Tag: Swim and dive

Kate Douglass has historic meet as Virginia repeats as NCAA Swimming and Diving champs

Complete domination from the reigning champs.

The Virginia Cavaliers followed up their impressive 2021 NCAA Swimming and Diving championship with an utterly dominant showing this year to repeat. Virginia finished with 551.5 points, lightyears ahead of second place Texas (406 points). Junior Kate Douglass and sophomore Alex Walsh — both medal winners in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics — each went 3-for-3 in their individual events.

Walsh won the 200-yard individual medley, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard fly events. Freshmen Emma Weyant and Gretchen Walsh (the younger sister of Alex) were among the bevy of Cavaliers that also collected podium finishes.

Virginia then won NCAA titles in four relay events — the 200-yard medley relay, 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard free relay and 400-yard free relay. They also set NCAA records in the 400-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay, and an American Record in the latter.

While all the Cavaliers impressed, it was Douglass who truly stole the show. Douglass not only touched first in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard breaststroke events, she set new American Records in each of them. It’s not unusual for a swimmer to excel in freestyle and butterfly events, but breaststroke is usually a specialized event. Think of it as if Tom Brady won the NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and then also won the NBA three-point shooting title.

Douglass set the record in the 50-yard free in the preliminary swim with a 20.84, but nearly matched it in the finals with a 20.87.

Her 49.04 time in the 100-yard butterfly set the American Record for that event, and she closed out her individual events with a blistering 2:02.19 time that broke Lilly King’s record from 2018.

With Douglass, Weyant and the Walsh sisters all returning as Virginia’s core for next year, the Cavaliers could be looking a the three-peat. Saturday night’s team title is the University of Virginia’s 30th NCAA team championship.

[mm-video type=video id=01fyhy4tcn0dszkvdfqr playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fyhy4tcn0dszkvdfqr/01fyhy4tcn0dszkvdfqr-f73adf6607a8e3601f3d734eb75c3a3f.jpg]

[listicle id=1862456]

Michigan State to discontinue swimming & diving after 2020-21 season

Michigan State athletic director Bill Beekman informed the swimming & diving team the 2020-21 season will be the last.

[jwplayer Csm3J5fS]

On Thursday, the Michigan State athletics department and athletic director Bill Beekman informed the Michigan State swimming and diving team that they would discontinue the sport after the 2020-21 season.

Ultimately, this was a decision forced by the financial crisis caused by COVID-19. According to the statement, MSU is projected to fall $30 million short of its original revenue projections for the year.

The meeting Beekman held with the team was reportedly very emotional, understandably. Michigan State will offer counseling and mental health services for student-athletes who find it helpful.

Contracts for all coaches will be honored through June 30, 2021.

After the news broke, I spoke to former Michigan State swimmers Marcella Steffes (2010-15), Kyle Workman (2011-15), and John Letarte (2013).

Marcella Steffes:

Being part of the MSU program was so much more than a just swim team. It taught me how to mentally persevere, how to be a leader, & how to believe in myself. This program helped me grow into the woman I am today by demanding the best of me when I didn’t think it was possible. If it weren’t for swimming, I wouldn’t have attended MSU & gone on to meet some of my best friends, and the greatest mentors in my life. Those individuals were my family away from home. They even introduced me to the network within the packaging industry, which directly ties to where I work today. I am forever indebted to the program.”

Kyle Workman:

“The swim team afforded me an education and gave me some of the best people and friends of my life. It is unfortunate that this tradition will not live on longer.”

John Letarte:

“I only swam for two months, but in those two months and for the years following, I made amazing friends and got to see all of them compete for our school. It’s sad to see it end in such a neglectful fashion.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]