After Winning SEC Title, Florida Men Want More at NCAAs
Wednesday, March 26, 2014 | Men's Swimming & Diving
After winning their second consecutive and 35th overall Southeastern Conference Championship in February, the top-ranked Florida men will look to carry that momentum into the three-day NCAA Championships beginning Thursday in Austin, Texas. Florida returns 10 All-American swimmers from last year's NCAA team and will bring 14 individual qualifiers and one relay alternate to the meet.
Last season, the Orange and Blue placed 6th, but were only 3.5 points from breaking into the top-four. The Gators have placed in the top-10 in 14 consecutive years since Head Coach Gregg Troy took over the program. Florida has captured two team titles and last won in 1984.
Sounds Bites:
“The expectation I think is always the same when you're here at Florida. It just becomes more realistic sometimes then others. The guys, realistically if we get off to a good start and have good performances, we're in the hunt. It is going to be very close.”- Head Coach Gregg Troy
“All the paper stuff and the predictions are nice, but it all depends on how you do on the day of the race. We try to put our minds on what is happening in our lanes. If we take care of business in our lanes, the focus is correct and we do the things we've practiced, we'll be fine. I know this; The one thing they will do is stand up and race tough. There is a lot of character on the team. They've handled adverse situations pretty well. I feel very comfortable that we're going to see great efforts. How good it is, we won't know that until after the meet.”- Troy
For the full video of Coach Troy's press conference, including a recap of the women's meet, please click here.
Returning NCAA All-Americans: Florida returns to the national meet with 10 of last season's 13 NCAA All-Americans and 33 of 38 NCAA All-American (top-16) swims. The Gators will rely on seniors Marcin Cieslak (18x All-American), Sebastien Rousseau (10x All-American), Brad deBorde (14x All-American) and Connor Signorin (4x All-American). Rousseau was most recently named the SEC Swimmer of the Year and was the recipient of the SECs Commissioners Trophy after winning three individual titles (200 free, 200 fly, 200 IM) and scoring the most points at the conference championships.
Where They Rank Nationally: Florida enters the meet ranked in the top-six nationally in all five relays and in the top-five in 11 individual events.
· Dan Wallace (500 free, 400 IM)
· Freshman Mitch D'Arrigo(500 free, 1650 free)
· deBorde (50 free)
· Rousseau (400 IM, 200 fly)
· Cieslak (100 fly, 200 fly)
· Sophomore Arthur Frayler (1650 free)
· Junior Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (200 breast)
Last Season's Meet:
· The Gators placed sixth last season with 285.5 points, with teams third through sixth separated by less than 20 total points.
· The Gators 800 freestyle relay team of Rousseau, Cieslak, Pawel Werner and Wallace return.
· Cieslak recorded a trio of runner-up finishes a year ago in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 IM. Cieslak earned seven All-American honors to lead the Gators.
| Gators 2013 NCAA All-America Honorees | ||
| Swimmer | First Team All-America (top-8) | Honorable Mention All-America (top-16) |
| Marcin Cieslak (7) | 200 IM, 100 Fly, 200 Fly, 800 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay | 200 Medley Relay |
| Matthew Curby (2) | 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay | |
| Brad deBorde (6) | 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay | 100 Fly, 200 Medley Relay |
| Matt Elliott (3) | 200 Breast, 400 Medley Relay | 100 Breast |
| Corey Main (4) | 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay | 200 Back |
| Sebastien Rousseau (4) | 200 Fly, 500 Free, 800 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay | |
| Connor Signorin (1) | 400 IM | |
| Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez (2) | 200 IM, 200 Breast | |
| Dan Wallace (3) | 400 IM, 800 Free Relay | 200 IM |
| Pawel Werner (4) | 800 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay | 200 Free |
Last Year's Top-10 Standings:
| 1. | Michigan | 480 |
| 2. | California | 406.5 |
| 3. | Arizona | 313.5 |
| 4. | Southern California | 289 |
| 5. | Texas | 288 |
| 6. | FLORIDA | 285.5 |
| 7. | Stanford | 282 |
| 8. | Auburn | 226.5 |
| 9. | Indiana | 201 |
| 10. | Georgia | 163 |
Gators Under Troy at NCAA:
· 1999-00: 2nd SECs; 9th NCAAs
· 2000-01: 3rd SECs; 8th NCAAs
· 2001-02: 2nd SECs; 4th NCAAs
· 2002-03: 2nd SECs; 6th NCAAs
· 2003-04: 2nd SECs; 6th NCAAs
· 2004-05: 2nd SECs; 5th NCAAs
· 2005-06: 2nd SECs; 5th NCAAs
· 2006-07: 2nd SECs; 4th NCAAs
· 2007-08: 2nd SECs; 8th NCAAs
· 2008-09: 2ndSECs; 5th NCAAs
· 2009-10: 2nd SECs; 5th NCAAs
· 2010-11: 2nd SECs; 5th NCAAs
· 2011-12: 2nd SECs; 8th NCAAs
· 2012-13: 1st SECs; 6th NCAAs
· 2013-14: 1st SECs;
NCAA History: The Gators last won the NCAA title in 1984. Florida men have won a total of 41 NCAA titles (31 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.
NCAA Info: Texas has created a microsite that contains all of the information you need to follow along at the NCAA Championships. For that information, please click here.
Order of Events:
TRIALS – THURSDAY, MARCH 20 (11 a.m.)
1. 200-yard Freestyle Relay
2. 500-yard Freestyle
3. 200-yard Individual Medley
4. 50-yard Freestyle
5. One-meter Diving
6. 400-yard Medley Relay
FINALS – THURSDAY, MARCH 20 (7 p.m.)
1. 200-yard Freestyle Relay
2. 500-yard Freestyle
3. 200-yard Individual Medley
4. 50-yard Freestyle
5. One-meter Diving—Finals*
6. 400-yard Medley Relay
TRIALS – FRIDAY, MARCH 21 (11 a.m.)
7. 200-yard Medley Relay
8. 400-yard Individual Medley
9. 100-yard Butterfly
10. 200-yard Freestyle
11. 100-yard Breaststroke
12. 100-yard Backstroke
13. Three-meter Diving
14. 800-yard Freestyle Relay—All but last two heats of time finals
FINALS – FRIDAY, MARCH 21 (7 p.m.)
7. 200-yard Medley Relay
8. 400-yard Individual Medley
9. 100-yard Butterfly
10. 200-yard Freestyle
11. 100-yard Breaststroke
12. 100-yard Backstroke
13. Three-meter Diving—Finals*
14. 800-yard Freestyle Relay—Last two heats of time finals
TRIALS – SATURDAY, MARCH 22 (11 a.m.)
16. 200-yard Backstroke
17. 100-yard Freestyle
18. 200-yard Breaststroke
19. 200-yard Butterfly
20. Platform
21. 400-yard Freestyle Relay
FINALS – SATURDAY, MARCH 22 (7 p.m.)
15. 1,650-yard Freestyle—Last heat of time finals
16. 200-yard Backstroke
17. 100-yard Freestyle
18. 200-yard Breaststroke
19. 200-yard Butterfly
20. Platform Diving—Finals*
21. 400-yard Freestyle Relay
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