The Week That Was, sponsored by Suitmate
The Week That Was featured CSCAA All-American announcements, some incredible swims at the TYR Pro, and more.
The Week That Was #1: CSCAA Announces All-Americans for Women’s Division I Swimming, Diving; 9th and 17th Place in Lia Thomas Events Added
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by Dan D’Addona
The CSCAA has awarded its annual All-American honors to the NCAA Division I women’s swimmers and divers.
There were 79 women who earned first-team All-American honors for individual events. There were 125 relay first-teamers and 93 second-team All-Americans.
The CSCAA generally goes with the top eight swimmers as first-team and the 9-16 performers on second team, but this year was a little different.
The Week That Was #2: Leon Marchand Has DQ Overturned at TYR Pro Series; Tops 400 IM World Rankings at 4:10.38
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
by John Lohn
Less than 24 hours after being disqualified for an illegal turn in the 400-meter individual medley at the TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio, Leon Marchand had his victory in the event reinstated. USA Swimming took to social media to announce that the race was reviewed, and officials deemed Marchand’s performance fully legal.
Coming off a sensational showing at last week’s NCAA Championships, where he captured a pair of titles, the Arizona State freshman was equally impressive in the 400 medley at the Northside Swim Center. However, after clocking a world-leading time of 4:10.38, Marchand was disqualified for turning on his back during the freestyle leg.
The Week That Was #3: TYR Pro Series: Shaine Casas Delivers Quick 200 IM; Caeleb Dressel Shares Title in 100 Freestyle
Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble
by John Lohn
It wasn’t hard to pinpoint the most-anticipated event of the final session of the TYR Pro Series stop in San Antonio. It was the men’s 200-meter individual medley, which was stacked with talent – both established and rising. Ultimately, it was Shaine Casas who walked away with the victory, as he touched the wall in a personal best of 1:56.70, the top time in the world this year.
With his best two strokes at the front of the race, Casas unsurprisingly attacked the butterfly and backstroke legs to build a commanding lead. The key for Casas was remaining strong enough over the final 100 meters, and he did just that to fend off the hard-charging finishes of Leon Marchand (1:56.95) and Chase Kalisz (1:57.10), whose early-April times bode well for the summer ahead.
The Week That Was #4: Thomas Heilman Blazes To YMCA National Title in 100 Butterfly; Greater Somerset Speeds To Relay Crown
Photo Courtesy: Lisa Martin
by John Lohn
One of the top age-group swimmers in the country, Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont’s Thomas Heilman highlighted the second day of the YMCA Short-Course Nationals in Greensboro with a victory in the 100-yard butterfly on Tuesday night. Heilman, who has set a bevy of NAG standards during his career, delivered a time of 46.59 to win the event by more than two seconds over York’s Daniel Gordon (48.65).
However, Gordon helped York take top honors in the 200 freestyle relay, as he anchored his team to a come-from-behind winning mark of 1:21.02. Gordon split 19.59 for his leg and was joined on the relay by Carlos Hidalgo, Thomas Smolinski and Nathan Welker. Piedmont was the silver medalist in 1:21.14, with Heilman
The Week That Was #5: Anna Moesch Swims Sub-22 in 50 Free at YMCA Nationals; Thomas Heilman Grabs Third Win
Photo Courtesy: NCAA Media
by David Rieder
At the YMCA National Championships in Greensboro, N.C., 16-year-old Anna Moesch of Greater Somerset County won her second freestyle event of the season in impressive fashion. During Thursday night’s finals, Moesch swam an impressive time of 21.97 for the win in the women’s 50 freestyle, which allowed her to win the event by a half-second.