Massive West Convention- Males and Girls
- Dates: Wednesday, February 12 – Saturday, February 15
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Defending Champions: None
- SCY (25 yards)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheets
- Dwell Outcomes
- Groups: Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Hawaii, UC Davis (ladies), UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the primary Massive West Swimming Championships since 2010. At the start of the season, the Massive West introduced again their swimming sponsorship, and 5 males’s groups and 6 ladies’s groups left the Mountain Pacific Sports activities Federation. Hawaii women and men are the reigning MPSF champs, and as all six groups within the Massive West come instantly from this convention, they’re the favorites to win once more.
Girls’s Preview:
The ladies’s Massive West meet can be made up of the highest six groups from final 12 months’s MPSF convention championships. The Hawaii and UC San Diego ladies have traded off the MPSF trophy over the previous few years, with Hawaii successful the final two titles, and UCSD’s most up-to-date championship coming in 2022. This 12 months is shaping as much as have an identical leaderboard on the Massive West Championships, with Hawaii on the prime, and UCSD, UCSB, and UC Davis battling it out for 2nd.
Ultimately 12 months’s MPSF meet, Hawaii defeated UCSB by 188 factors, ending 794 to UCSB’s 606. This was thanks, largely, to the 198 factors they scored with diving as a result of UCSB scored zero diving factors since they lower their program.
The ‘Bows are in a tricky spot this 12 months, after graduating their prime 5 scoring finishers, together with their two highest scoring divers. Their highest returning level scorer is senior diver Isabella Plantz, who will probably profit from her former teammates being gone, since they outscored her on the boards.
Their highest scoring swimmer to return is junior Holly Nelson. Ultimately 12 months’s meet, she scored 46 factors, inserting 2nd within the 50 free and third within the 100 free. In each occasions, the swimmer(s) forward of her has graduated, and she or he is coming in seeded 2nd in each.
Hawaii additionally picked up switch and NCAA qualifier Catherine Belyakov, who’s coming in seeded prime three in three completely different occasions, the 100 free, 200 IM, and 400 IM. Ultimately 12 months’s NCAA Championships, she swam the 100 free, 200 IM, and 100 breast, together with her highest end coming within the 200 IM at twenty fourth.
They solely had three particular person swimming occasion winners final 12 months, and just one is returning this season. 200 breast champion Zofia Tyminska is presently ranked 1st within the occasion. One of many occasions they received final 12 months was the 200 backstroke, and, whereas Dorottya Dobos is just not competing this season, junior Ella Varga presently has the highest time within the Massive West by over a second.
The Hawaii ladies additionally took house two relay titles, the 400 free and 800 free. They did graduate three of the 4 swimmers on each relays, however they’ve loads of depth in these occasions nonetheless, and they’re nonetheless prime contenders in each.
UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis have been separated by simply over 40 factors final 12 months, and UCSD and UCSB don’t sponsor diving applications, which can severely harm them within the complete level scores.
This 12 months, it seems to be prefer it’s going to be a good race between these different three groups. UC San Diego received 13 occasions ultimately 12 months’s meet, however they misplaced a variety of their prime swimmers. They’re coming in with a couple of prime seeds, once more this 12 months, primarily within the relays.
Freshman Madison O’Connell is making a huge effect for the Tritons, coming in with two prime spots within the 100 again and 100 fly, and the 2nd seed within the 200 backstroke. She additionally has made a big influence on relays for the staff, and was a significant component on their 200 and 400 medley relays which have the highest occasions within the convention.
They’re additionally returning Asia Kozan, who received two occasions ultimately 12 months’s meet, the 200 free and the 200 fly. This 12 months, she is coming in fifth within the 200 free, and 4th within the 200 fly
UCSB didn’t win a single occasion final 12 months, however their depth is tough to compete with, they usually had 11 swimmers rating greater than 20 factors, and they’re returning eight of these swimmers, together with the highest 4.
Final 12 months’s #1 scorer, junior Samantha Banos, is again once more, and after incomes two silvers and a fourth place final 12 months, she is seeking to win this 12 months. She comes into the meet with three 1st place occasions, the 200 free, 500 free, and 200 fly. She additionally sits 2nd within the 100 fly.
Different excessive scoring finishers who’re again for this 12 months embrace Hazel Derr, Anna Andres, and Mai Kawahata.
UC Davis was fourth final 12 months, somewhat over 40 factors again of UCSB, however they misplaced only a few swimmers, they usually have the benefit of diving factors pushing them over the sting, particularly with a smaller diving subject like we’ll see at this 12 months’s Massive West meet.
They’re bringing again their prime 4 scoring divers, who introduced in 141 factors at MPSFs.
Additionally they have junior Olivia Andersen, who’s coming in as the highest seed within the 50 free, and they’re returning Sam Rhodes, their highest level scorer from final 12 months.
Races to Watch:
200 Breast:
MPSF Champion Zofia Tyminska is seeded first within the occasion at 2:14.43, and the following three swimmers are all inside half-a-second of her. UCSB’s Silvia Faraboschi sits 2nd at 2:14.86, Hawaii’s Mano Nguyen comes third at 2:14.91, and UCSD’s Hayley Gregory is 2:14.95 for 4th. Simply exterior of tem is UCSB’s Mai Kawahata at 2:15.06. This may very well be a really shut race, and it looks as if each level goes to rely for lots of those groups.
200 Free Relay:
The highest 4 ladies’s groups are separated by lower than a second. UCSD received final 12 months’s relay, however they got here in seeded third within the occasion with their 1:31.55. Hawaii is seeded first at 1:30.95, and UCSB is available in 2nd at 1:31.35. UC Davis rounds out the highest 4 at 1:31.91. This may very well be a really thrilling relay between the highest 4 groups.
MPSF Outcomes from Final Yr:
- Hawaii – 794
- UCSB – 606
- UCSD – 585
- UC Davis – 563
- CSUB – 354
- Cal Poly – 245
SwimSwam Predictions:
If the meet was scored with simply swimming, I believe it might be a a lot nearer race between Hawa’i, UCSD, and UCSB, however it’s not. It’s extremely tough to win convention meets with no diving staff, and UCSD and UCSB don’t have a staff that may make up for these misplaced factors this 12 months, leaving Hawaii to win once more.
UCSD and UCSB can battle it out for 2nd, together with UC Davis who’s bringing enormous diving factors, however I believe UCSD’s relays and occasion wins will finally put them excessive for 2nd.
- Hawaii
- UCSD
- UCSB
- UC Davis
- Cal Poly
- CSUB
Males’s Preview:
The lads’s meet is shaping as much as look rather a lot like the ladies’s meet. The 5 males’s groups have been 5 of the highest six groups on the MPSF meet final 12 months, and the rankings don’t look like they will change that a lot for this 12 months’s Massive West meet.
Hawaii defeated UCSB final 12 months 794.5 to 667.5. This can be a 127 level differential, and 111 of those factors got here from diving. Even with out the diving scores, nonetheless, Hawaii nonetheless would have received the meet.
This 12 months, they’ve three freshman divers who joined the staff, and each level they rating on the boards is a spot for them to open a lead on UCSB who doesn’t sponsor a diving staff.
The dash freestyle occasions are additionally Hawaii’s to lose with their famous person senior sprinter. Within the 50, they’ve the highest 4 swimmers within the occasion, led by Karol Ostrowski’s 18.99. Ostrowksi solely swam a couple of meets for Hawaii final 12 months after showing on their roster midway by the 12 months, however a kind of meets was the MPSF championships the place he received the 50 freestyle in 19.30, and helped Hawaii qualify the boys’s 200 free relay for the NCAA championships. Within the 100 free, Ostrowski additionally leads, along with his 42.58, and three different Hawaii swimmers be a part of him within the prime 10. His 200 free time of 1:34.36 additionally leads the Massive West, however by lower than 4 tenths of a second. He’s the one Hawaii swimmer within the prime 8.
Outdoors of those three occasions, the ‘Bows solely different prime seed comes within the type of junior Tom Caps and his 52.67 within the 100 breaststroke. Additionally they have a 2nd seed within the 100 fly with senior Grant Stoddard’s 46.84.
The dash freestyle relays are additionally Hawaii’s to lose, and the medley relays will probably be a detailed race between them and UCSB.
The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos look like the higher swim staff this 12 months, though we thought that final 12 months, and Hawaii nonetheless received, even subtracting their diving scores. They’ve quite a few prime seeds, and their depth is unmatched.
The Gauchos are returning most of their prime level scorers, together with prime distance freestyler Taber daCosta. Ultimately 12 months’s MPSF championships, he completed 2nd within the 500 and 1st within the 1650. This 12 months, he’s going seeded 2nd within the 500, two tenths of a second behind prime seed Luigi Perez Franco. He’s coming in as the highest seed within the 1650.
2nd and third scorers Austin Sparrow and Kyle Brill are additionally again this 12 months. Sparrow is coming in 2nd within the 200 free and 1st within the 200 IM, the identical locations he earned final 12 months. Brill completed third within the 200 IM and 2nd within the 400 IM final 12 months, and he’s coming in seeded larger this 12 months at 2nd within the 200 IM and 1st within the 400 IM.
UCSB additionally sits first within the 800 free relay by greater than 5 seconds over 2nd place staff Hawaii.
Cal Poly additionally has a couple of prime rating swimmers, they usually have been the following highest scorer from final 12 months’s MPSF who’s within the Massive West. Backstroker Drew Huston, has the highest seeded occasions in each backstroke occasions, after successful the 200 backstroke final 12 months. Additionally they have breaststroke switch Evan Yoo who’s coming in as the highest seed within the 200 breaststroke.
Races to Watch:
500 Freestyle:
The lads’s 500 freestyle is shaping as much as be extremely thrilling with the highest seven swimmers coming inside two seconds of one another. Luigi Perez Franco from UCSD is available in first with Taber daCosta simply two tenths behind. Evan Yoo is third for Cal Poly half-a-second behind daCosta. Owen Berry rounds up the 4:27s, coming in simply two one-hundredths behind Yoo.
200 IM:
The 200 IM seems to be comparable, with the highest 4 swimmers coming from UCSB and Cal Poly. If all 4 of them swim the occasion, they’re separated by simply over half a second this season. Austin Sparrow from UCSB holds the highest time at 1:45.09 with teammate Kyle Brill precisely two tenths again. Evan Yoo from Cal Poly is six-one-hundredths behind at 1:45.35, and Drew Huston, additionally from Cal Poly rounds out the highest 4 at 1:45.67. Whereas there probably received’t be a race between these two groups on the rostrum, the ultimate is seeking to be shut.
2023 MPSF Closing Standings (Massive West Groups Solely)
- Hawaii – 794.5
- UCSB – 667.5
- Cal Poly – 471
- UCSD – 444
- CSUB – 289
SwimSwam Predictions
UCSB may need the higher swim staff, however can they compete with no diving factors? I don’t suppose that’s within the playing cards for them this 12 months, particularly with Hawaii’s Ostrowski main their relays and the dash freestyle occasions.
Even making an allowance for the truth that all of Hawaii’s divers are freshman, if all three of them compete, it’s arduous to make up that massive of some extent differential. Finally, Hawaii takes the highest spot.
- Hawaii
- UCSB
- Cal Poly
- UCSD
- CSUB
