 (Sunday-Friday) May 30-June 4 (Sunday-Friday) June 6-9 (Sunday-Wednesday) TECHNIQUE CAMP The Aggie Swim Camp offers super stroke technique, great counselors, a world-class, newly renovated facility and lots of fun! The Texas A&M head men’s and women’s coaches, Jay Holmes and Steve Bultman, are on deck every day to work with campers one-on-one and in small groups to maximize the camp experience.

Campers receive detailed stroke work with a highly experienced coaching staff and a low coach-to-swimmer ratio in every group. Campers also receive extensive filming with voice-over stroke instruction on all four strokes. Filming includes above water, below water, starts and turns as well as one-on-one video analysis with camp coaches daily. Take home your DVD, and watch it with your coach at home.

Outside of the pool, campers reside in a beautiful off-campus dorm and enjoy great recreational activities away from the pool as they create new friendships and meet swimmers from all over the world.

The Aggie Swim Camp is open on a firstcome, first-serve basis to any individual who

satisfies the age, grade level and/or gender requirements set forth in the registration materials.

Male and female swimmers (ages 8-18) of any ability level are welcome to attend. It is highly recommended, but not required, that swimmers have competitive experience prior to attending.

Visit our website at: www.aggieswimcamp.com to register online.

TOTAL PERFORMANCE SWIM CAMPS AT KENYON COLLEGE & CALVIN COLLEGE 740-398-4464 www.tpscamps.com Competitive Stroke Camp at Kenyon: June 13-17 Session 1: $675 overnight $510 day (space limited to 75) June 17-20 Session 2: $525 overnight $375 day (space limited to 75) June 20-24 Session 3: $675 overnight $510 day (space limited to 50) Competitive Stroke Camp at Calvin: June 13-17 Session 1: $675 overnight $510 day (space limited to 50) Elite Distance Camp at Kenyon: June 20-24: $775 overnight $610 day (space limited to 25) Elite Breaststroke Camp at Kenyon: June 20-24: $775 overnight $610 day (space limited to 25) Elite STRENGTH Camp at Kenyon (NEW CAMP OFFERING FOR AQUATICS): June 24-27: $425 overnight $310 day (space limited to 25) Elite Coaching Camp at Kenyon (NEW CAMP OFFERING FOR AQUATICS): June 25: $99/coach (space limited to 75) Elite Fly/Back Underwater Camp at Kenyon: June 27-July 1: $775 overnight $610 day (space limited to 50) Elite Sprint Camp at Kenyon: June 27-July 1: $775 overnight $610 day (space limited to 50) The Total Performance Swim Camps— hosted in 2021 at Kenyon College and Calvin College—are back! As we have since 1980, Total

Performance offers swimmers of all abilities an opportunity to learn how to take their swimming to the next level from some of the nation’s top coaches. This year, we offer two camp models: the Competitive Stroke Camp and the Elite Camp. NEW in 2021 is the firstever Total Performance Strength Camp and Coaches Camp.

COMPETITIVE STROKE CAMPS feature nationally ranked collegiate coaches, two pool sessions per day with a focus on training and technique, critique sessions in all four strokes, starts and turns with personalized takehome video analysis, special guest speakers that include Olympians and top DI coaches, educational classroom sessions and fun social activities. The Competitive Stroke Camps are directed by nationally ranked collegiate coaches and are open to all competitive swimmers, ages 10-18.

ELITE CAMPS are intensive, stroke-specific programs that provide elite swimmers, ages 13-18, with cutting-edge training and techniques in each specialty, data-driven classroom sessions and swimming-specific drylands. These camps feature nationally and internationally ranked headliners as well as top collegiate coaches.

NEW in 2021 are the Total Performance Elite Strength Camp and Elite Coaches Camp.

ELITE STRENGTH CAMP will feature top strength coaches from around the country and will focus on: 1.) How to develop swimmingspecific strength and power, and 2.) How to establish proper technique. Advanced critique sessions for all aquatic athletes.

Guest speakers will include Olympians and top coaches, educational classroom sessions and fun social activities.

ELITE COACHES CAMP will be a oneday training camp for high school and club coaches. The camp will focus on: 1.) Coach development, 2.) Team development—building a program, and 3.) Culture—establishing a healthy environment for athletes.

Kenyon College and Calvin College feature safe campuses and world-class facilities that have been rated in the Top 20 by the Princeton Review. Overnight camps provide 24-hour supervision by our staff of collegiate swimmers and coaches, providing greater opportunities for mentorship during the week.

More than most years, space is limited. Call 740-398-4464 or visit: www.tpscamps.com for more information. 

CHECK OUT OUR CAMP LISTINGS ONLINE AT

WWW.SWIMMINGWORLD.COM/CAMPS MARCH 2021

SWIMMINGWORLD.COM

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DRYSIDE TRAINING

PULLING POWER

BY J.R. ROSANIA • DEMONSTRATED BY NORIKO INADA • PHOTOS BY EMMI BRYTOWSKI

Swimmers typically use their legs and their kick to maintain a specific body position and supply some thrust to move the body forward in the water.

A strong kick is essential for any particular strokes. But the pull phase of the stroke is where a swimmer has an opportunity to grab water and use it as resistance to create more distance per stroke.

Let’s take a look at several exercises that increase the ability for a swimmer to grab more water and enable the body to move more quickly through the water. Each exercise can be done at home or in the gym.

Perform two to three sets of 10 repetitions, two to three times per week.

Learn how to catch, grab and pull water and how to create more power and speed.

Practice this for several months, and you will experience greater “pulling” power. As always, discontinue these exercises one to two weeks away from a taper “A” race.

STABILITY BALL TUBE FREESTYLE PULL Lying face down with your waist on top of a stability ball and your feet anchored on the floor, perform a freestyle stroke while holding stretch cords or surgical tubing.

MEDICINE BALL SINGLEARM THROW-DOWN Standing on a small elevated box or platform, raise a lightweight medicine ball overhead to a straight-arm position, then slam the ball down to the floor. Perform the movement as if you were doing the pull phase of your stroke.

Alternate arms.

PLANK WITH STROKE Establish a plank position, then raise one arm off the floor and perform a freestyle stroke. Alternate sides.

LOW TUBE PULL While holding stretch cords or surgical tubing, stand bent over with your upper body in a relatively parallel position to the floor. Perform a pulling motion with your arms.

MEET THE TRAINER J.R. Rosania, B.S., exercise science, is one of the nation’s top performance enhancement coaches. He is the owner and CEO of Healthplex, LLC, in Phoenix.

Check out Rosania’s website at www.jrhealthplex.net.

MEET THE ATHLETE Noriko Inada, 42, swam for Japan at the 1992, 2000 and 2004 Olympics. She now swims Masters for Phoenix Swim Club, and owns Masters world records in the women’s 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44 age groups.

NOTICE All swimming and dryland training and instruction should be performed under the supervision of a qualified coach or instructor, and in circumstances that ensure the safety of participants.

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STABILITY BALL DUMBBELL STROKE Lying with your waist on top of a stability ball and holding a dumbbell in each hand, anchor your feet on the floor and perform a freestyle stroke.

SPECIAL SETS

BOWE KNOWS SWIMMING

BY MICHAEL J. STOTT

>> By his junior year at NCAAs (2018), Becker (third) had improved his 50 freestyle final (18.90) reaction time to .63, matching that of Caeleb Dressel (first) and Zach Apple (tied for fifth) and only .03 behind second-place Ryan Held.

[PHOTO BY ERIC MILLER/UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ATHLETICS]

A lightly recruited top-15 national prospect out of Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas, Bowe Becker was the 1-A 2014 and 2015 state champion in both the 50 (21.37/21.02) and 100 yard freestyles (47.14/47.12).

Under Coach Kelly Kremer at the University of Minnesota (2015-19), he became an eight-time NCAA All-American, Big Ten champion and conference record holder in his sprint specialties (18.69/40.83). Becker ended 2020 by signing on for a second season with the ISL’s Cali Condors.

B

owe Becker was a multi-sport athlete until knee rheumatoid arthritis consigned him solely to swimming at age 11. In the pool, working with Sandpipers of Nevada coaches Ron Aitken and Cutter Haupt, Becker methodically developed into a first-class swimmer.

“He was impassioned—he would do anything to get better,” says Aitken.

Becker’s training reflected the Sandpiper philosophy of competing in more than one event. “Doing so opens up greater athlete potential,” says Haupt. “We prepared Bowe to swim well and specialize in college. Had we focused on just the 50, we would have hindered and potentially jeopardized his long-term swimming career.

“Since we didn’t have wedges, we were forced to work differently. Some viewed Bowe as slow off the blocks. Ergo, we needed to do something more. As a result, we focused on several events, particularly the 100-200 frees and 100 fly, as well as body position, turns and kick.”

In Sandpiper practices, “Bowe was relentless,” says Haupt.

“He pushed himself to the limit in everything. He was passionate, focused, a keen listener and processed what we told him with genuine interest. He also had a strong drive to correct his technique and swimming skills.

“Bowe was respectful, honest and, overall, just a lot of fun. He was—and is—super friendly. I didn’t particularly care for his taste in music, but he didn’t judge me for mine, which I think says a lot.

“He really worked hard on having strong finishes (third fastest final 25 at 2018 NCAAs with a 9.70) to overcome his habit of gliding into the wall. And (he worked hard on his) turns. Bowe would need reminders on technique, especially at the beginning of

practice. Once he got those, he usually corrected any flaws for the remainder of the set/practice.”

SAMPLE WORKOUTS The following November 2014 practices were done prior to the December sectionals. Hold times were not recorded, but Haupt says the times indicated reflect what Bowe was most likely holding. “He normally got 10 to 15 seconds rest on sets, and was usually pretty close to his best times when we did stuff for time,” says Haupt.

Workout #1 (5,300 meters) • 1,000 warm-up (4 x 100 free, descend 1-4, 3 x 200 IM drill) • 4x {8 x 50 IM order swim on 1:00 {30-second break {400 IM for time on 6:30 (most likely around 5:30) • 6 x 50 for time on 2:30 (2 free, 2 prime, 2 choice) • 10 x 50 fly pull with fins on :50 • 300 easy Workout #2 (9,300 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 9 x 100 free on 1:30, descend 1-3 • 16x {2 x 100 free on 1:20, hit 1:05 {2 x 100 free on 1:15, hit 1:04 {1 x 100 free on 1:05, hit 1:02 • 300 easy Workout #3 (5,380 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 400 fly kick with buoy (25 on side, 25 on back, 25 on other side, 25 buoy between ankles) • 16 x 75 reverse IM order on 1:15 (50 drill, 25 swim) • 8x {1 x 15 start on :35 {1 x 30 turn on :35 {1 x 15 finish on :35 • 5 x 100 prime for time on 5:30 (Bowe did fly, somewhere around :56 +/-) • 12 x 200 free pull on 2:35, descend 1-3 •300 easy CONTINUED ON 42 >> MARCH 2021

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SPECIAL SETS / CONTINUED FROM 41

Workout #6 (6,900 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 12 x 100 prime kick on 1:40 • 16 x 75 reverse IM order on 1:15 (50 drill, 25 swim) • 12 x 25 variable sprints choice on :35 (1-easy/hard, 2-fast/easy, 3-fast) • 2x {5 x 200 IM fast on 2:40 or better (2:25) {30-second break {2 x 100 prime for time on 2:00 (~1:05) • 16 x 100 on 1:35 (25 fly pull, 75 back pull) • 100 easy

>> Prior to college, Becker trained with Sandpipers of Nevada coaches Ron Aitken and Cutter Haupt. Becker’s training reflected the Sandpiper philosophy of competing in more than one event, and he methodically developed into a firstclass swimmer. “We prepared Bowe to swim well and specialize in college,” says Cutter Haupt (pictured). “Had we focused on just the 50, we would have hindered and potentially jeopardized his long-term swimming career.”

Workout #4 (6,500 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 40 x 100 free kick on 1:30 • 12 x 75 reverse IM order on 1:15 (50 drill, 25 swim) • 6 x 200 fast IM on 2:40 (he held around 2:25/2:30) • 300 easy Workout #5 (5,700 meters) • 100 choice warm-up • 300 scull • 12 x 100 IM order on 1:45, breast on 2:00 (25 drill, 25 swim, 25 drill, 25 swim) • 12x {100 free on 1:30 DPS (1:20) {100 free on 1:30 blue (his “blue” was 1:09, but he was probably 1:07 or faster) • 1x {5 x 50 fast prime on 1:30 (~:34/:35) {7 x 50 hard prime on :45 (~:40) • 8 x 100 on 1:50 (50 back pull, 50 breast pull) • 300 easy

Workout #7 (5,900 meters) • 100 warm-up • 20 x 50 IM order drill on 1:00 • 4x {4 x 100 free build on 1:30 (~1:15) {30-second rest {400 free for time 5:30 (~4:45) • 10 x 100 drill down and swim fly on the way back on 1:45 • 10 x 50 breast pull on 1:00 • 100 easy Workout #8 (6,600 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 4x {50 fly kick on :50 {50 prime kick on :50 {50 free kick on :50 {100 IM drill on 1:35 {50 prime swim on :45 {100 build free to red on 1:20 • 12 x 25 choice variable sprints on :35 (easy/hard, fast/easy, fast) • 2x {5 x 50 fast prime: 1st round on :40, :45, :50, :55, 1:00; 2nd round on 1:00, :55, :50, :45, :40 {1 x 50 easy on 2:00 choice • 9 x 200 free on 2:45, descend 1-3 • 100 easy • 500 free for time (~5:20, maybe a 5:15) • 15 x 100 free pull on 1:20 (1:10) • 100 easy Workout #9 (6,000 yards) • 100 choice warm-up • 12 x 25 variable sprints choice on :35 (easy/hard, fast/easy, fast) • 3x {100 canoe back drill 2:30 {5 x 100 short rest back on 1:15 (1:10) • 6 x 50 for time on 2:30 (2 free, 2 prime, 2 choice) • 16 x 25 fly pull, breath every 4th stroke (:25) • 10 x 300 free kick on 5:00 (4:45) • 100 easy 

Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach whose Collegiate School (Richmond, Va.) teams won nine state high school championships. A member of that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he is also a recipient of NISCA’s Outstanding Service Award.

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Q&A

MATT

BARANY Coach Matt Barany Head Coach, Women's Swimming and Diving/Director of Athletic Innovation University of Richmond Richmond, Virginia • James Madison University, B.A., English, 1995; MBA, University of Richmond, 2014 • Senior team captain on CAA and ECAC team champion • Head coach of women’s swimming and diving, University of Richmond, 2005-present • Head coach of men’s and women’s swimming and diving, James Madison University, 2004-05; head men’s coach, 2001-04 • First head coach, women’s swimming, Randolph-Macon College, 1999-2001 • 11x A-10 team champions (2006-09, 2011-17); 8x A-10 coach of the year • Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Atlantic States Conference and Randolph-Macon coach of the year, 2001 • Coached seven Olympic Trials qualifiers • U of R swimmers have set 65 school records in 16 events during his tenure • 2x recipient of the James Madison University Steve Miller Award recognizing athletes who best exemplify enthusiasm, energy, dedication and love for the sport Matt Barany has served on the CSCAA executive board as treasurer since 2016.

He also is a recognized authority and public speaker on physiology of sleep, strain and heart rate variability.

His championships aside, University of Richmond head coach Matt Barany continues to push team and personal boundaries as he explores “optimal health” as a way to improve the lives of his athletes.

BY MICHAEL J. STOTT | PHOTOS BY UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

Q. SWIMMING WORLD: B.A. in English, Peace Corps teaching assignment in Kenya, swim coaching. Why did you choose the Peace Corps and ultimately a life as a swim coach?

A. COACH MATT BARANY: I applied for the Peace Corps when I was 22 and left for Kenya when I was 23. I’ll never regret it. It was a rite of passage for me. I lived without running water, electricity, mobile phones and other luxuries for 27 months— and it was awesome! I read, wrote, taught, traveled and listened to a lot of Kenny Rogers broadcasted over Kenyan AM airwaves.

My transition back to the U.S. wasn’t easy. My service overlapped with alQaeda’s bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, so I came home quite suddenly without a career plan and without motivation to even make a plan. Luckily, Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va. was launching a D-III program and reached out to me. I accepted the parttime job simply because I needed to grow beyond my mom’s couch.

SW: You say going to Kenya and much later getting an MBA changed you. How? MB: Similarly to the Peace Corps, the Robins School of Business (University of Richmond) changed the way I view the world and the way I view myself in the world. I am so lucky to have had these experiences with those with whom I shared...so lucky.

SW: In 2012 you had a huge emphasis on “process” as opposed to a concentration on season-ending championships. Nine years later is that still a focus?

MB: A lot can change in nine seasons.

This COVID year requires us to focus on training because we may not be racing for a championship, and training may be all we have—although I’m optimistic we’ll race this year.

SW: “Optimal Health” is a program mantra.

How has wearable technology influenced team behavior? What conclusions have you reached regarding sleep, circadian rhythms, etc.?

MB: We’ve used a device with sensors on the wrist for five seasons now. Our initial approach was to monitor the stress side of the equation. We had hoped to positively affect behavior on stress, but we found more success modifying behavior on the recovery through sleep. We have increased our sleep duration per person to seven hours, 25 minutes a night, and our team GPA has gone up .66 basis points. It’s a game changer.

SW: What changes have you instituted as a result of the team’s experience?

MB: We changed practice schedule, travel protocol, purchased meditation apps and more. The most important element has been our sleep education. We feel that we’ve nailed it. It’s been an asset in recruiting as well as preparing the incoming freshmen.

We have shared our “playbook” with the health center, the counseling center, the President’s office—and other Spider athletic teams, including men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer. We have also shared it with schools like Georgetown as well as professional soccer players, an ISL team and corporate executives. We know our strategy works.

CONTINUED ON 45 >> MARCH 2021

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SPONSORED BY

MAGGIE PURCELL

how they train [PHOTO BY KEITH LUCAS, SIDELINE MEDIA]

BY MICHAEL J. STOTT

PROGRESSION OF TIMES SCY

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

100 Free

—

52.21

52.88

50.36*

200 Free

—

1:56.05

1:52.13

1:49.03*

—

2:18.15

2:16.29

2:12.84

4:34.52

4:39.36

—

4:17.09

200 Breast 400 IM

* Season incomplete

M

aggie Purcell, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, landed on the University of Richmond campus in the fall of 2018 as collegeswimming.com’s 11th-ranked swimmer in the state of New York.

“Maggie has talent and growing confidence,” says University of Richmond coach Matt Barany of his junior swimmer. “She has four very efficient strokes and amazing strength. One day, she actually pulled a power rack into the pool. Her initial race strategy her freshman year was to crush the water with her strength. As a sophomore, we tried to distract her from this strategy. We encouraged her to make the front half of her races more ‘artistic’ by being efficient and effortless. This strategy offered her confidence and reserves for the second half of her races,” he says.

“Having four talented strokes, I favor her IMs, but she’d probably identify herself as a breaststroker. The 200 breast can be formulaic with stroke counts and cadence—this has helped her swim her way into the race. Her short course walls are very good. She has taken it upon herself to improve this on her own accord. At practice, she’d gladly go underwater and race our dolphin kickers.”

All of that was on display at the February 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. She won the 200 breast (2:12.84) and placed second in the 400 IM (4:17.09) and fifth in the 200 IM (2:00.42) while contributing legs on four topthree relay finishes.

At the end of the truncated 2019-20 season, she occupied four spots on the Spiders best times list: 100 breast (6th/1:03.15), 200 breast (2nd/2:12.84), 200 IM (4th/2:00.42)

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www.NZcordz.com

and 400 IM (4th/4:17.09).

“Maggie is also one of our all-time best flutter kickers,” says Barany. “We do a lot of kicking, especially in the first six to eight weeks of the season. She sets the tone, and she brings others with her. She can hold 1:15-1:16 range for 16 x 100s @ 1:45. Once we see this level of kicking, we transition over to more stroke-specific kicking.

“Some would call her stubborn, but I think she’s straightup bold. As we tried to develop her weakest stroke, we’d train her backstroke with Hannah Gouger (1:53.5 200 back), and Maggie would do everything she could to hang with her.

Maggie doesn’t know her limit. She can drop 4:35s for 8 x 400 back @ 5:30. That’s pretty good.

“Another thing: Maggie is eternally grateful. After every practice, she looks me in the eye and says, ‘Thank you.’ It doesn’t matter how many practices a coach attends, these are the two most gratifying words. She’s one of a kind, and Richmond is lucky to have her,” says Barany.

SAMPLE SET 400 IM Prep (January 2021) 6x: • 2 x 50 dive fly @ :30 rest after each 50 fly (Rounds 1-2: in Sox untimed; Round 3: 26.8 + 27.0; Round 4: 26.6 + 27.0; Round 5: 26.9 + 27.2; Round 6: 26.8 + 27.0) • 400 back (Rounds 1-2: 4:35, 4:38); 2 x 200 back @ :15 rest after each 200 (Round 3: 2:14 + 2:15; Round 4: 2:16 + 2:16); 4 x 100 back @ :10 rest after each 100 (Round 5: 1:06, 1:07, 1:07, 1:07; Round 6: 1:05, 1:07, 1:08, 1:08) “There would be a lot of conversation prior to this set. The first two rounds of fly would include drag sox with a huge emphasis on using the hips for locomotion. Once the sox are off, we’d encourage Maggie to execute her kick/stroke count while swimming fly for distance. This gives us a chance to measure her velocity. She can cruise these in high 26 with little effort—we’d let her loose on backstroke. No limits on back.

“Over the years at Richmond, I’ve coached quality IMers— Jessica Witt, (2x All-American, 400 IM), Lauren Beaudreau (NCAA 200 IM and 400 IM), Mali Kobelja (2012 Olympic Trials 200 IM). I learned a lot from them, and one of our tenets is to merge the four strokes at season’s end when athletes are highly coordinated and execution is seamless. We don’t do a lot of IM sets inclusive of the four strokes.” v

Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach whose Collegiate School (Richmond, Va.) teams won nine state high school championships. A member of that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he is also a recipient of NISCA’s Outstanding Service Award.

Q & A / CONTINUED FROM 43

SW: You serve on the CSCAA executive board as treasurer and your women are a CSCAA scholar team (3.66 team GPA). What’s the value to you and Richmond for that CSCAA affiliation?

MB: The CSCAA is doing honorable work and a great job advocating for college swimming and diving programs facing threats. They are also hosting NCAA events. We have especially enjoyed the Open Water and the NIC Championships.

Our Fall 2020 GPA is the highest it’s ever been at Richmond. I’m thankful our women remained healthy and focused on academics during this stressful time. I’m so proud of them.

>> (From left) Matt Barany coached Hannah Gouger from 2016-20. She won the 100 and 200 back at the Atlantic-10 Conference Championships all four years and was one of only 30 nominees for the 2019 NCAA’s Women of the Year honor. “We were lucky to have her, and I was lucky to coach her,” says Barany. “The clear highlight was qualifying for NCAAs as a junior.” (Go to the following link to read a letter from Hannah about how she overcame adversity and was able to find success at UR: https://spark.adobe.com/page/pEdAZbpqd8u91/)

SW: Your advice to coaches is to “stay relevant.”

How do you suggest they do that?

MB: Cross-pollinate. Get involved on campus, take classes, serve on committees, etc. There is so much we can learn from other industries and other sports, too.

>> MAGGIE PURCELL

SW: Any athlete resistance to those changes?

MB: Our modifications are intended to align their routines with their circadian rhythm.

The swimmers understand the benefits. Of course, some are slow adapters.

experience next time.

SW: Now in COVID times, how has the use of recent communication technology affected how you train and interact with your athletes?

MB: During the summer months, we were trying to use the phone more than ever. We wanted to connect with our current roster beyond a text or a Zoom. On the recruiting front, we received favorable feedback on a series of biweekly webinars for recruits.

We were just trying to spread the word about the University of Richmond, which was selected last August as the nation’s most beautiful campus.

6-7 a.m. Strength

SW: How did the October virtual meet with Northeastern go?

MB: It was fun! We need to work out the operational kinks to provide a smoother

SW: What was the inspiration for the team’s 2020 virtual graduation with Maya DiRadoAndrews, and what was the general response?

MB: When COVID initially hit, we threw out everything “normal.” The season was cut short, recruits were prohibited, and students were banned from campus. It was just a strange time. We just went after wild ideas. The virtual graduation was a huge hit. We were honored to have Maya, and she was the absolute perfect addition to the event in which the university president, chaplain and alumni also took part. It was awesome.

SW: What’s an in-season in-water and dryland schedule look like for the Spiders?

MB: Monday and Friday 7-8 a.m. Water

SW: What is the importance of alumni support, especially in a donating capacity, in this time of Olympic sport reduction at the college level?

MB: It’s a must. It’s growing more and more important in this environment. We had a very successful Give Day in April 2020. It felt good to bring alumni together for a twoday competition. Staying connected is vital, especially in this economic climate. 

3-5 p.m. Water Tuesday 6-7 a.m. Land 7-8 a.m. Water 1:30-3:30 or 3:30-5:30 p.m. Water Wednesday 6-7 a.m. Strength 7-8 a.m. Water

Michael J. Stott is an ASCA Level 5 coach whose Collegiate School (Richmond, Va.) teams won nine state high school championships. A member of that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he is also a recipient of NISCA’s Outstanding Service Award.

Thursday 1:30-3:30 or 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Land and Water Saturday

TOTAL ACCESS MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO READ MORE TRAINING IDEAS FROM COACH MATT BARANY. NOT A TOTAL ACCESS MEMBER? YOU’RE JUST A CLICK AWAY: SWIMMINGWORLD.COM/VAULT

6-10 a.m. Land, Meeting, Water MARCH 2021

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JUNIOR SWIMMER

UP & COMERS AGE GROUP SWIMMER OF THE MONTH

BY SHOSHANNA RUTEMILLER [PHOTO BY SARASOTA SHARKS ]

Liam

Custer L

iam Custer, 16, of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks smashed the national age group record in the 1650 yard freestyle by nearly eight seconds last December at the Florida Virtual Championships. His 14:37.86 places him as the youngest swimmer to break 14:40 in the event. The high school junior’s time would also rank third among NCAA Division I athletes this season.

In November, Custer, swimming for Riverview High School (Sarasota, Fla.), took Florida 4A high school state titles in the 500 yard freestyle (4:21.41) and 200 IM (1:47.41). Later that month at the U.S. Open Championships, he qualified for the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 (8:06.69) and 1500 (15:35.69) meter freestyles. He shattered his personal best times by more than six seconds in the 800 and by nearly 30 seconds in the mile.

Outside of the pool, Custer carries an unweighted 4.0 GPA, and has maintained straight-A’s in every class since the first grade. Even though he currently resides in Florida, he was born in New England and has been an avid Tom Brady fan from a young age. He even has a poster hanging in his room of Brady when he was with the New England Patriots!v

SPONSORED BY

> LIAM CUSTER (RIGHT) WITH COACH BRENT ARCKEY

WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU DO IN SWIMMING? What I do best is that I give it 110% every time I get behind the blocks, and I hate to lose. I give it my all during every race, and I can maintain my effort for as long as I want, which helps me in my distance events.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST WORKOUTS/SETS YOU’VE DONE? I would say the toughest set I have ever done, by far, was 20 x 400s “FRIM” (100s of free, back, breast, free) on 5:20, long course meters. At the time, my 400 IM was about a 4:55, so I had to hold close to my best time for all 20. It’s the only time I have ever cried during swim practice!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SWIMMING? My favorite thing about swimming is that you can compete for yourself by trying to place and lower your time...but you can also compete for your team by scoring points. It’s definitely a fun

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dynamic because you can contribute to your team and race for your teammates, but you can also get the satisfaction of setting a personal best time.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? I am looking forward to finalizing my college decision and committing—can’t wait!

WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN SWIMMING...AND WHY? While I don’t have a specific role model swimmer, I definitely look up to all of my current and past coaches who have helped me succeed in the sport—best coaches I could ever ask for!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES? My favorite hobbies are watching the Patriots every Sunday during football season... and hanging out with my friends.

[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]

[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK ]

[PHOTO BY YEUNG PHOTOGRSPHY ]

COLUMNS

Sponsored by

guttertalk

WHAT WAS THE BEST NCAA RACE YOU EVER WITNESSED?

BY ANDY ROSS BRETT HAWKE Former Head Coach, Auburn [PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]

Olivia Scott’s 100 fly in 2013 jumps out to me.

Olivia was not the favorite, nor was she in Lane 4 in the final. And it won’t go down as the fastest win in history.

She didn’t particularly have a great morning swim, and her warmup was terrible. She told me right before the race she felt terrible as well. My last piece of advice to her was, “Well, you have nothing to lose.”

But the thing that sticks out the most is she only took six breaths the whole 100—one on the first lap, two on the second and third laps, and one the last lap. She swam like she had nothing to lose.

It’ll go down as one of the gutsiest swims I’ve ever seen!

BOB BOWMAN Head Coach, Arizona State It’s a tie between Kevin Cordes’ 200 breaststroke in 2013 when he went 1:48...and Caeleb Dressel’s 17.6 in the 50 in 2018. Both took their events to a new level.

ELAINE BREEDEN Former Swimmer and 4x NCAA Butterfly Champion, Stanford My favorite NCAA race to watch was the women’s 400 IM in 2010, my senior year. My teammate, Julia Smit, won that race at three NCAAs in a row, and she made the race look so easy every time. She broke the American record at Pac-10s her senior year and was named NCAA and Pac-10 Championships Swimmer of the Meet. It was always so fun to watch her swim that race because she seemed so invincible!

BRIDGETTE ALEXANDER Former Swimmer, Kentucky; Assistant Coach, Buffalo

JASON CALANOG Associate Head Coach, Texas A&M

[PHOTO BY PETER H. BICK]

[PHOTO BY ANDY RINGGOLD, ARINGO PHOTOS]

The best race I got to witness at NCAAs during my time at Kentucky was my teammate at the time, Danielle Galyer’s 200 yard backstroke race in 2016. She was right next to Courtney Bartholomew. I did not make the final that year and was bummed about that, but watching her duke it out with Courtney—with it coming down to the finish—was something I knew I would never forget.

When her hand touched the wall first, the sense of pride I felt was unmatched. She was my training mate, and she just won an NCAA title. By far the best race I got to watch.

SWIM MART

I’m a little biased, but to see the 17.6 in person from Caeleb (Dressel)—because I coached him at Bolles. I was standing with his mother (Christina) and Sherridon (Caeleb’s sister), so that was a touching memory for me.

One of the best races I remember was Chris Swanson’s mile in Atlanta in 2016. I didn’t have any dogs in that race, but I had coached Swanson a little at Bolles Swim Camp, so I kind of knew him. So to see him win with five guys in the hunt for that national title...it was amazing to watch!

He just sprinted his last 50 to beat Akram (Mahmoud) from South Carolina. To watch that race was my favorite—to see the changes and to know that anybody could win...and then the underdog won!

KATIE ROBINSON Director, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, Northwestern [PHOTO BY HOPE CARPINELLO, NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS]

REACH LONG

KICK STRONG

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Without going back too far in my memory archives, I specifically remember watching Missy Franklin break the 1:40 barrier in the 200 free at the 2015 NCAA Championships in Greensboro (going a 1:39.10). I remember thinking that a glass ceiling for women had truly been broken.v

Caeleb Dressel, swimming in the Speedo LZR Racer, originally outlawed in the United States on Oct. 1, 2009, tackled "the sub-20 in 20" challenge in December 2020 in an attempt to see how fast he could go in one of the fastest swimsuits of all-time.

On attempt 1, Dressel swam a 20.41, off his best time of 20.16 from the International Swimming League Grand Final the month before, which stands as the official world record. On attempt 2, Dressel swam a 20.42.

“The suit doesn’t make the swimmer. The swimmer makes the suit,” Dressel said at theMOON end ofVALLEY the attempts.

THE SUN RISES OVER COUNTRY CLUB IN PHOENIX, ARIZ. ON FEB. 13, 2021. [ Photo by Mike Lewis ]

[PHOTO BY JOE JOHNSON]

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