David Cromwell wins the 200 Backstroke at the USA Swimming Spring
National Championships
David Cromwell of Longhorn Aquatics (Harvard 06) took the men's 200m
back in 1:59.32, followed by Doug Van Wie of Auburn in 2:00.35 and Matt
Thompson of Dallas Mustangs in 2:01.38. David's time was the third
fastest time in the world going into World Championships in Australia.
"I wanted to go as far under two minutes as I could," Cromwell said.
"But Doug Van Wie and I have been pushing each other lately, and I knew
it was just going to be a really good race between us. I just wanted to
put myself in a good position to win, and I knew if I could be in a good
position after the 150, I knew I had a pretty good chance." (from USA
Swimming website)
USA Swimming-Nat. Meets 3/28/2007 - 19:32PM
2007 USA Swimming Spring Championships - 3/27/2007 to 3/31/2007
and USA Team Trials
* Event 8 Men 200 LC Meter Backstroke*
=========================================================================
World: W 1:54.44 8/19/2006 Aaron Peirsol, USA
American: A 1:54.44 8/19/2006 Aaron Peirsol, USA
U.S. Open: O 1:54.74 7/12/2004 Aaron Peirsol, Irvine Nova
Oly. Trial: T 2:04.99
Sum. Nat Cut: 2:07.19
Junior Cut: 2:11.49
SC Nationals: 2:09.09
2:04.99 OLYM
2:07.19 NATS
2:09.09 SCN
2:11.49 JR-A
2:12.39 JR-B
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
* === A - Final === *
* 1 Cromwell, David 23 Longhorn Aquatic 1:59.93 1:59.32TOLYM 20
27.76 58.21 (30.45)
1:29.23 (31.02) 1:59.32 (30.09)*
2 Van Wie, Doug 22 Auburn Aquatics- 2:03.05 2:00.35TOLYM 17
28.00 58.56 (30.56)
1:29.47 (30.91) 2:00.35 (30.88)
3 Thompson, Matt 16 Dallas Mustangs- 2:02.75 2:01.38TOLYM 16
28.32 59.65 (31.33)
1:31.06 (31.41) 2:01.38 (30.32)
4 Flowers, Tyler 18 Fast Swimming-CA 2:01.89 2:02.32TOLYM 15
29.09 59.59 (30.50)
1:30.72 (31.13) 2:02.32 (31.60)
5 Liebhold, Tim 24 Wisconsin Aquati 2:03.80 2:02.37TOLYM 14
29.04 59.89 (30.85)
1:31.67 (31.78) 2:02.37 (30.70)
6 Ress, Eric 16 SoNoCo Swim Club 2:03.22 2:03.94TOLYM 13
29.24 1:00.36 (31.12)
1:32.52 (32.16) 2:03.94 (31.42)
7 *Powell, Ian 21 Florida State Un 2:05.10 2:05.33 NATS 12
29.41 1:00.51 (31.10)
1:32.71 (32.20) 2:05.33 (32.62)
8 Mukri, Kevin 21 US Naval Academy 2:05.51 2:05.34 NATS 11
28.89 59.99 (31.10)
1:32.97 (32.98) 2:05.34 (32.37)
Rathgeber Adds Top-20 Finish At NCAA Championships
Geoff Rathgeber took 20th in the 400 individual medley Friday in the
NCAA Championships
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Geoff Rathgeber took 20th in the 400 individual medley Friday in the
NCAA Championships
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Junior Geoff Rathgeber, who earned All-America
accolades Thursday, added a second top-20 national finish to his ledger
Friday as he took 20th place in the 400-yard individual medley at the
NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of
Minnesota Aquatic Center.
Rathgeber swam Friday's preliminary race in 3:50.38, leaving him four
spots out of the evening's finals. Michigan junior Alex Vanderkaay was
the event winner in 3:40.89.
Rathgeber completes his trifecta at the NCAA championships Saturday when
he competes in the 200 backstroke. He heads into that event as the No. 9
seed from the season's qualifying.
Rathgeber Opens NCAA Championships With All-America Effort
Courtesy: Harvard Athletic Communications
Release: 03/15/2007
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Geoff Rathgeber earned All-America accolades in the 200 IM
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Geoff Rathgeber earned All-America accolades in the 200 IM
*MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --* Harvard junior Geoff Rathgeber began his busy
weekend at the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships with an
All-America performance in the 200-yard individual medley Thursday as he
took 11th in that event at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
Rathgeber, who qualified for the championships in three events, began
his outing by finishing third in the B Final of the 200 IM as he touched
the wall in 1:45.37. Rathgeber swam 1:45.62 in the morning
preliminaries, finishing 12th in the early session to qualify for the
second-level final.
Harvard earned six points in the team standings based on Rathgeber's
finish.
Rathgeber's schedule continues Friday as he competes in the 400 IM. He
will complete his competition Saturday in the 200 backstroke. Complete
live results are available through Minnesota's official athletics site
<http://www.gophersports.com/fls/8400/stats/mswim1/index.htm>.
Paying It Forward: Harvard's Seniors Learned Their Lessons Well
Jason Degnan-Rojeski
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Jason Degnan-Rojeski
Four years ago, the freshman class of the Crimson men's swimming and
diving team sat rapt while the seniors told them about commitment.
This team is about family and tradition, they said.
Harvard men's swimming and diving is something that will stay with you
for the rest of your life, they said.
Under the strong leadership of the class of 2004, those nine freshmen
learned the meaning of respect and commitment to the team. Now, four
years later, as seniors themselves, those same nine men are paying it
forward and teaching the class of 2010 the real meaning of Harvard men's
swimming and diving.
The Class of 2007, made up of Joc Christiana, Nick Cirella, Jason
Degnan-Rojeski, Brian Fiske, Richard Goettke, Kevin Koslosky, Patrick
Morrissey, Alexander Paddington and David Sanford, relies on its strong
friendships and unconditional support of one another to take on the
season and the task of mentoring the rookies. The emotional bond the
seniors share has its roots in that freshman season of 2003-04.
Goettke says his class has always been close and supportive of one another.
"Our freshman year, those of us in our class who were not swimming at
the Eastern meet decided to take a train down to Princeton and watch the
team swim," recalled Goettke. "We all stayed at Nick Cirella's house,
commuted an hour to and from the meet for each preliminary and final
session, and painted our faces crimson and black on the last night to
show our support. Our class just wanted to be a part of the team as much
as possible, even if we were not swimming."
Four of the seniors even room together in Cabot House, a decision they
made after their freshman year. All nine seniors get together frequently
to talk and hang out, further strengthening their bond. According to
head coach Tim Murphy, the dedication that has kept all nine of these
men together is uncommon. Most classes start out with at least 10 to 14
athletes and lose some along the way, but that did not happen with this
group.
"It speaks well of them individually and as a group that they stuck it
out," said Murphy. "You get a real sense of the pride they have as
Harvard students, as athletes and as members of the men's swimming and
diving team."
As a group, they have seen a lot of ups and downs over the last four
years, although even the downs have been pretty high. In the 2003-04
season, they saw their team get edged by Princeton at the EISL
Championships. The following year, when they were sophomores, Harvard
went undefeated in the regular season and was able to regain the EISL
trophy that spring. During their junior year, the Crimson again finished
second in the EISL, but sent two athletes to the NCAA championships,
finishing 20th. This weekend, the men will face their fourth EISL
championship and hope to come out victorious.
Through all the highs and lows, the biggest constant has been their
unwavering support of each other. Regardless of a how fast he is in the
pool, every member of the Crimson plays a significant role on the team.
Fiske believes strongly in the impact of every single member of the class.
"You don't have to be the fastest swimmer in order to have an emotional
impact at any meet," said Fiske. "If a slower swimmer is having a great
meet, it gets you just as pumped, if not more so."
Paddington agrees.
"I think that the whole team effort of Harvard men's swimming and diving
is extremely appealing," Paddington said. "Every member of the team is
able to contribute to the team's success at the end of the season."
"We contribute something to the class," added Fiske. "We all have a
unique set of skills."
Part of the winning attitude of the senior class comes straight from
Murphy. In his ninth year as head coach, Murphy continues to inspire his
swimmers to train hard and to stay excited about swimming for Harvard.
"Walking down [to Blodgett Pool] in the cold at 5:30 a.m. is not
appealing, but having Tim there to inspire us and make some workout
entertaining has been great," said Paddington. "Tim even did a flip off
the 7-meter board wearing clothes after we won the 2005 Easterns meet."
The Class of 2007 swimmers are working hard to foster the same kind of
dedication and commitment among the underclassmen, and Murphy has been
impressed by the inclusiveness of the team this year. The two captains,
Fiske and Degnan-Rojeski, feel a sense of responsibility for the
emotional well-being of the team. And they take their roles as leaders
and mentors seriously.
"You get to know the freshmen, sophomores and juniors each a little
differently," said Degnan-Rojeski. "They come to you with issues and you
go to them with any issues that you may have. We try to show them they
belong and help them adjust. We try to teach the life skills."
The seniors have done well for themselves. In addition to their many
accomplishments in the pool, all but one member of the senior class have
committed to either a job or graduate program after college.
"In terms of jobs, we're one of the strongest classes ever to come
through," said Fiske.
There's no mistaking the sense of pride that the Harvard men's swimming
and diving team shares. Once the seniors graduate this spring, they hope
to keep in touch with one another, but they can't yet know down which
paths life will take them. Whatever the outcome, each feels that he's
been a part of something larger than himself; a true team, in every
sense of the word.
"It's been a huge commitment," said Degnan-Rojeski. "But it was worth
it. I feel like I have 30-odd people to count on all the time. It's a
great support system."
Never again will I spend such a large amount of time with eight guys,
and that is really special," added Goettke. "I wish everyone could
experience having eight completely different and unique guys be their
best friends."
