2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – MATCH 4
- Monday, October 26: 3 PM-5 PM Local Time (10 AM-12 noon U.S. Eastern, 11 PM-1 AM J+1 Japan)
- Tuesday, October 27: 3 PM-5 PM Local Time (10 AM-12 noon U.S. Eastern, 11 PM-1 AM J+1 Japan)
- Duna Arena – Budapest, Hungary
- Short Course Meters (SCM) format
- ISL Technical Handbook
- 2020 ISL Scoring Format
- 2020 ISL Prize Money and Bonuses
- How To Watch
- Teams: Cali Condors / DC Trident / Iron / NY Breakers
One of the biggest questions that has been floating around through the first two weeks of the 2020 International Swimming League has been “where is Nic Fink?”
On Monday, as the Cali Condors began their 2nd meet of the season, it was revealed publicly that Fink has been dealing with a wrist injury, which is why he hasn’t competed in either of his team’s first two meets.
After the Condors have an off week next week to rest, Fink is expected to be able to race again in week 4 of the season when the Condors face London, Tokyo, and the New York Breakers.
While the Condors have been the dominant team through the first 2 weeks of the season, the breaststrokes have not been their strengths.
| Match 1 – 50 Breaststroke | Match 1 – 100 Breaststroke | Match 1 – 200 Breaststroke | Match 2 – 50 Breaststroke |
Match 2 – 200 Breaststroke
|
|
| Kevin Cordes | 8th | 7th | 7th | 5th | 6th |
| Marcin Cieslak | 6th | 8th | — | — | — |
| Mark Szaranek | — | — | 8th | — | — |
| Tomas Peribonio | — | — | — | — | 7th |
| Caeleb Dressel | — | — | — | 3rd | — |
So far this season, they’ve used 5 different swimmers in the breaststroke events. That includes Caeleb Dressel being forced into action in the 50 on Monday, where he placed 3rd. While Dressel is certainly a capable breaststroker in short course, as he showed when he swam in college, there are better spots for the Condors to use him long-term.
Fink, if he returns to full form. immediately boosts the Condors’ efforts. In an individual breaststroke race last season, he finished no lower than 5th, including 6 finishes in the top 3. At the Las Vegas finale, he won both the 50 and 200 breaststrokes, and placed 3rd in the 100 breaststroke.
While he’s probably not going to be the best breaststroker in the league, he will give a significant boost to the Condors, who are so good in so many other places, especially in their women’s team, that they just need ‘good enough’ in the breaststrokes. That includes giving Cali a shot at winning the men’s medley relays and being able to choose “Caeleb Dressel” (probably freestyle) for skins races.
Maybe as importantly, Fink can swim all 3 breaststrokes at a high level. That should free up a lot of roster flexibility for swimmers like Dressel and Cieslak, for example.
Rumor has it, he was arm wrestling Mel, and lost.
Thumb wrestling is what I heard. That Mel is one tough cookie! We’re waiting to you see you back on the blocks soon Nic! And, Go Dawgs.