By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

The state of Texas, affectionately known as football country, has north of 28 million residents, and is home to 5 different Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) of USA Swimming – matched only by California. The 28,000+ year-round athlete members in the state of Texas is again only surpassed by California.

And still, the state is home to only 8 NCAA Division I women’s swimming & diving programs, and just 5 men’s programs. That ranks 8th and 9th, respectively, among all states in the country. The state ranks even worse (16th and 15th, respectively) when all 3 of the NCAA’s divisions are taken into account.

But that number could be getting a boost in the near future, thanks this time to an assist from football, according to a feasibility study released earlier this week by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

The study, conducted by College Sports Solutions, was a first step in the school’s exploration of adding an NCAA Division I football program (and, doing so at the FBS, or 1A, level).

While the report overwhelmingly supported the idea of adding a football program, it noted possible Title IX pitfalls. The school’s student body for the year studied in the report was 56.6% female, but their athlete opportunities were only 48.6% female – out of line with Title IX’s “substantially proportionate” opportunities requirement. Adding an FBS footballteam would push that to 64% male and 36% female, the study projects, meaning that the school would need to cut men’s sports or adds women’s sports.

Specifically, the study suggests the addition of softball, beach volleyball, and swimming and diving to offset the football addition.

According to a report by the Brownsville Herald on the topic, the study, commissioned in 2016, is dated August 2017. A delay on moving forward with the football program has been caused by the university’s focus on the UTRGV School of Medicine, which had its accredidation placed on probation in December of 2016 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Two other schools in the University of Texas system, UT Permian Basin and the University of Texas at Austin, already have women’s swimming programs. UTRGV was founded in 2013 when the system merged UT Brownsville and UT Pan American, and officially began operation in 2015. The school has an indoor 8-lane, 25-yard pool on campus that ranges from 3 feet to 12 feet in depth.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: UTRGV Football Feasibility Study Suggests Adding Women’s Swimming

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2018 JR. PAN PAC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 23rd-26th, 2018
• Suva, Fiji
• Psych Sheets/Live Results

USA Swimming has announced the team captains for the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships that begin on Thursday in Suva, Fiji.

The squad has 5 captains, 3 females and 2 males, the same ratio as they had in 2016.

2018 U.S. Team Captains, Jr. Pan Pacific Swimming Championships

• Phoebe Bacon, NCAP – uncommitted (2020)
• Isabel Ivey, Laker Swim – Cal commit (2019)
• Drew Kibler, Carmel Swim Club – Texas commit (2018)
• Lucie Nordmann, Magnolia Aquatic Club – Stanford commit (2018)
• Daniel Roy, KING Aquatic Club – Stanford commit (2018)

Ivey, Kibler, Nordmann, and Roy are each swimming in their 2nd, and last, Jr. Pan Pacific Championship meet, while Bacon, who is entering her junior year of high school, will be age-eligible for the 2020 meet. The 4 returning swimmers combined for 7 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals at the 2016 meet, led by 4 golds and a bronze from Ivey.

2016 Results

• Bacon – did not swim
• Ivey – 4 golds, 1 bronze
• Kibler – 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
• Nordmann – 2 golds, 1 silver
• Roy – 1 bronze

The USA has won 4 straight Jr. Pan Pac team titles, with a 170-point margin over Australia in 2016. Based on seeds, they should easily take a 5th this weekend in Fiji.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: USA Names 2018 Jr. Pan Pacs Team Captains

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results
• Day 3 Preview

Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling, after an encouraging start to his meet on his country’s bronze-medal winning 800 free relay where he split 1:46.66, has missed the final in his 2nd race, the 50 free. The 23-year old swimmer, who is the defending Olympic Champion in the 100 fly, swam a 23.05 in prelims of the 50 free, which ranked him just 17th. The time required to advance to the final, 8th place, was set by Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Mussin in 22.63.

Schooling is the Singapore National Record holder in the 50 free with a 22.47 that he swam in 2015 at the Southeast Asian Games. The 22.47 is actually the 4th-best time of his career, behind two swims at those 2015 SEA Games and a 22.80 that he did at a meet in Singapore in late June.

His countrymate Tzen Wei Teong swam 22.56 and did get into the final, and will need to drop another tenth to pick Schooling’s record off the books.

Also of interest in that race, the 2nd qualifier to the final Kenneth To swam a 22.38 to shave .01 seconds off Geoff Cheah’s National Record in the event. To was formerly a National Team swimmer in Australia before making the sporting change to Hong Kong in 2017.

India’s Virdhawal Vikram Khade also broke his country’s National Record in prelims to qualify 3rd in 22.43. The old record of 22.55 was his as well, but it was set back in 2009, when Khade was only 17-years old.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Joseph Schooling Misses Asian Games Final in 50 Free

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results
• Day 3 Preview

The third day of the 2018 Asian Games from Jakarta, Indonesia will feature seven different events: the women’s 50 back, 400 IM, 100 fly and 800 free relay, and the men’s 50 free, 200 breast and 400 free.

Rikako Ikee and Sun Yang will be back in action after some big performances on day 2, as Ikee won her 2nd and 3rd gold medals of the meet in the 50 fly and 100 free, and Sun won the 800 free and took 2nd in the 4×200 free relay after winning the 200 free on day 1. Sun will aim to defend his throne in the men’s 400 freestyle, while Ikee will look to follow up her victory at the Pan Pacific Championships in the women’s 100 fly with another gold medal here.

We’ll also see world record holder Ippei Watanabe of Japan in the men’s 200 breast, 2015 World Champion Fu Yuanhui in the women’s 50 back, and Pan Pac gold medalist Yui Ohashi in the women’s 400 IM.

We’ll also see Singapore’s Joseph Schooling make his individual debut at the competition in the men’s 50 free after an impressive 1:46.6 split on their 800 free relay.

Women’s 50 Back Prelims

• Asian Record: 27.06, Zhao Jing (CHN), 2009 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 27.45, Gao Chang (CHN), 2010

1. Liu Xiang, CHN, 27.83
2. Fu Yuanhui, CHN, 28.12
3. Natsumi Sakai, JPN, 28.25
4. Park Hanbyeol, KOR / Anna Konishi, JPN, 28.69
5. –
6. Stephanie Au, HKG, 28.81
7. Wong Toto Kwan To, HKG, 28.94
8. Shin Youngyeon, KOR, 29.10

It’s a Chinese 1-2 heading into tonight’s 50 back final as Liu Xiang (27.83) and Fu Yuanhui (28.12) hold the top two seeds in the field. Fu, the 2015 World Champion in this event (and 2017 silver medalist) leads the world rankings this year in 27.16, while Liu sits 4th in 27.40. In the three times this event has been contested at the Asian Games, China has three golds.

Natsumi Sakai of Japan lowered her season-best of 28.33 down to 28.25 for the 3rd seed, and Park Hanbyeol of Korea and Anna Konishi of Japan are dead-locked in 4th at 28.69.

Men’s 50 Free Prelims

• Asian Record: 21.87, Katsumi Nakamura (JPN), 2018
• Asian Games Record: 21.94, Ning Zetao (CHN), 2014

1. Yu Hexin, CHN, 22.21
2. Kenneth To, HKG, 22.38
3. Virdhawal Khade, IND, 22.43
4. Katsumi Nakamura, JPN, 22.50
5. Teong Tzen Wei, SGP, 22.56
6. Lin Chienliang, TPE, 22.60
7. Sunichi Nakao, JPN, 22.62
8. Adilbek Mussin, KAZ, 22.63

China’s Yu Hexin is the top qualifier out of the men’s 50 free with his showing of 22.21, followed by a pair of National Record breakers in Kenneth To and Virdhawal Khade.

To, who formerly represented Australia, broke the Hong Kong Record by .01 in 22.38, and Khade took out his own Indian mark in 22.43 (previously 22.55). Top seed coming in Katsumi Nakamura of Japan cruised to the 4th seed in 22.50.

Joseph Schooling missed the final in 23.05, but Singapore will have a representative swim at night as Teong Tzen Wei qualified 5th in 22.56, just off Schooling’s National Record of 22.47.

Women’s 400 IM Prelims

• Asian Record: 4:28.43, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2012
• Asian Games Record: 4:32.97, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2014

1. Yui Ohashi, JPN, 4:42.11
2. Zhou Min, CHN, 4:42.83
3. Sakiko Shimizu, JPN, 4:45.88
4. Vien Nguyen, VIE, 4:47.56
5. Kim Seoyeong, KOR, 4:48.59
6. Yang Chang, CHN, 4:53.56
7. Azzahra Permathani, IDN, 4:53.58
8. Hoi Kui Lam, HKG, 4:58.54

Yui Ohashi of Japan cruised home in the final heat of the women’s 400 IM, doing just enough to hold off China’s Zhou Min for the win and the top seed in 4:42.11. Zhou was 4:42.83 for 2nd overall, improving her season-best by nearly half a second.

Ohashi’s countrymate Sakiko Shimizu won heat 1 for the 3rd seed overall in 4:45.88, and Vietnam’s Vien Nguyen and South Korea’s Kim Seoyeong were also sub-4:50 for 4th and 5th.

Ohashi will be the clear favorite at finals, having been 4:33.77 at the Pan Pacific Championships, and Shimizu won’t be far behind having been 4:36.27 there. Both Nguyen and Kim have been 4:38 this year, but Zhou is certainly a threat as she holds a lifetime best of 4:33.50.

Men’s 200 Breast Prelims

• Asian Record: 2:06.67, Ippei Watanabe (JPN), 2017 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 2:07.67, Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ), 2014

1. Ippei Watanabe, JPN, 2:11.92
2. Yan Zibei, CHN, 2:12.45
3. Yasuhiro Koseki, JPN, 2:12.77
4. Denis Petrashov, KGZ, 2:12.89
5. Qin Haiyang, CHN, 2:13.51
6. Cho Sungiae, KOR, 2:14.05
7. Chao Man Hou, MO, 2:15.34
8. Amro Al Wir, JOR, 2:16.15

World Record holder Ippei Watanabe leads the men’s 200 breast field in a time of 2:11.92, edging out China’s Yan Zibei (2:12.45) in the third and final heat.

His teammate Yasuhiro Koseki sits 3rd in 2:12.77, and Zibei’s countryman Qin Haiyang holds down 5th (2:13.51) after winning heat 1. Kyrgyzstan’s Denis Petrashov is 4th (2:12.89) after coming within three-tenths of his National Record.

Chao Man Hou broke his own Macanese Record from the 2017 World Championships to qualify 7th in 2:15.34, inching out his old mark of 2:15.41.

Women’s 100 Fly Prelims

• Asian Record: 56.07, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
• Asian Games Record: 56.61, Chen Xinyi (CHN), 2014

1. Zhang Yufei, CHN, 57.68
2. Rikako Ikee, JPN, 57.81
3. An Sehyeon, KOR, 58.97
4. Ai Soma, JPN, 59.16
5. Park Yerin, KOR, 59.57
6. Lin Xintong, CHN, 59.94
7. Jing Wen Quah, SGP, 1:00.08
8. Kin Lok Chan, HKG, 1:00.39

Zhang Yufei of China and Rikako Ikee of Japan dominated the final heat of the women’s 100 fly in times of 57.68 and 57.81, making them the top-2 of the morning by over a second. Zhang improves her season-best of 58.26 with that swim, and has a reasonable shot at her all-time best of 57.29 in the final.

Korean An Sehyeon was the only other swimmer sub-59 in 58.97, and Japan’s Ai Soma sits 4th in 59.16. Both swimmers have been quick this year, holding season-bests of 57.91 and 58.03 respectively.

Men’s 400 Free Prelims

• Asian Record: 3:40.14, Sun Yang (CHN), 2012
• Asian Games Record: 3:41.53, Park Tae Hwan (KOR), 2010

1. Sun Yang, CHN, 3:49.13
2. Kosuke Hagino, JPN, 3:50.67
3. Lee Ho-Joon, KOR, 3:52.80
4. Ji Xinjie, CHN, 3:53.11
5. Naito Ehara, JPN, 3:53.24
6. Huu Kim Son Nguyen, VIE, 3:54.01
7. Khader Baqlah, JOR, 3:54.27
8. Aflah Prawira, IDN, 3:54.45

Sun Yang pulled away from Kosuke Hagino on the final 100 to win the third and final heat of the men’s 400 freestyle in 3:49.13, making him the top seed for tonight’s final. Hagino was 3:50.67 for 2nd, well clear of #3 Lee Ho-Joon (3:52.80).

In addition to Sun and Hagino, 4th seed Ji Xinjie and 5th seed Naito Ehara have been sub-3:50 this year, with Ehara the 3rd fastest Asian in 2018 at 3:46.64 behind only Sun and the absent Park Tae Hwan.

Women’s 4×200 Free Relay Prelims

• Asian Record: 7:42.08, China, 2009 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 7:51.81, China, 2014

1. China, 8:01.41
2. Japan, 8:05.21
3. Korea, 8:25.14
4. Singapore, 8:25.66
5. Hong Kong, 8:32.69
6. Indonesia, 8:34.05
7. Thailand, 8:52.10
8. Macau, 9:03.42

China will look to extend their unbeaten streak in the women’s 800 free relay in the final, with Japan being their biggest competitors, but here in the prelims neither team showed their hand with essentially an automatic berth for the final (with only nine teams competing). China posted the top time in 8:01.41, followed by Japan in 8:05.21.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 Asian Games: Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

GIOCHI ASIATICI 2018

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Liu Xiang Abbatte Record Del Mondo In Gommato-Prima Donna Sub 27 50Do

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

2018 JR. PAN PAC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 23rd-26th, 2018
• Suva, Fiji
• Psych Sheets/Live Results

The 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships are coming up this week, as some of the top teenagers from the U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, and more will go head-to-head in one of the premier junior international meets of the year. Below, we delve into five (of many) storylines to watch for at the meet.

As a reminder, this meet has a similar format to that of the open version of the Pan Pac Championships, which happened last week in Tokyo, Japan. The rules for Jr. Pan Pacs limit the number of swimmers from a given country that can advance to the finals, wherein 2 swimmers per country can qualify for the A final, and if a country has 1 or 2 swimmers in the A final, they can also have 2 in the B final. Countries with 0 swimmers in the A final can qualify 3 swimmers to the B final.

Countries are allowed to enter as many swimmers as they want in preliminaries (up to the roster caps of 20 women and 20 men), meaning that swimmers will often race more events than just what they explicitly qualified in.

#1 SIBLINGS READY TO TAKE OVER

Alex and Gretchen Walsh of Nashville Aquatic Club and Jake and Carson Foster of the Mason Manta Rays are favorites to take multiple events this week.

A. Walsh is the top seed in the 200 IM — she’s also the #2 seed in the 200 back, and though she has only been 1:09 high in the 100 breast, she dropped a huge NAG record of 58.19 in yards at Winter Speedo Juniors in December, so she seems due for a drop there. G. Walsh, meanwhile, is the favorite to win the 50 and 100 freestyle.

J. Foster is the 400 IM favorite and the only entrant under 4:20, while C. Foster is a top candidate to win the 200 IM and 200 back.

#2 TUGGLE STILL HAS TIME TO ERASE WOODHEAD RECORDS

The legendary Sippy Woodhead‘s 13-14 NAG records in the 200m and 400m free just turned 40 years old, dating back to the 1978 World Championships where the then-fourteen-year-old took gold in the 200 and silver in the 400.

Clovis Swim Club’s Claire Tuggle has been on a tear this summer, and she has a great chance to take down the 200 free record– she’s entered in 1:58.59, just .06 away from Woodhead’s NAG record. She’ll be hard-pressed to take down the 400 record, which sits at 4:07.15, compared to Tuggle’s 4:10.11 entry time.

Tuggle will meet Australian resistance in the 200 from Michaela Ryan (entered at 1:58.91) and Lani Pallister in the 200 (entered at 1:59.37) and 400 (entered at 4:10.61).

#3 U.S. SET TO DOMINATE WOMEN’S BACKSTROKE

The U.S. has always been a force in the backstrokes, and it’s the age group talent on the women’s side that has been remarkable of late. Even without Regan Smith, World Jr record holder in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, the U.S. holds the top 5 spots in the 200 back and the top 4 spots in the 100.

We already mentioned Alex Walsh, the #2 seed in the 200 back (2:09.36) and the #6 seed in the 100 back (1:00.83). Isabelle Stadden of the Aquajets sits on top in the 200 (2:08.24) with Katharine Berkoff also under 2:10 (2:09.84). Lucie Nordmann (2:10.51) and Phoebe Bacon (2:12.09) round out the top 5.

Bacon was cooking at Nationals earlier this summer, and her 59.12 from Irvine leads the way in the 100 back. Berkoff (59.77), Stadden (1:00.06), and Nordmann(1:00.62) follow suit.

#4 AFTER PASSING ON SR PAN PACS, CANADA’S MAGGIE MACNEIL ARRIVES

Canada’s Maggie MacNeil, who will suit up as a freshman for the University of Michigan this school year, notably declined her invitation to the 2018 Pan Pacs. She commented that she’d be focusing on Jr Pan Pacs instead, and she now has a window to a gold medal with her top-entry time of 58.44 in the 100 fly. The closest entrant to MacNeil is Australia’s Michaela Ryan at 58.96, and this is one of the few events in which an American isn’t the favorite (or very close — 59.19 is top American Lillie Nordmann‘s entry time).

MacNeil is also seeded 8th in the 100 back, 11th in the 100 free, 12th in the 50 free, and 16th in the 200 free.

#5 URLANDO WITH A SHOT TO SNIPE A PHELPS NAG

Luca Urlando hung tough with the older guys in the 200 fly at U.S. Nationals, ultimately coming up just short of qualifying for Pan Pacs in the 200 fly. The sixteen-year-old’s 1:55.21 was still the second-best U.S. 15-16 200 fly of all time behind only Michael Phelps, and that magical NAG is within reach at 1:54.58.

Even if Urlando isn’t able to take down that mark, he is not far from cracking the world’s top 10 for this year (10th is another American, Zach Harting, who won bronze at Pan Pacs with a 1:55.05). The top American this year has been Justin Wright (1:54.63), and he sits at 1:54.63.

Urlando is also the top seed in the 100 fly (52.48).

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 5 Storylines to Watch at the 2018 Jr Pan Pacific Championships

By Lauren Neidigh on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results
• Day 3 Preview

The 2018 Asian Games continue tonight with finals of the women’s 50 back, 400 IM, 100 fly, and 800 free relay. The men will be competing in the 50 free, 200 breast, and 400 free. Among the swimmers to watch is Japanese IM star Yui Ohashi, who leads the way in the 400 IM. World Record holder Ippei Watanabe represents Japan in the 200 breast, while Olympic champion Sun Yang of China headlines the 400 free.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK

• Asian Record: 27.06, Zhao Jing (CHN), 2009 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 27.45, Gao Chang (CHN), 2010

1. GOLD: Liu Xiang, CHN, 26.98
2. SILVER: Fu Yuanhui, CHN, 27.68
3. BRONZE: Natsumi Sakai, JPN, 27.91

China’s Liu Xiang is the new World Record holder. Xiang became the first women ever to break 27 seconds to take the gold in 26.98, erasing the former World Record and Asian Record of 27.06 formerly set by Zhao Jing. The record was nearly 10 years old as it was set in the 2009 supersuit era. China went 1-2 as Olympic 100 back medalistFu Yuanhui touched in 27.68 ahead of Japan’sNatsumi Sakai (27.91).

MEN’S 50 FREE

• Asian Record: 21.87, Katsumi Nakamura (JPN), 2018
• Asian Games Record: 21.94, Ning Zetao (CHN), 2014

1. GOLD: Yu Hexin, CHN, 22.11
2. SILVER: Katsumi Nakamura, JPN, 22.20
3. BRONZE: Shunichi Nakao, JPN, 22.46

China’s Yu Hexin won a tight race to the wall in 22.11, out-touching Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura (22.20) by less than a tenth. Hexin was just over a tenth shy of the Asian Games Record as he topped Asian Record holder Nakamura, who set the Asian Record with his 21.87 back in February. Nakamura’s teammate Shunichi Nakao rounded out the podium in 22.46.

WOMEN’S 400 IM

• Asian Record: 4:28.43, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2012
• Asian Games Record: 4:32.97, Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2014

1. GOLD: Yui Ohashi, JPN, 4:34.58
2. SILVER: Kim Seoyeong, KOR, 4:37.43
3. BRONZE: Sakiko Shimizu, JPN, 4:39.10

Japan’sYui Ohashi ran away with this one as expected, coming withing a second of her season best from Pan Pacs to win it in 4:34.58. With her time from Tokyo, Ohashi is the top ranked 400 IMer in the world this year.

Korea’s Kim Seoyeong moved up in the rankings and now sits just a couple of placed shy of the top 10 as she took silver in 4:37.43 ahead of Japan’s Pan Pacs bronze medalist Sakiko Shimizu (4:39.10). That’s about a second and a half shy of Seoyeong’s best from 2017 when she set the Korean Record .Shimizu is #10 in the world with her time from Pan Pacs.

China’s Zhou Min and Vietnam’sVien Nguyen battled closely for 3th, with Zhou narrowly taking it at the touch, 4:42.75 to 4:42.81.

MEN’S 200 BREAST

• Asian Record: 2:06.67, Ippei Watanabe (JPN), 2017 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 2:07.67, Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ), 2014

1. GOLD: Yasuhiro Koseki, JPN, 2:07.81
2. SILVER: Ippei Watanabe, JPN, 2:07.82
3. BRONZE: Qin Haiyang, CHN, 2:08.07

It was a 3-man race into the finish as Japanese teammatesYasuhiro Koseki andIppei Watanabe battled for the gold with China’sQin Haiyang. Koeski held a slight lead the whole way through, holding off Watanabe by the slimmest possible margin at the finish as he won 2:07.81 to 2:07.82. Watanabe, the Pan Pacs champion and World Record holder, wound up with the silver and was just a few tenths shy of his season best from the Monaco stop of the Mare Nostrum. Watanabe is ranked 3rd in the world this year, while this swim moves Koseki up to #4.

Qin, who set the Chinese Record at the 2017 Chinese Nationals, took 3rd in 2:08.07 ahead of teamate Yan Zibei (2:11.07). That was a season best by over a second and moves him up to #7 in the world. Denis Petrashov, who took 5th in 2:12.19, set a new Kyrgyzstani Record.

WOMEN’S 100 FLY

• Asian Record: 56.07, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009
• Asian Games Record: 56.61, Chen Xinyi (CHN), 2014

1. GOLD: Rikako Ikee, JPN, 56.30
2. SILVER: Zhang Yufei, CHN, 57.40
3. BRONZE: An Sehyeon, KOR, 58.00

Japan’s Rikako Ikee was just a couple of tenths off her best, dominating by a second in 56.30. That was a new Asian Games Record for Ikee, who won Pan Pacs this year as she came within a hundredth of the Asian Record. She’s the fastest 100 butterflier in the world for 2018 ahead of Olympic champion and World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom.

China’s Zhang Yufei put up a season best 57.40 to take the silver, while Korea’s An Sehyeon was just a few hundredths short of her season best for bronze in 58.00. Zhang is now ranked #9 in the world this year. Japan’s Ai Soma was just off the podium at 4th in 58.68.

MEN’S 400 FREE

• Asian Record: 3:40.14, Sun Yang (CHN), 2012
• Asian Games Record: 3:41.53, Park Tae Hwan (KOR), 2010

1. GOLD: Sun Yang, CHN, 3:42.93
2. SILVER: Naito Ehara, JPN, 3:47.14
3. BRONZE: Kosuke Hagino, JPN, 3:47.20

China’s Sun Yang takes over as the fastest man in the world this year. Sun, who was formerly ranked 3rd as Olympic champion Mack Horton topped the rankings, dropped over a second off his season best in 3:42.93 and is now nearly a second ahead of Horton.

Japan’sNaito Ehara, who is ranked #12 this year with his performance from the Japan Swim, was a bout half a second shy of his season best in 3:47.14. TeammateKosuke Hagino rounded out the medals in 3:47.30 for bronze. Hagino was the 2014 MVP of the Asian Games, where he took silver in the 400 free to contribute to his 7-for-7 medal performance. Also udner 3:50 tonight was Korea’s Hojoon Lee, who touched 4th in 3:48.28.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREE RELAY PRELIMS

• Asian Record: 7:42.08, China, 2009 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 7:51.81, China, 2014

1. GOLD: CHN, 7:48.61
2. SILVER: JPN, 7:53.83
3. BRONZE: HKG, 8:07.17

China blew away the field, winning by over 5 seconds and shattering the Asian Games Record by 3 seconds in 7:48.61. Li Bingjie got the ball rolling with her 1:56.94 leadoff split, followed by Wang Jianjiahe (1:55.35), Zhang Yuhan (1:58.37), and Yang Junxuan (1:57.95). Japan (7:53.83) was the only other team under 8:00. Straight after the 100 fly ceremony, Rikako Ikee stepped up with a 1:55.27 split on the 2nd leg. 400 IM champYui Ohashi (2:01.33) also joined her on that relay.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 Asian Games: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

By SwimSwam Contributors on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Elizabeth Wickham

There’s been a downward trend in volunteerism the past decade. Each year we have fewer and fewer parents stepping up to help youth sports, schools or other community programs.

According to Todd Conrad, Mission Viejo Nadadores General Manager, “I serve on a board of our community’s youth sports teams and they are concerned about the lack of volunteers. The same number of parents are in the stands watching soccer, tennis, etc. but they aren’t volunteering.”

He said Little League doesn’t have enough parent volunteers to host a snack bar. Like many other swim clubs, the Nadadores have a mandatory service policy, and Conrad said they have no shortage of parent volunteers on their team.

In a 2015 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics about volunteer rates in the United States, 24.9% of the U.S. population over the age of 16 volunteered at least once in the past year. In 2011, this percentage was 26.8%, and in 2005 it was 28.8%.

Without the help of all parents, teams couldn’t pull off a successful meet—which is how many teams stay afloat financially. In some areas of the country, officials are paid, while others rely on parent volunteers. Without officials, there can’t be a meet, either. Many teams require volunteers to put in a certain number of hours at each meet or face fines. It’s not to make money, but more of a plea to get all hands on deck.

Here are a few ideas to recruit and retain volunteers on your team:

ONE

Get personal.

Personally reach out to individuals to ask them to volunteer. If everything is done online or through a flyer—the number of volunteers will be less. It’s easy to ignore emails and people may believe that someone else will step up and they don’t have to. It’s harder to ignore a one-on-one request.

TWO

Be specific.

One of the reasons why people don’t volunteer is that they’re unsure of what’s required of them. And sometimes it takes too much effort on their part to get information. By spelling out exactly the job and amount of time, it will make it clearer for potential volunteers.

THREE

Recognize and appreciate.

Having a coach or parent board recognize the many parent volunteers for their hard work will go a long way in retaining volunteers. In addition to a personal word of gratitude, a thank you on FaceBook, a team’s newsletter or annual awards for volunteers are a few ideas to show the team’s appreciation.

FOUR

Be inclusive.

Newer parents may be intimidated because they’re unfamiliar with swim meets in general. Also, many parents who have been on deck for years don’t mean to be cliquey, but they enjoy their long-standing friendships. They may not realize that new parents may feel like they’re on the outside looking in. Have longtime parents who are amazing at welcoming newer parents reach out and help them become part of the team.

Do you think teams should have mandatory volunteer hours and why do you believe fewer parents are volunteering today?

Elizabeth Wickham volunteered for 14 years on her kids’ club team as board member, fundraiser, newsletter editor and “Mrs. meet manager.” She’s a writer with a bachelor of arts degree in editorial journalism from the University of Washington with a long career in public relations, marketing and advertising. Her stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times, Orange County Parenting and Ladybug. You can read more parenting tips on her blog.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Where Did All the Parent Volunteers Go?

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash, whose 5th-place finish in the 200 fly final on Day 1 in Jakarta made him the first Indian swimmer in 32 years to final in that event at the Asian Games, has been directly affected by the flooding in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Prakash lives with his mother in Neyveli near Puducherry, but members of his immediate family live 400 kilometers to the west in the region that has been hardest hit by the monsoon rains. Prakash’s maternal grandfather, uncle and three other family members, who live near the Cheruthony dam in Idukki, have been missing since Thursday.

Kerala was pummeled by rain for 12 days, which led to 40% greater-than-usual rainfall for the monsoon season, which runs from June to September. With more than 400 people dead and 1.2 million sheltered in camps after losing their homes, the Indian government has classified the floods as a “calamity of severe nature.”

According to a story in the Indian Times, Prakash’s mother, who is traveling with him in Jakarta, tried to keep the bad news from her son as he prepared for his final. He had placed 3rd in prelims with 1:58.12 and his mother, coaches, and teammates felt he was in a good position to medal that night. But someone in the athletes’ village asked Prakash about his relatives. While his mother tried to ease his fears and urged him to concentrate on his upcoming final, she believes the stress affected his race.

Prakash nonetheless swam an Indian National Record-breaking time of 1:57.75 in finals and took fifth. He will also compete in the 100 fly and in the 4×200 free relay.

You can read the original Indian Times article here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 Asian Games: Sajan Prakash’s Personal Connection to Kerala Floods

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

The Texas men have an absurd amount of sprint/mid-distance freestyle talent either on their roster or incoming, and another name has been added to the talent influx.

Jake Sannem, who hails from Pennsylvania, has transferred from USC to Texas after one season in Los Angeles. The announcement was posted on Texas Men’s Swiming & Diving Twitter account this afternoon.

Sannem is a freestyler with range from the 100 through to the 500, and he specializes in the 200 free.

TOP TIMES (SCY/LCM)

• 50 free – 20.24/23.99
• 100 free – 44.09/51.06
• 200 free – 1:34.76/1:50.87
• 500 free – 4:19.34/3:58.68

His 100y free is the only event in which he hit a best time while at USC, though this summer he hit LCM bests in the 50/100/200 free. Sannem’s highest finish at Pac-12s was a 9th place touch in the 200 free (1:34.94), while he split a 1:34.64 on USC’s 12th place 800 free relay at the 2018 NCAA Championships. That was his only race at NCAAs.

USC just graduated one of the top 200 freestylers in the country, Dylan Carter. Sannem’s transfer marks another significant departure from their roster.

Meanwhile, the rich get richer in Austin. Dynamite 200 freestyler and American record holder in yards, Townley Haas, has one year left with Texas, and the Longhorns return Jeff Newkirk and Austin Katz, who split 1:32’s on Texas’s 3rd place 800 free relay at 2018 NCAAs. Sam Pomajevich, another sophomore like Katz, was a B finalist at NCAAs in the 200 free last year, too.

The Longhorn freshman class is insanely stacked, too, led by Drew Kibler (1:32.6 out of high school) and bolstered by Aitor Fungairino (1:34), Matthew Willenbring (1:35), and Daniel Krueger (1:35), among others. These boys, plus several more incredibly talented incoming freshmen, are the reason Texas took top honors on SwimSwam’s NCAA class rankings from this past November.

Picked up a new addition to the Forty Acres

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

Courtesy: Air Force Athletics

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy’s men’s swimming and diving program announced its 2018-19 schedule, according to head coaches Rob Clayton and Stan Curnow, Tuesday, August 21. The Falcons will host six home events on the year.

The Falcons open the year with at the Horsetooth Open Water Swim, Sept. 9, up in Fort Collins. They then host the annual Blue/Silver Intrasquad meet, alongside the women, Sept. 22 at the Cadet Natatorium. The first regular season event is the Intermountain Shootout, hosted by Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colo., Oct. 5-6.

Duals begin later that month, as AF begins Western Athletic Conference
action, Oct. 19, when it hosts Wyoming. The next day, Air Force hosts two in-state opponents in Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa in a tri-meet.

The following week, the Falcons wrap up the month of October by hosting Denver University, Oct. 26. November begins with a two-day home dual against WAC foe Grand Canyon, Nov. 2-3. Air Force then leaves the state for the first time for a pair of invitationals. The swimmers will head to College Station, Texas for the Art Adamson Invitational, hosted by Texas A&M, Nov. 14-16, while the divers head to Flagstaff, Ariz. for the Lumberjack Invitational hosted by Northern Arizona.

Curnow’s divers remain on the road, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 for the Utah Diving
Invite, hosted by the University of Utah. Both squads return to competition for the final event of the 2018 calendar year, Dec. 19, for a dual at Cal Poly.

The New Year begins with a tri-meet in Seattle, Wash. against WAC member, Seattle, as well as Canadian institution, Simon Fraser University, Jan. 11-12. At the same time, select divers will be in Los Angeles for the Bruin Diving Invitational, Jan. 11-13.

The Blue and Silver remain on the road, Jan. 26, for another WAC dual, this one coming against Cal Baptist in neutral territory in Malibu, Calif. The women will compete there at the same time, facing off against host
Pepperdine, as well as Cal Baptist.

February opens with the final home event of the season, as the divers host the AF Diving Invitational, Feb. 1-2. The swimmers will be in Colorado at the same time, Feb. 2, for the Colorado Sprint Championships in Denver.

Two weeks later, competition remains in Denver for the Colorado Senior Open, Feb. 15-17. Then the postseason begins, as the Falcons seek their third title in four years at the WAC Championships, Feb. 27-March 3 in Houston,
Texas.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Air Force Men Set for Six Home Events on 2018-19 Slate

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results

Defending Olympic Champion Joseph Schooling has taken the top seed into the finals of the men’s 100 fly on day 4 of the swimming competition at the 2018 Asian Games.

Schooling swam a 52.31, which put him ahead of Yuki Kobori (52.47) and Li Zhuhao (52.5o) for the top spot.

The swim is almost 2 seconds slower than his lifetime best of 50.39, done to win gold at the 2016 Olympics, but it is his season-best (in only his 2nd long course meet of 2018) by .12 seconds, and it’s not out-of-line with what other favorites have done in prelims at this meet, where in most races, there’s not much pressure for top seeds to swim fast in prelims. Schooling still had 1.2 seconds of gap between his time and ‘missing the final’ in the race.

Schooling did miss a final on Tuesday in the 50 free, albeit not in his primary event like the 100 fly. His time of 23.05 there was six-tenths slower than his best, but the 50 free didn’t afford as much room for error in the morning as this 100 fly did. After a 1:46.6 split on the 200 free relay, Schooling’s early indications were that he was in better shape for this meet than he was in 2017. If we say that the 50 free was contradicting evidence, then this morning’s 100 fly prelims are inconclusive, and we’ll have to await the finals to see where the Singaporean star is at as he embarks upon his pro career.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: After Missing 50 Free Final, Joseph Schooling Qualifies 1st in 100 Fly

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results

While most of the swims in prelims at the 2018 Asian Games have been lackluster, China’s Yan Zibei put a pulse of energy into Wednesday morning’s prelims with a new Asian Games record in the men’s 100 meter breaststroke. Zibei swam a 59.91 in the heats, which shaved .01 seconds off Dmitriy Balandin’s old record of 59.92 in the event, set in 2014.

Balanding was the 2nd qualifier on Wednesday, and while he wasn’t fast enough to defend his record, his 1:00.07 is a positive sign after he scratched the 200 breast earlier in the meet with an injury, and then told the AP that he was contemplating retirement.

Comparative Splits:

• Balandin’s Old Record (2014): 28.69/31.23 = 59.92
• Zibei’s New Record (2018): 28.01/31.90 = 59.91

Zibei’s personal best of 58.92, from the semi-finals at the 2017 Chinese Championships, is still a Chinese National Record in the event.

Balandin was actually very fast opening on Wednesday, whereas closing is usually his stronger suit. He started in 28.33, which was .36 seconds better than he was in his record-setting swim four years ago. But, he couldn’t hold on over the last 50.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Yan Zibei Takes Balandin’s Asian Games 100 Breast Record in Prelims

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES

• August 19th-24th, 2018
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Schedule & Results

Day 4 of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta will feature the 100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke, 400 IM and 400 free relay for men, the 200 free, 200 fly and 100 back for women, and the mixed 400 medley relay.

Among the highlights will be defending champions Joseph Schooling (100 fly), Dmitriy Balandin (100 breast), Kosuke Hagino (400 IM) and Fu Yuanhui (100 back) in action, along with a relatively wide open field in the women’s 200 free as the two fastest swimmers on the 800 free relay, Rikako Ikee and Wang Jianjiahe, aren’t entered. The Japanese men come in favored in the sprint relay after setting the Asian Record at Pan Pacs, while the mixed medley relay will be contested at the Games for the first time ever.

Men’s 100 Fly Prelims

• Asian Record: 50.39, Joseph Schooling (SGP), 2016
• Asian Games Record: 51.76, Joseph Schooling (SGP), 2014

1. Joseph Schooling, SGP, 52.31
2. Yuki Kobori, JPN, 52.47
3. Li Zhuhao, CHN, 52.50
4. Zheng Wen Quah, SGP, 52.76
5. Adilbek Mussin, KAZ, 52.99
6. Gyucheol Chang, KOR, 53.20
7. Glenn Sutanto, IDN, 53.29
8. Nao Horomura, JPN, 53.30

Defending champ Joseph Schooling of Singapore won the final heat of the men’s 100 fly for the top seed in a time of 52.31, improving his season-best by just over a tenth. Japan’s Yuki Kobori and China’s Li Zhuhao, the only two Asian men sub-52 this year, won the other two circle-seeded heats to qualify 2nd and 3rd overall in 52-mid.

Schooling’s countryman Zheng Wen Quah sits 4th in 52.76, dropping his season-best by over a second, and Adilbek Mussin broke his Kazakhstani Record in 52.99 (improving his 53.33 from 2016). Nao Horomura, the 3rd-fastest Asian man this year at 52.04, barely snuck into the final in 8th (53.30).

Women’s 200 Free Prelims

• Asian Record: 1:54.85, Rikako Ikee (JPN), 2018
• Asian Games Record: 1:56.65, Zhu Qianwei (CHN), 2010

1. Chihiro Igarashi, JPN, 2:00.21
2. Yang Junxuan, CHN, 2:01.30
3. Li Bingjie, CHN, 2:01.43
4. Camille Cheng, HKG, 2:01.68
5. Yui Ohashi, JPN, 2:02.41
6. Natthanan Junkrajang, THA, 2:02.49
7. Jasmine Alkhaldi, PHI, 2:02.53
8. Kornkarjana Sapianchai, THA, 2:02.55

The women’s 200 free prelims yielded some fairly pedestrian times in a field that’s not overly full of depth. Once the final heat saw the times from the others, a bunch of them stepped up and made the final, with five of the eight qualifying for tonight coming from that third heat.

Chihiro Igarashi of Japan leads the field after winning heat 1 in 2:00.21, with China’s Yang Junxuan and Li Bingjie winning the other two heats for 2nd and 3rd in 2:01-mid. Hong Kong’s Camille Cheng was the only other swimmer under 2:02 in 2:01.68.

The final will also feature two Thai swimmers, as Natthanan Junkrajang and Kornkarnjana Sapianchai advanced in 6th and 8th respectively.

Men’s 100 Breast Prelims

• Asian Record: 58.78, Yasuhiro Koseki (JPN), 2018
• Asian Games Record: 59.92, Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ), 2014

1. Yan Zibei, CHN, 59.91
2. Dmitriy Balandin, KAZ, 1:00.07
3. Qin Haiyang, CHN, 1:00.78
4. Ippei Watanabe, JPN, 1:00.93
5. Vladislav Mustafin, UZB, 1:01.04
6. Moon Jaekwon, KOR, 1:01.17
7. Yasuhiro Koseki, JPN, 1:01.35
8. Chien Khoo, SGP, 1:02.00

China’s Yan Zibei broke Dmitriy Balandin‘s Games Record in the 100 breast swimming head-to-head with the Kazakh in the fourth and fianl heat of the men’s 100 breast, clocking 59.91 to sneak under Balandin’s 59.92 from 2014. Balandin was just behind him in 1:00.07, qualifying 2nd and improving his season-best. That’s a strong swim for the 2016 Olympic champ in the 200 breast after he sat out of that event earlier due to injury.

Qin Haiyang and Ippei Watanabe won their heats for seeds 3 and 4 in 1:00-high, and 200 winner Yasuhiro Koseki was back in 7th in 1:01.35.

Women’s 200 Fly Prelims

• Asian Record: 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN), 2009 – WR
• Asian Games Record: 2:05.79, Jiao Liuyang (CHN), 2010

1. Suzuka Hasegawa, JPN, 2:09.95
2. Zhang Yufei, CHN, 2:10.83
3. Sachi Mochida, JPN, 2:11.87
4. Le Thi My Thao, HGK, 2:12.14
5. An Sehyeon, KOR, 2:12.22
6. Jing Wen Quah, SGP, 2:13.35
7. Adlinda Dewi, IDN, 2:14.10
8. Yu Liyan, CHN, 2:14.56

Japan’s Suzuka Hasegawa and China’s Zhang Yufei won the two heats of the women’s 200 fly for the top two seeds in 2:09.95 and 2:10.83 respectively, with 3rd seed Sachi Mochida over a second back of Zhang in 2:11.87. Mochida is the fastest Asian woman this year at 2:07.66.

South Korean An Sehyeon qualified 5th in 2:12.22, but has been as fast as 2:08.42 this year, and 8th seed Yu Liyan has also been a quick 2:09.66 in 2018.

Men’s 400 IM Prelims

• Asian Record: 4:06.05, Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2016
• Asian Games Record: 4:07.75, Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2014

1. Daiya Seto, JPN, 4:16.16
2. Kosuke Hagino, JPN, 4:16.17
3. Wang Shun, CHN, 4:18.67
4. Wang Yizhe, CHN, 4:21.55
5. Kim Minsuk, KOR, 4:21.95
6. Cho Chengchi, TPE, 4:23.01
7. Joo Jaegu, KOR, 4:25.11
8. Wang Hsinghao, TPE, 4:27.99

Daiya Seto and Kosuke Hagino ended up finishing just one one-hundredth apart while swimming in separate heats of the men’s 400 IM, with Hagino clocking 4:16.17 in heat 2 and Seto 4:16.16 in heat 3. That sets them up for an exciting head-to-head battle in the final, and 200 winner Wang Shun will look for the upset as the only other swimmer sub-4:20 this morning in 4:18.67. Wang has historically been much better at the shorter distance, but has been 4:14.02 this year and is on good form this week.

Women’s 100 Back Prelims

• Asian Record: 58.70, Aya Terakawa (JPN), 2013
• Asian Games Record: 58.94, Zhao Jing (CHN), 2010

1. Anna Konishi, JPN, 1:00.44
2. Natsumi Sakai, JPN, 1:00.53
3. Chen Jie, CHN, 1:00.84
4. Stephanie Au, HKG, 1:01.31
5. Toto Kwan To Wong, HKG, 1:01.92
6. Fu Yuanhui, CHN, 1:02.41
7. Shin Youngyeon, KOR, 1:02.57
8. Im Dasol, KOR, 1:02.58

The top three qualifiers in the women’s 100 back were all about a second off their 2018 bests, as Anna Konishi (1:00.44) and Natsumi Sakai (1:00.53) gave Japan the top two spots in the standings. China’s Chen Jie sits 3rd in 1:00.84, while her teammate Fu Yuanhui is back in 6th in 1:02.41. Fu is the fastest Asian in the world this year in 59.27.

Men’s 400 Free Relay Prelims

• Asian Record: 3:12.54, Japan, 2018
• Asian Games Record: 3:13.47, China, 2014

1. China, 3:17.30
2. Japan, 3:18.25
3. Singapore, 3:20.16
4. Korea, 3:21.16
5. Chinese Taipei, 3:21.93
6. Malaysia, 3:22.89
7. Indonesia, 3:25.14
8. India, 3:25.17

China and Japan easily advanced through to the final of the men’s 400 free relay in 1st and 2nd, with China leading in 3:17.30 as all four of their swimmers split 49. Japan used their big name guys in Shinri Shioura (49.30), Katsuhiro Matsumoto (49.28) and Katsumi Nakamura (49.03) as they qualified 2nd in 3:18.25, but all three should have a bit more in the tank come the final.

The Sri Lankans had broken their National Record to initially qualify for the final, bt were later disqualified which bumped India up into the final with their National Record of 3:25.17.

Mixed 400 Medley Relay Prelims

• Asian Record: 3:40.98, Japan, 2018
• Asian Games Record: 3:48.89, Japan, 2018

1. Japan, 3:48.89
2. China, 3:53.29
3. Korea, 3:55.46
4. Indonesia, 3:55.56
5. Hong Kong, 3:56.62
6. Chinese Taipei, 3:58.31
7. Singapore, 3:59.87
8. Thailand, 4:05.88

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 Asian Games: Day 4 Prelims Live Recap

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Dylan Dela Cruz of Manchester, New Jersey will remain in-state to swim for Saint Peter’s University in the fall. He plans to pursue a career in Physical Therapy.

“I’m excited to announce my verbal commitment to Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City, NJ.  I would like to thank my coaches, family, and teammates for motivating me to succeed.  I can’t wait to become a Peacock class of 2022.
“During my official visit I knew SPU was the school for me.  I feel that the positive team atmosphere, coaches, and academics can help me achieve my goals and bring out my full potential”

Dela Cruz swam for Monsignor Donovan High School in Toms River, New Jersey. He competes year-round for Ocean County YMCA. After his senior season at Donovan Catholic, in which he improved his lifetime best in the 100 breast, Dela Cruz notched PBs in the 100 back, 200 breast, and 200 IM at 2018 YMCA Short Course Nationals and at New Jersey YMCA Championships.

Dela Cruz will swim for Mark Kretzer who is beginning his third season as head swimming and diving coach for the Peacocks. The men’s team finished sixth in team standings at 2018 MAAC Championships, up a spot from Kretzer’s inaugural season. Dela Cruz would have scored in the B finals of the 100 breast and 200 breast, the latter with rising sophomore Oleksiy Polishchuk.

Top SCY times:

• 100 breast – 57.36
• 200 breast – 2:06.05
• 200 IM – 1:59.21

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: In-state Breaststroker Dylan Dela Cruz to Swim for Saint Peter’s

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

8 days after hiring Patrick Rowan as their new head coach, Indiana State has announced that Rowan will instead remain at Nebraska next season. That puts the Sycamores back on the trail to search for a new head coach after Matt Leach took the head coaching job at Washington State earlier this summer.

“I must begin by saying what a fantastic staff Sherard (Clinkscales) has assembled at Indiana State,” Rowan said upon his departure. “With his passion and leadership, along with the great resources he has invested in the ISU swimming and diving program they absolutely have the ability to win the Missouri Valley Conference Championship in the future. The decision to stay at the University of Nebraska is one that I am making for my family. After a lot of talking and praying with my wife, it has become clear that moving our family now isn’t right for us. I truly wish I had come to the decision sooner, but I know that this will be for the best.”

Rowan and his wife, Miranda, have 2 daughters, Reese and Quinn, and a son, Luke.

“While disappointed that Patrick Rowan has decided to return to Nebraska, we have activated a plan to move the program forward,” ISU Director of Athletics Sherard Clinkscales said. “I fully respect coach Rowan’s decision to put the needs of his family first. Our commitment now is to support the swimming and diving student-athletes while moving quickly to identify the next leader of our program.”

Rowan’s most recent stint at Nebraska as associate head coach was his 2nd. Prior to 2012, he spent 5 years as an assistant at Missouri, and prior to that he spent 7 years as the head coach at Nebraska Aquatics, where he also volunteered with the Cornhuskers.

At Nebraska, Rowan primarily coached the freestyle, sprint, and breaststroke groups, in addition to handling many administrative duties.

In Rowan’s 6 seasons as associate head coach, Nebraska broke 17 school records, and qualified 6 athletes for the 2016 Olympic Trials. That includes qualifying freshman Autumn Haebig for the 2018 NCAA Championships.

Indiana State, which is entering its 3rd year in existence, finished 4th at the 2018 Missouri Valley Championships, where Leach was named Coach of the Year. The team set school records in all 19 swimming events, including the 1000 free split en route to the 1650 final time friom Vivian Kritikou, at that meet. Among those record-breaking swimmers, the only one who won’t return next year is Jacquie Price, who broke the 100 fly (55.09) and 200 fly (2:00.63) records en route to All-MVC honors. She is transferring to Oregon State.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Patrick Rowan Decides to Stay at Nebraska 8 Days after Taking ISU Job

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2018 JR. PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 23rd-26th, 2018
• Suva, Fiji
• Live Results/Psychs
• USA Swimming Meet Landing Page (with daily heat sheets)
• Full Meet Information and Schedule Document

16-year old Jake Magahey of SwimAtlanta came within .01 seconds of the 15-16 USA Swimming National Age Group Record in the 200 LCM freestyle on Thursday in the first session of the 2018 Jr. Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Magahey swam a 1:48.65 in the heats, which made him the 2nd seed behind countrymate Drew Kibler. The time leaves Magahey .01 seconds behind Caeleb Dressel as the fastest 15-16 in age group history in the event.

Magahey ranked 3rd in the category coming into the meet, with a 1:49.45 done at US Nationals in late July. Kibler was the swimmer he jumped to move to #2 all-time; Kibler’s best as a 15-16 was a 1:49.04 done at the 2016 Jr. Pan Pacs. Kibler is now 18.

All-Time Top 5, 15-16 boys, USA Swimming history, 200 LCM Freestyle:

1. Caeleb Dressel, 1:48.64 – 2013
2. Jake Magahey, 1:48.65 – 2018
3. Drew Kibler, 1:49.04 – 2016
4. Ian Crocker, 1:49.48 – 1998
5. Maxime Rooney, 1:49.54 – 2014

Magahey, who turns 17 on September 14th, is in the high school class of 2020, meaning that he’s entering his junior year at Mill Creek High School, in Hoschton, Georgia. He’s not yet made a public verbal commitment for where he intends to swim in college.

Finals of the meet begin at 5:00PM Fiji time, which is 1AM U.S. Eastern Time.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Jake Magahey Misses Caeleb Dressel’s NAG Record by .01 to Open JPP

By Gold Medal Mel Stewart on SwimSwam

If you want SwimSwam Magazine, subscribehere. 

WHEN IT DROPS: The 2018 COLLEGE PREVIEW arrives in-home the first week of September.

SIZE MATTERS: This issue is nearly one pound.

OUR THEME: How to be a Student Athlete.

In this issue some of the best coaches in swimming breakdown how you can make the most of your college experience. We also rank the TOP 50 2018-19 NCAA SWIMMERS, men and women. Finally, we deliver our first POWER RANKINGS, projecting who will be the 2019 NCAA Championship team. A lot will happen between now and NCAA Championships, but this big, fat issue will get you started.

With your yearly subscription, you receive over 600 of pages of swimming’s highest quality content, and another 1,900+ pages of digital issues, going back to the first issue produced.

With your subscription today you get the:

• 2015 Year in Review (Michael Phelps cover) as a digital magazine
• 2016 Swimsuit Issue (Ryan Lochte cover) as a digital magazine
• 2016 Olympic Preview (Michael Phelps cover) as a digital magazine
• 2016 College Preview (Katie Ledecky cover) as a digital magazine
• 2016 Olympic Year in Review (Michael Phelps cover) as a digital magazine
• 2017 Swimsuit Issue (Anthony Ervin cover) as a digital magazine
• 2017 Superhero Issue (Nathan Adrian cover) as a digital magazine
• 2017 College Preview Issue (Simone Manuel cover) as a digital magazine
• 2017 Year In Review as a print magazine (Caeleb Dressel cover) as print magazine
• 2018 Spring Issue (Mallory Comerford cover) as a digital magazine
• 2018 Summer Preview Issue (Caeleb Dressel cover) as a digital magazine
• 2018 College Preview Issue as a print magazine (Ella Eastin cover)
• 2018 Year in Review Issue as a print magazine
• 2019 Spring Issue as a print magazine
• 2019 Summer Preview (World Championships Preview) as a print magazine

_{Already a subscriber? Go to swimswam.com/magazine/digital-access, type in your email/password and view the digital magazines.}

See seven reasons to love SwimSwam Magazine for our upcoming issues. 

ONE

You want the Ella Eastin cover. We memorialized swim stars with beautiful covers you have to hold  in your hands to appreciate.

TWO

All issues have a big theme, one topic we cover in-depth.  The 2018 College Preview is all about HOW TO BE A STUDENT ATHLETE.

THREE

If you subscribe, you can also buy back issues.  On the subscription page, check the box by any of the back issues to add them to your order. ***Please note, our first issue, the 2015 Year in Review, has sold out.Going forward we will not print additional runs. Once an issue is sold out, it is gone and only available on our digital platform.  Printed back issues are limited to what is in stock.

The WOMEN IS SWIMMING issue, the TATTOO ISSUE, the 2016 OLYMPIC PREVIEW (Phelps cover), 2016 Year in Review (Phelps cover),  and the SUPERHERO issue are nearly sold out. 

FOUR

Magazines are massive. The 2016 Olympic Year in Review came in at 172 pages. (That’s an increase of 40 pages over the 2015 Year in Review, which came in at 132 pages.)   The 2018 Spring Issue was 196, an increase of 24 pages!  We deliver big issues. Period. 

FIVE

The quality is high. SwimSwam Magazine has perfect binding (like a book), heavy card stock, and an expensive cover finish. If you haven’t subscribed, you simply don’t know. You feel it the instant you touch the magazine. The texture is amazing, and you’ll love how heavy it feels in your hands. Issues are nearly a pound.

SIX

Our covers are ideal for your coffee table or nightstand. Make a statement, show your swimming love, show that your sport is great and worth the respect it deserves.  Adorn it with SwimSwam Magazine.

SEVEN

SwimSwam Magazine named one of the 30 Hottest Launches of 2016

Competitive Intelligence of Media Leaders (MIN/Mr. Magazine) named SwimSwam Magazine one of the 30 Hottest Launches. Criteria for making the 30 Hottest list included:

• Design
• Creativity
• Audience reaction
• Industry reaction

OUR MAGAZINE MISSION

To knock you over with each issue, producing a must-have magazine that feels like a collector’s item.

To produce unique features never before seen in swimming media.

To present swimming like it should be, the greatest sport on earth.

At SwimSwam, we love the sport, and we love changing the paradigm of how it’s presented. For far too long swimming magazines have been the same, and it our goal to deliver something spectacular, a magazine you will be excited about getting every single time a new issue is released.

Subscribe to SWIMSWAM MAGAZINE here.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Prep For College With The 2018 College Preview SwimSwam Magazine

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Jack Kirby, who is from Barbados but attends The Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has announced his verbal commitment to the University of Southern California for 2019-20. Joining him in the class of 2023 will be fellow verbal commits Andy Lee, Ivan Puskovitch, and Trent Martinez.

“I’m honored to announce my verbal commitment to study and swim at the University of Southern California. I believe USC is the right fit for me and I know that my future is in good hands. I can’t wait to be a part of the Trojan Family.”

Kirby won the 100 free (44.45) and 100 back (48.23) as a junior at the 2018 TISCA Tennessee State Championships. He also contributed to a pair of state-champion relays (4×50 medley and 4×100 free), the latter of which broke the TISCA record by 1.8 seconds. Kirby came with .21 of Trey Freeman’s state record in the 100 free and has another year to try again.

In club swimming Kirby represents the Baylor Swim Club when he is in the U.S. and Pirates Swim Club when he is swimming in Barbados. He competed at CARIFTA Swimming Championships, the Caribbean meet for 11 to 18-year-olds, in April, and came away with High Point Award and two CARIFTA records in the 50m back and 100m back. This summer he swam at XXIII CAC Games, which is a senior meet. He finished 5th in the 100 back and lowered his 15-17 National Age Group to 56.19. Also at CAC he went beset times in the 50 free (23.46), 100 free (50.97), and 50 back (26.07).

Top SCY times:

• 50 back – 22.41
• 100 back – 48.05
• 200 back – 1:45.35
• 50 free – 20.92
• 100 free – 44.45

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Barbados National Record-holder Jack Kirby Sends Verbal to USC Trojans

By Robert Gibbs on SwimSwam

2018 JR. PAN PACIFIC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• August 23rd-26th, 2018
• Suva, Fiji
• Live Results/Psychs
• USA Swimming Meet Landing Page (with daily heat sheets)
• Full Meet Information and Schedule Document

The 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships kicked off Thursday morning in Fiji, with prelims of the 200 free, 100 back, and 200 fly.  While the USA tends to do very well at this meet, the Americans’ level of dominance was unusual even for them, as USA swimmers took the top two seeds in five of the six morning events.

The race of the morning was clearly the women’s 100 back.  Phoebe Bacon, Katharine Berkoff, and Lucie Nordmann  all swam under the previous meet record this mornign.  Bacon took the top seed with a 59.72, while Berkoff and Nordmann, despite being over a second faster than anyone else, with a 1:00.30, had to swim off for the 2nd spot, due to the event rules allowing only two swimmers per country in the A-final.

Bacon’s meet record didn’t last for long, as Berkoff blasted a 59.59 to Nordmann’s 1:00.48 in the swim-off, and she’ll swim next to Bacon in tonight’s final.

In 2016, the USA took the top two seeds in only two of the six events, with Japan and Australia also each pulling off the feat once.  This morning, the USA had the two fastest swims in everything except the girls 200 fly, where Japan’s Karin Takemura took the 2nd with a 2:10.70, splitting Americans Olivia Carter (2:10.39) and Lilli Nordmann (2:11.43).

The girls 800 free and boys 1500 free will be timed finals event, with the fastest heats taking place during this evening’s finals session.

Other notes from Day 1 Prelims:

• 14 year-old phenom Claire Tuggle outsplit American teammate Isabel Ivey by over a second in the final 50 to take the top seed in the 200 free in 1:59.36.
• While Jake Magahey flirted with a NAG, it was Drew Kibler who had the fastest time of the morning in the 200 free.  His 1:48.37 was roughly even with his finals time from last month’s USA National Championships, but about six-tenths slower than his prelim time from the same meet.
• Destin Lasco scratched the 200 free, where his seed time would not have made either final, and instead focused on the 100 back.  The move paid off, as he earned the top seed with a 55.57.  Adam Chaney, known thus far primarily for his sprint free prowess, earned the 2nd seed with a 55.89, as the USA actually had the four fastest times in prelims.
• Gianluca Urlando was a tad off from his prelims time at Nationals, touching in 1:56.37.  While he should be the favorite to win tonight, he’ll need almost a two second drop from morning to night to topple Michael Phelps’ 15-16 NAG record of 1:54.58.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2018 JR Pan Pacs: USA Takes Top Two Seeds in All But One Event in Day 1 Prelims