Field for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Swimming and Diving Championships announced
The NCAA has announced the field of swimmers and divers, who will get the opportunity to compete at the 2012 NCAA Division III National Swimming and Diving Championships March 21-24 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
OLIVET, Mich. – The NCAA has announced the field of swimmers and divers, who will get the opportunity to compete at the 2012 NCAA Division III National Swimming and Diving Championships March 21-24 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Olivet seniors Mike Harden (St. Johns) and Austin Munn (Pinckney), junior Nick Edgar (Lansing/Everett), sophomores Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns) and Brian Fiorillo (Southgate/Anderson) and freshman Phil Barone, Jr. (Perrysburg, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) are included on the list based on their relay performances. Harden, Munn, Edgar and Barone, Jr. will swim on the 200 medley relay, while Harden, Munn, Aldrich and Fiorillo will compete in the 200 freestyle relay.
The relays qualified by being among the top 16 in the country. The 200 medley relay was 11th at 1:32.31, while the 200 freestyle relay was 16th at 1:22.86. The Comets are the only Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association school to qualify a men's relay.
By virtue of qualifying for these two relays, the Comets can also swim the other three relays. Individually, Fiorillo can swim the 50 and 100 freestyle, Edgar the 100 backstroke and Barone the 100 breaststroke. They are allowed to do so based on achieving a "B" cut time in the events during the season. Fiorillo is the highest seeded individual at 19th in the 50 freestyle (20.70).
Senior Caitlin Lohr (Holland/Hamilton) did not make the cut, but she is included in the list of alternates.
This collection of swimmers marks the most in school history to qualify for the national championships. In addition, it is the first time in school history a relay made the field.