GATORS FINISH 3RD AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Photo by Reagan Lunn

By Benjamin Schmitz | Saturday, March 26, 2016

Dressel claims national title, posts fastest 100-Free time in history

ATLANTA — The University of Florida men’s swimming and diving team tallied two national titles, eight school records, and 37 All-America honors on its way to a third-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships. This week’s competition was held inside the McAuley Aquatic Center — the host site of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Since head coach Gregg Troy took over the men’s team before the 1999-2000 season, the Gators have scored a top-10 finish every year at the NCAA meet. This season, Texas won the team title with 541.5 points, followed by California (351) and Florida (334) in the team standings.

The third-place finish also matches the highest team finish under Coach Troy, matching the Gators’ 2014 third-place finish.

Overall, Florida had nine individuals earn a combined 37 All-America honors this week. Seniors Corey Main (16), Pawel Werner (9), and Arthur Frayler (4) leave the Gator program with a combined 29 All-America recognitions in their careers.

For the week, Florida was led by Co 2016 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Caeleb Dressel, who tallied two National Titles and gathered seven All-America honors for the second year in a row. Individually, he claimed his second and third career NCAA titles in the 50 and 100-Yard Freestyle events with an NCAA, U.S. Open, and American records in both events (video links below).

The Green Cove Springs, Florida, native added with a second-place finish in the 100-Yard Butterfly to wrap up his individual events. Additionally, Dressel was involved in four out of Florida’s five relay events.

Sophomores Jan Switkowski and Mark Szaranek also came through with impressive races this week, tallying a combined 13 All-America Honors between the two.

Switkowski played a key role in Florida’s success early on in the 800-Yard Freestyle Relay, helping the relay group to a school record and third-place finish on Wednesday night. He also contributed in the 400-Yard Medley Relay (fifth), 200 IM (fourth), 200-Yard Freestyle (fourth), 200-Yard Medley Relay (fourth), 200-Yard Butterfly (ninth), and 400-Yard Freestyle Relay (third).

Szaranek, in addition, was also a key contributor throughout the week, gathering six All-America Honors via the 800-Yard Freestyle Relay, 200 IM (sixth), 200 Freestyle Relay (fourth), 400 IM (ninth), 200-Yard Medley Relay, and 400-Yard Freestyle Relay.

On the boards, freshman Sam Smith made his NCAA debut this week, competing from the 1-Meter and platform competitions. The Knoxville, Tennessee, native secured a Top-25 finish on the 1-Meter (24th, 315.40) on Thursday and finished 35th (312.60) off the platform on Saturday.

The Gators return 10 of their 14 participants from this year’s NCAA roster next season, including six All-Americans.

Florida Head Coach Gregg Troy on the Week: 
“In meets like this you’ve always got to shoot to win, that way if you fall a little short, you still find some success.

“We’re real happy with our performances and the times we put up — it was a great way to end the season.

“We had some great performances from some of our younger guys and at key time. The senior leadership was tremendous. That kind of success helps us through meets like this.”

Florida Head Diving Coach Dale Schultz on the Week: 
“Sam came up a little shorter than we had hoped this week but he took a valuable lesson away from it. He learned a lot about the level of competition here. He may have came in with expectations of it going a little better but this will still be a good learning opportunity for him. We’re excited to keep training and improve off it.”

Co-NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Dressel, on the Week: 
“This whole week has been a great experience. The NCAA Championships are such a fun atmosphere. The mile race tonight was one of the most exciting races I’ve ever witnessed. That adrenaline carries you through these meets. I certainly couldn’t have put up the times I did without it.

“In meets like this, you’ve got to rely on mental strength, teammates, friends, and families. We got a complete team effort this week and it made our success so much more enjoyable.”

Complete Top-10 Standings from the 2016 NCAA Championships

Yearly Awards
Sophomore Caeleb Dressel was named the 2016 NCAA Co-Swimmer of the Year. Conor Dywer was the last Gator to receive the honor (2010).

Quick Cap Day 4
Sophomore Caeleb Dressel claimed the third National Title in his young career in record-setting fashion for the second time this week. Dressel’s monstrous swim in the 100-Yard freestyle clocked a time of 40.46 and brought in 20 team points for the Gators.

Overall, three individuals and the 400-Yard freestyle relay qualified for Saturday night’s finals session.

Sophomore Jan Switkowski had a strong showing in the 200-Yard Butterfly, touching out with a time of 1:41.40 to secure a ninth-place finish in the event.

Main swam the last individual race of his remarkable career with a 15th-place finish in the 200-Yard backstroke. Main registered a season-best 1:40.74 to secure the final spot in the finals. He later clocked a 1:41.36 in the ‘B’ final which placed seventh in the heat and 15th overall to bring in two points.

Florida gathered 17 team points off three All-America finishes in the 1,650 Freestyle. Sophomore Ben Lawless led the group with a ninth-place showing (14:48.63) which brought in nine points, junior Mitch D’Arrigo came through with 11 points off a sixth-place finish (14:49.65), and senior Arthur Frayler finished 15th-overall (14:52.77) to collect two points. Freshman Blake Manganiello rounded out the group with a 34th-place finish (15:24.25).

The foursome of Dressel, Main, Szaranek, and Switkowski, capped Saturday night’s finals on a high note, finishing third in the event with a time of 2:47.16. The third-place finish brought in 32 team points and secured Florida’s third-place overall finish at the championships.

Click here for a complete recap from Day 4 preliminary competition.

Individual NCAA History:
Florida’s men have now won a total of 46 NCAA titles (36 individual and 10 relays). Ryan Lochte ranks atop the program with seven career NCAA titles and Associate Head Coach Anthony Nesty ranks second with five career NCAA titles.

2016 NCAA Titles: 
Caeleb Dressel: 50-Yard Freestyle, 100-Yard Freestyle

Gator All-Americans
In NCAA swimming and diving, athletes and relay teams who make the championship final (top eight) are considered First-Team All-Americans. Athletes and relay teams that qualify for the consolation final (determines places 9-16) are considered Honorable Mention All-Americans.

With tonight’s Top-8 finishes, Dressel (100 Free) and the 400-Yard Freestyle Relay team accept All-America Honors. In addition, Main (200 Back), Switkowski (200 Fly), Lawless (1,650 Free), D’Arrigo (1,650 Free), and Frayler (1,650 Free) gather Honorable Mention recognitions for Top-16 efforts.

This Week’s All-America Honors: 37 Total
All-America Honors
J. Blyzinskyj (4): 200 FR, 400 MR, 100 Back*, 200 MR.
M. D’Arrigo (4): 800 FR, 500 Free, 200 Free, 1,650 Free*.
C. Dressel (7): 50 Free, 200 FR, 400 MR, 100 Fly, 200 MR, 100 Free, 400 FR.
A. Frayler (1): 1,650 Free*.
B. Lawless (1): 1,650 Free*.
C. Main (4): 200 FR, 400 MR, 200 Back*, 400 FR.
J. Switkowski (7): 800 FR, 200 IM, 400 MR, 200 Free, 200 MR, 200 Fly*, 400 FR.
M. Szaranek (6): 800 FR, 200 IM, 200 FR, 400 IM*, 200 MR, 400 FR.
P. Werner (3): 800 FR, 500 Free*, 200 Free*.

(*) – Denotes an Honorable-Mention All-America Honor

Record-Breaking Weekend
The Gators have put together a week full of new school Florida records. Tonight, Dressel added to the list of broken records with a 40.46 in the 100-Yard Freestyle in addition to the team’s 400-Yard Freestyle Relay’s 2:48.70 (Complete list of this week’s new records below).

800-Yard Freestyle Relay: P. Werner, J. Switkowski, M. Szaranek, & M. D’Arrigo (6:09.84).
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: C. Dressel, C. Main, J. Blyzinskyj, M. Szaranek (1:16.21).
500-Yard Freestyle: M. D’Arrigo (4:09.98).
50-Yard Freestyle: C. Dressel (18.20). **NCAA Meet, U.S. Open, and American record **
100-Yard Butterfly: C. Dressel (44.40).
200-Yard Medley Relay: C. Dressel, J. Switkowski , J. Blyzinskyj , and M. Szaranek(1:23.43).
400-Yard Freestyle Relay: C. Dressel, J. Switkowski, M. Szaranek, C. Main (2:47.16).
100-Yard Freestyle: C. Dressel (40.46).

Florida’s Team Finishes under Head Coach Gregg Troy: 
1999-00: 2nd SEC’s; 9th NCAA’s
2000-01: 3rd SEC’s; 8th NCAA’s
2001-02: 2nd SEC’s; 4th NCAA’s       
2002-03: 2nd SEC’s; 6th NCAA’s
2003-04: 2nd SEC’s; 6th NCAA’s
2004-05: 2nd SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2005-06: 2nd SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2006-07: 2nd SEC’s; 4th NCAA’s
2007-08: 2nd SEC’s; 8th NCAA’s
2008-09: 2nd SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2009-10: 2nd SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2010-11: 2nd SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2011-12: 2nd SEC’s; 8th NCAA’s
2012-13: 1st SEC’s; 6th NCAA’s
2013-14: 1st SEC’s; 3th NCAA’s
2014-15: 1st SEC’s; 5th NCAA’s
2015-16: 1st SEC’s, 3rd NCAA’s

ESPN Coverage 
ESPNU will air a two-hour show at 7 p.m. ET, on Tuesday, March 29, for the women’s championships and 5 p.m. ET, on Wednesday, April 8, for the men’s championships.

Looking Back:
Click Here for a complete Recap From Day 1 Competition
Click Here for a complete Recap from Day 2 Competition
Click Here for a complete Recap from Day 3 Competition

Notable Links:
WATCH: C. Dressel swims a Blazing 18.20 in the 50-Yard Freestyle
WATCH: C. Dressel goes 40.46 in the 100-Yard Freestyle

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