Florida Men Qualify 13 Swimmers to NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 9

Atlanta, GA

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Florida Men Qualify 13 Swimmers to NCAA Championships

Wednesday, March 9, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving

Gators to compete from March 26-29

By: Benjamin Schmitz

Championships Central Page | Psych Sheet | Institutions Eligible Relays

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida men's swimming and diving team will compete in the 2016 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships beginning Wednesday, March 23, and ending Saturday, March 26, in Atlanta. Competition will be held inside the McAuley Aquatic Center on Georgia Tech's campus.

Thirteen Gators qualified in 22 individual events and five relay races come competition in two weeks. Eight of those selected swimmers are returners from last year's NCAA meet.

In addition, Florida diver, Sam Smith, punched his ticket to the big stage on March 7, at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. Smith posted a seventh-place finish off the 1-Meter springboard and will join the Gator swimmers. The Gator divers still have the opportunity to qualify on the platform as they resume competition this afternoon in Atlanta.

Outside of the individual events, the Florida men qualified all five relay events and rank in the Top-5 Nationally across the board (complete list below).

Looking bacl at last year's NCAA meet, the Gators tallied one national title, set four school records and ended the NCAA Championships in fifth place with 248 team points. The meet was held in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium in Iowa City, Iowa. Florida finished the meet with 15 individuals earning 40 All-American honors as UF Head Coach Gregg Troy led the Gators to their 18th consecutive Top-10 NCAA Finish under his direction.

Of the schools this season, Florida ranks fourth in terms of qualified swimmers. Only Texas (17), California (16), and Stanford (14) sit in front of them. The Gators are looking for their third NCAA Championship, after winning the men's titles in 1983 and 1984.

Complete List of UF Competitors:

Name	Class	Event	Time
Brennan Balogh	Freshman	400 IM	3:44.96
Jack Blyzinskyj	Junior	100 Back	45.41
Mitch D'Arrigo	Junior	500 Free	4:13.92
Mitch D'Arrigo	Junior	200 Free	1:34.26
Mitch D'Arrigo	Junior	1,650 Free	14:52.23
Caeleb Dressel	Sophomore	50 Free	18.23
Caeleb Dressel	Sophomore	100 Fly	44.80
Caeleb Dressel	Sophomore	100 Free	41.07
Arthur Frayler	Senior	1,650 Free	14:49.22
Ben Lawless	Sophomore	1,650 Free	14:58.54
Alex Lebed	Freshman	400 IM	3:44.69
Corey Main	Senior	50 Free	19.36
Corey Main	Senior	200 Back	1:41.92
Austin Manganiello	Senior	200 Fly	1:42.96
Blake Manganiello	Sophomore	1,650 Free	15:00.11
Jan Switkowski	Sophomore	200 IM	1:42.55
Jan Switkowski	Sophomore	200 Fly	1:41.98
Mark Szaranek	Sophomore	200 IM	1:42.64
Mark Szaranek	Sophomore	400 IM	3:41.88
Mark Szaranek	Sophomore	200 Fly	1:42.83
Pawel Werner	Senior	500 Free	4:13.31
Pawel Werner	Senior	200 Free	1:33.82

Gator Relays:

Relay	Time	National Rank
200-Yard Freestyle Relay	1:16.46	No. 2
400-Yard Freestyle Relay	2:50.30	No. 4
800-Yard Freestyle Relay	6:13.64	No. 2
200-Yard Medley Relay	1:23.69	No. 2
400-Yard Medley Relay	3:03.86	No. 1

Being an All-American:
In NCAA swimming and diving, athletes and relay teams who make the championship final (top eight) are considered First-Team All-Americans. Athletes and relay teams that qualify for the consolation final (determines places 9-16) are considered Honorable Mention All-Americans.

All-American teams are selected by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Florida Women competing at the 2016 NCAA Championships:
On March 2, the NCAA announced Nine Florida Swimmers Have Qualified for the 2016 NCAA Championships in addition to four relay events. Those nine swimmers will be joined by at least Senior Kahlia Warner, with possible additions as the NCAA Zone Diving Meet continues throughout the week.

NCAA Championships Coverage:
ESPN3 will stream live the championship finals sessions Friday and Saturday. Tape delayed coverage of the championships will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m. Eastern, March 29 for the women's championships All sessions not streamed by ESPN will be streamed live on the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships microsite.

Looking Back:
Two weeks ago, Florida's men won the program's fourth-straight and 37th overall Southeastern Conference Championship. On the women's side, the Gators ended their conference championship in sixth place.

Overall, Florida won 11 SEC championships, broke eight school records and registered 11 NCAA 'A' Cuts. UF's 37 SEC team championships ranks second amongst all sports in the history of the SEC (Kentucky Men's Basketball, 45).

Following the Championships:
For ways to watch the meet, complete results and any other information for the meet, click here.

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