Day 3 at the NCAA Championships: What to Expect

Day 3 at the NCAA Championships: What to Expect

Friday, March 25, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving

13 Gators will compete across four individual events and one relay

By: Benjamin Schmitz

Heat Sheet | Real Time Results | Watch Prelims Here | Finals on WatchESPN

ATLANTA -- The University of Florida men's swimming and diving team returns to action today at 10 a.m. ET, in Day-Three competition at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Thirteen Gators will swim across four events in addition to the 200-Yard Medley Relay.

The Orange and Blue enter today's competition in second-place with a point total of 163.

Who Qualifies to Compete Today:
Thirteen student-athletes have qualified to compete in Day 3 competition at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Though coaches and student-athletes may not elect to compete in select events, the following participants have met the NCAA's pre-established qualifying standards in the following races:

400-Yard IM
Mark Szaranek
- Ranks 10th Nationally in the event, clocking a time of 3:41.88.
- Finished second in the event at the 2016 SEC Championships (3:41.88).
- Placed seventh at the 2015 NCAA Championships (3:42.43).

Alex Lebed
- Ranks 23rd Nationally in the event, boasting a time of 3:44.69.
- Making his 400 IM NCAA debut.
- 2012 & 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier.

Brennan Balogh
- Owns a season-best time of 3:44.96 and ranks 26th nationally.
- Making his 400 IM NCAA debut.
- Three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American

Arthur Frayler
- Season-Best time of 3:48.70 ranks 35th nationally.
- Placed 30th in the event a season ago, clocking a time of 3:48.66.
- Three-time All-America honoree.

100-Yard Butterfly
Caeleb Dressel
- Ranks second nationally in the event with a time of 44.80.
- Could potentially race former Club teammate and defending National Champion, Joseph Schooling (Texas). The two raced earlier this season in October at the Texas Invitational with Dressel coming out on top.
- Finished ninth in the event at the 2015 NCAA Championships (45.69).

Jack Blyzinskyj
- Ranks seventh nationally with a time of 45.41.
- Finished 11th a season ago at the 2015 NCAA Championships (45.81).
- Ranks third in the Florida record books.

200-Yard Freestyle
Pawel Werner
- Owns the country's 15th-fastest time (1:33.82).
- Swam a career-best 1:33.23 in 2013.
- Ranks fifth in the Florida record books.

Mitch D'Arrigo
- Ranks 22nd nationally, clocking a time of 1:34.26.
- Finished fourth at the 2016 SEC Championships, clocking a time of 1:34.26.
- Finished 13th at the 2015 NCAA Championships a season ago.

Jan Switkowski
- Owns the 36th-fastest time in the country (1:34.81).
- Finished fourth at the 2013 ACC Championships in the event.
- Makes 200 Free NCAA debut.

Corey Main
- Ranks 47th Nationally in the event, clocking a time of 1:35.66.
- Holds a career-best time of 1:33.61.
- 12-Time All-American

Austin Manganiello
- Ranks 67th Nationally in the event, holding a season-best time of 1:36.98.
- Makes 200-Free NCAA debut in the event.
- Three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll Selection

Benjamin Lawless
- Ranks 70th nationally, clocking a season-best time of 1:37.79.
- Makes 200-Free NCAA debut in the event.
- Finished 32nd at the 2016 SEC Championships in the event (1:37.99).

100-Yard Backstroke
Jack Blyzinskyj
- Ranks seventh nationally in the event with a time of 45.41.
- Current time also marks a career-best.
- Ranks second in the Florida record books (45.41).

200-Yard Medley Relay
- Holds the second fastest time in the country this season (1:23.69).
- Gators finished sixth in the event a season ago (1:24.14).
- Won the 2016 SEC Championship title (1:23.69).

** NOTE ** The above names denote student-athletes who have been invited to the NCAA meet in each event. It is NOT the official events each will participate in.

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

Record-Breaking Weekend
The Gators have an early start on what they hope will be a week full of new school Florida records. Last night, the Gators took down the 800-Yard freestyle record, while Day Two competition featured a new 200-Yard Freestyle Relay, and 500-Yard Freestyle mark.

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).

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.

This Week's All-America Honors:
All-America Honors
J. Blyzinskyj (2): 200 FR, 400 MR.
M. D'Arrigo (2): 800 FR, 500-Yard Freestyle.
C. Dressel (3): 50-Yard Freestyle, 200 FR, 400 MR.
C. Main (2): 200 FR, 400 MR.
J. Switkowski (3): 800 FR, 200 IM, 400 MR.
M. Szaranek (3): 800 FR, 200 IM, 200 FR.
P. Werner (2): 800 FR, 500 Free*

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

Saturday, March 26: Prelims - 10 a.m. | Finals - 6 p.m.
Platform Diving: Smith
1,650 Freestyle: Frayler, D'Arrigo, Lawless, B. Manganiello
200 Back: Main, Blyzinskyj, Balogh, Lebed
100 Free: Dressel, Werner
200 Breast:
200 Butterfly: Switkowski, Szaranek, A. Manganiello
400 Free Relay: Florida

Notable Links:
Complete NCAA Championship Notes
2016 Championship Central Page

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