2023 Men’s Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

 2023 MEN’S BIG TEN SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS 

• Wednesday, February 22 – Saturday, February 25, 2023
• Canham Natatorium, Ann Arbor, MI
• Defending Champions:
  • Men: Indiana (1x)
• Live Results
• Live Video
• Championship Central
• Fan Guide
• SwimSwam Day 3 Prelims Live Recap

SCORES AFTER DAY 2

1. Ohio State – 487
2. Indiana – 478
3. Michigan – 403
4. Wisconsin – 341
5. Minnesota – 280
6. Purdue – 240
7. Northwestern – 210
8. Penn State – 204

DAY 3 FINALS HEAT SHEET

It’s the third night of finals at the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Championships, and we’ll see medals awarded in the 100 fly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle relay. Not only is it a busy session, but there’s a strong possibility that we could see multiple repeat winners, as all the individual champions in the pool from last year return to defend their titles.

100 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 44.74, Alex Quach (2022)
• Pool Record: 45.34, Gal Cohen Groumi (2023)
• 2022 Champion: Alex Quach (Ohio State) – 44.74
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.82
• 2022 NCAA Invite: 45.57

Top 8:

1. Gal Cohen Groumi (Michigan) – 44.50 (Meet and Pool Record)
2. Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 44.66
3. Finn Brooks (Indiana) – 45.40
4. Victor Baganha (Penn State) – 45.48
5. Wyatt Davis (Michigan) – 45.60
6. James Ward (Ohio State) – 45.74
7. JP Khouzam (Ohio State) – 45.94
8. Alex Quach (Ohio State) – 45.95

Gal Cohen Groumi got the session started with a bang, taking down the Big Ten Meet record and the pool record with a lifetime best 44.50. The Michigan sophomore broke defending champion Alex Quach‘s meet record of 44.74 that he set last year by taking .32 seconds off his previous best from 2022 NCAAs. This is his second individual conference title of the meet as he won the 200 IM earlier.

It was Ohio State senior James Ward who turned first at the 50, opening the race in 20.79. Groumi and Tomer Frankel both split 20.87 on their first 50, turning just behind Ward. Groumi pressed on the back half of the race, splitting a field best 23.63 to get his hands on the wall first. Frankel split 23.79 to take sole ownership of second. Meanwhile, Ward had a slower back half, ending up sixth in 45.74.

Indiana is likely to be in the lead in the standings after this session, and they backed that up here, going 2-3 as Finn Brooks took third in 45.40, a new lifetime best by .27 seconds.

Speaking of lifetime bests, Wyatt Davis had a big drop to take fifth in 45.60. Coming into the meet, Davis’ best was a 46.88 from the 2022 Tennessee Invitational. In prelims, he lowered the mark to 46.17 before destroying that here in finals. Over the course of the day, he’s taken 1.28 seconds off his best time.

400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• Meet Record: 3:38.03, Tyler Clary (2009)
• Pool Record: 3:38.51, Kyle Whitaker (2014)
• 2022 Champion: Jared Daigle (Michigan) – 3:41.01
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 3:39.16
• 2022 NCAA Invite: 3:43.50

Top 8:

1. Dominik Mark Torok (Wisconsin) – 3:39.96
2. Jared Daigle (Michigan) – 3:40.99
3. Eitan Ben-Shitrit (Michigan) – 3:43.49
4. Mikey Calvillo (Indiana) – 3:44.25
5. William Bansberg (Ohio State) – 3:45.29
6. Tristan Jankovics (Ohio State) – 3:45.32
7. Will Lulek (Penn State) – 3:46.96
8. William Christenson (Minnesota) – 3:47.23

Everyone, meet Dominik Mark Torok. Over the course of prelims and finals, the Wisconsin freshman from Hungary has announced himself in the NCAA. He won the Big Ten 400 IM title in 3:39.96, which is an 8.63 second drop on the day from the personal best he swam at a February dual meet. He was seeded with a 3:58.94, but lowered his best in prelims to a 3:43.92 before blowing that mark away here. With other championship meets running concurrently, the time vaults him into sixth in the NCAA.

At the halfway mark of the championship heat, it was Michigan’s Eitan Ben-Shitrit who held a commanding lead of over two seconds. On the breaststroke leg, both Torok and defending champion Jared Daigle began to make their moves, but Ben-Shitrit still held the lead heading into the final leg of the race.

Torok split 50.29 on the freestyle leg to surge past the Michigan Wolverines for the title. Daigle grabbed silver in 3:40.99, faster than the 3:41.01 he swam to earn the event title last year. It’s a strong swim for Daigle, as it’s about two-tenths off his personal best.

Ben-Shitrit’s bronze medal time of 3:43.49 marks another big personal best from the field. Coming into the meet, the Israel native’s best was 3:46.54, which he’d lowered to 3:45.73 in prelims.

200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:31.14, Blake Pieroni (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:32.14, Michael Wynalda (2014)
• 2022 Champion: Rafael Miroslaw (Indiana) – 1:32.17
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:31.98
• 2022 NCAA Invite: 1:33.08

Top 8:

1. Jake Newmark (Wisconsin) – 1:31.61 (Pool Record)
2. Ruslan Gaziev (Ohio State) – 1:31.94
3. Rafael Miroslaw (Indiana) – 1:32.10
4. Tomas Navikonis (Ohio State) – 1:33.60
5. Nick Sherman (Purdue) – 1:33.95
6. Bar Soloveychik (Minnesota) – 1:34.83
7. Tomer Frankel (Indiana) – 1:34.84
8. Eduardo Moraes (Michigan) – 1:35.18

By winning the 200 freestyle, Jake Newmark collected his second individual conference title of the meet. The Wisconsin junior won this title to the tune of a new pool record of 1:31.61. The top three swimmers (Newmark, Ruslan Gaziev, and Rafael Miroslaw) were all under the old pool record of 1:32.14, set nine years ago by Michael Wynalda.

The race was bunched up after the first 50 yards. Where Newmark really began to assert himself was the middle 100, where he clocked field-best splits of 23.19 and 23.03, totaling 46.22 for his middle 100. Gaziev began to come back on Newmark on the final 50, roaring home in 23.14, but Newmark had put too much distance between himself and the field for Gaziev to really challenge him for the gold.

Both Newmark and Gaziev’s times are new personal bests and mark the first time sub-1:32 for both swimmers.

Last year’s champion Rafael Miroslaw earned third in 1:32.10, which is faster than he went to earn the title last year.

100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 50.19, Max McHugh (2021)
• Pool Record: 51.09, Tommy Cope (2021)
• 2022 Champion: Max Mchugh (Minnesota) – 50.67
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 51.40
• 2022 NCAA Invite: 52.20

Top 8:

1. Max McHugh (Minnesota) – 50.80 (Pool Record)
2. Van Mathias (Indiana) – 51.32
3. Josh Matheny (Indiana) – 51.50
4. Kevin Houseman (Northwestern) – 51.90
5. Jassen Yep (Indiana) – 52.10
6. Will Myhre (Wisconsin) – 52.11
7. Brendan Fitzpatrick (Michigan) – 52.42
8. Mariano Lazzerini (Penn State) – 52.58

Though every 2022 champion has returned to the ‘A’ final to defend their title, Minnesota’s Max McHugh is the first to actually repeat as champion in 2023. In fact, this marks McHugh’s third straight Big Ten title in the 100 breaststroke. He was off the 50.67 he took the gold in last year, but still downed Tommy Cope‘s pool record from 2021. McHugh left little room for doubt as to who would win the title, opening in 23.84 before splitting 26.96 on the back half.

Van Mathias and Josh Matheny went 2-3 for the Hoosiers, with Mathias collecting silver in 51.32 to Matheny’s 51.50. Both their times are lifetime bests, with Mathias besting the 51.72 he swam in prelims and Matheny getting under the 51.65 he swam at this meet last year.

This event was already supposed to be a boost for Indiana as they put three into the ‘A’ final, but with Jassen Yep moving up from seventh to fifth, the Hoosiers have collected more points than projected and have moved into first with the 100 back, diving, and the relay still to go.

Northwestern’s Kevin Houseman, who finished second last year, was fourth in 51.90.

100 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• Meet Record: 44.31, Brendan Burns (2022)
• Pool Record: 45.09, Brendan Burns (2023)
• 2022 Champion: Brendan Burns (Indiana) – 44.31
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 44.79
• 2022 NCAA Invite: 45.87

Top 8:

1. Brendan Burns (Indiana) – 44.65 (Pool Record)
2. Wyatt Davis (Michigan) – 45.20
3. Wes Jekel (Wisconsin) – 45.80
4. Brady Samuels (Purdue) – 45.86
5. Cooper Morley (Penn State) – 46.04
6. Gavin Wright (Indiana) – 46.27
7. Thomas Watkins (Ohio State) – 46.31
8. Alex Quach (Ohio State) – 46.89

Brendan Burns made it two 2022 champions who have defended their titles in pool record fashion. The Indiana senior took down his own pool record with a 44.65, clocking 21.69 on the first 50 and coming home in 22.96.  In prelims, Burns came home fast as well, splitting 23.04 and he got under that split here in finals. He won the race by a wide margin as the only swimmer in the field who got under 45 seconds. Additionally, the time moves Burns into fourth in the NCAA this season as he slots between Youssef Ramadan and Leon Marchand.

Michigan’s Wyatt Davis had an excellent second half of his double, touching in 45.20 for silver. Earlier, he took fifth in the 100 fly. It’s his second personal best of the session as he lowered the 45.32 mark that he swam in prelims.

Wisconsin’s Wes Jekel out-touched Purdue’s Brady Samuels for third by sixth-hundredths, 45.80 to 45.86. Samuels had a faster second 50 than Jekel did and pulled even with the Badger, but Jekel had enough left to get his hand on the wall first.

3-METER DIVING — FINALS

• Meet Record: 540.55 – Steele Johnson (2018)

Top 8:

1. Andrew Capobianco (Indiana) – 500.30
2. Quinn Henninger (Indiana) – 484.75
3. Clay Chaplin (Ohio State) – 411.30
4. Cameron Gammage (Michigan) – 409.85
5. Jordan Rzepka (Purdue) – 399.60
6. Daniel Miller (Wisconsin) – 389.00
7. Max Weinrich (Indiana) – 365.00
8. Mo Noaman (Ohio State) – 361.70

Indiana did its thing on the diving board, taking the top two spots on the podium. Andrew Capobianco repeated as the 3-meter champion, winning with 500.30 points. His sophomore teammate Quinn Henninger earned silver with 484.75 points, improving on his third place finish last year.

Ohio State’s Clay Chaplin took bronze by 1.45 points ahead of Michigan’s Cameron Gammage. Neither of them made the ‘A’ final last year, so these places mark a big improvement for both, as in 2022 they finished 10th and 11th respectively.

Men’s 200 Free Relay — TIMED FINALS

• Meet Record: 1:15.28, Ohio State (2022)
• Pool Record: 1:17.06, Michigan (2015)
• 2022 Champion: 1:15.28, Ohio State
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:16.80

Top 8:

1. Indiana (Mathias, Wight, Brooks, Miroslaw) – 1:16.29 (Pool Record)
2. Ohio State (Gaziev, Baltes, Quach, Ward) – 1:16.39
3. Michigan (Peel, Szabados, Cohen Groumi, Acin) – 1:16.60
4. Wisconsin – 1:16.97
5. Purdue – 1:17.39
6. Minnesota – 1:18.58
7. Penn State – 1:18.63
8. Northwestern – 1:19.15

It was a back and forth race between Indiana and Ohio State, as they traded the lead throughout the 200 freestyle relay. At the touch, Indiana’s squad of Van Mathias, Gavin Wight, Finn Brooks, and Rafael Miroslaw walked away with the win and the pool record, 1:16.29 to Ohio State’s 1:16.39.

Mathias, the individual 50 free champion, led off the Hoosiers in 19.04, just four-hundredths off his title winning time. That gave them a five-hundredths lead over Ohio State, as Ruslan Gaziev opened in 19.09 for the Buckeyes. Daniel Baltes handed Ohio State the lead after his leg, as he out-split Gavin Wight, 18.99 to 19.09. At this point in the race, Michigan was also in on the action, as Cam Peel and Bence Szabados turned in splits of 19.35 and 18.83.

On the third leg, Indiana took the lead back over courtesy of Brooks, who clocked 19.04, while Alex Quach–on his third swim of the evening–split 19.42 for the Buckeyes. With one leg left, Michigan was running second to the Hoosiers after a 19.21 split from Gal Cohen Groumi.

On the anchor leg, Miroslaw split 19.12 to seal the win for Indiana. Ohio State senior James Ward did his best to run Miroslaw down with an 18.89 split, but it wasn’t quite enough to catch the Hoosiers. They finished second, but Ohio State was the only relay in the field to have more than one 18-point split.

Michigan’s anchor Nikola Acin fired off a 19.21 split, and while they fell out of contention with Indiana and Ohio State, the Wolverines did more than enough to wrap up third in 1:16.60.

All three of the top teams were under the NCAA ‘A’ cut time of 1:16.80, with fourth-place Wisconsin missing the mark in 1:16.97. Indiana already had the ‘A’ cut in the race, but neither Ohio State nor Michigan did.

Team Scores Thru Day 3

1. Indiana – 1030.5
2. Ohio State – 924.5
3. Michigan – 806
4. Wisconsin – 665.5
5. Minnesota – 516
6. Purdue – 483
7. Penn State – 407.5
8. Northwestern – 392