Men Swimmers & Divers take 2nd in AAC

[Water Pony]

HOUSTON (SMU) – Senior Sam Straughan was named the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet and Bryce Klein was honored as the Most Outstanding Diver, as the SMU men’s swimming and diving program went on to earn runner-up honors at the American Athletic Conference Championship. The Mustangs won 13 of 21 events en route to the second-place finish.

East Carolina took the team title with 907 points, while the Mustangs registered 828.5. Cincinnati (680.5) and Connecticut (645) rounded out the four-team field.

Straughan won three individual championships, picking up his final victory on the last night in the 200-yard butterfly posting a career-best and NCAA B standard 1:46.04. The senior also won the 100-distance, as well as the 100-yard backstroke.

Freshman Garrett Carson also scored in the top final for the Mustangs in the 200 fly, clocking a 1:50.24 for sixth. In the Consolation Final, Tucker Wells turned in the fastest time at 1:49.73.

In a fast 100-yard freestyle Championship Final, Ziga Cerkovnik and Christian Scherubl battled for the top spot, with just .04 separating the two. Cerkovnik (44.25) came out as the victor, while Scherubl (44.29) was second, with both improving on their times from the morning session. Nick Hook and Justin Gibson both competed in the B Final, finishing 13th and 14th, respectively.

The 200-yard breaststroke saw sophomore Stefan Popov (1:59.12) make the podium, earning the bronze, after moving up from his fifth-place finish in prelims. Kianu Kitching won the Consolation Final, while Hayden Corley was 11th overall.

In the mile, junior Matthew Colket was the top performer for the Mustangs clocking a 15:38.79 for fifth, and also making the top 10 were freshmen Lucas Schenke (8th) and Carson Klein (9th).

Bartosz Krzyzaniak and Brandon Norman competed in the Championship Final of the 200-yard backstroke, finishing third and seventh, respectively, and Charlie Wort was 10th overall.

Following his wins in the 1- and 3-meter dives, Klein competed on the platform for the first time this season, finishing third behind teammate Daniel Pitts. Pitts posted a 253.40, just under six points behind the event winner Louie Hunt from Cincinnati. Parker Holloway also represented the Mustangs in the final, totaling a 187.50 for eighth.

The Mustangs’ victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay to close the event was SMU’s fourth relay victory of the Championship. Cerkovnik, Straughan, Schenke and Scherubl paced the competition with a 2:56.31, ahead of event champion East Carolina.

[StallionsModelT]

WP,

Are you going to the groundbreaking on Friday for the new facility?

[Water Pony]

WP,

Are you going to the groundbreaking on Friday for the new facility?

Yes, I will be there!

This Groundbreaking has been a long time coming for SMU, its Men's and Women's Swimmers & Divers and the many alums, who are part of this long and rich tradition.

Pony Up!