Swimming and Diving DIVISION I MEN’S Highlights Texas Makes Late Charge To Claim Program’s 10th National Championship: California and Texas never took their eyes off each other March 28 in the final session of the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. In the end, the eyes of Texas were looking back at the rest of the field. The Longhorns turned on the jets and overcame an 18.5-point deficit with their depth in the final seven events to claim their first NCAA championship since 2002. Texas concluded the marathon week, in which a virus affected at least six of its swimmers and coach Eddie Reese and caused a one-day delay in the start of the meet, with 500 points. California totaled 469.5 points as its bid to end a 30-year title drought fell short. “If you’re going to win an NCAA championship, you have to have people make good effort on days when they’re not feeling well,” Reese said. Arizona took third with 387 points. Stanford (369) and Florida (364) rounded out the top five. Defending champion Auburn (277.5) finished a distant sixth. A disqualification at the start of the meet-ending 400-yard freestyle relay only delayed the celebration for Texas. California won the relay and Texas came in second in a fitting finale. The Longhorns did not win any of the final seven events but gained an advantage over California throughout the weekend in the distance races and diving. The Golden Bears were shut out, and the Longhorns picked up valuable points in platform diving and the 1,650-yard freestyle. After the trophy presentation, the Longhorns jumped in the pool and sang “The Eyes of Texas” while their burnt-orange-clad fans serenaded them from the stands. “It’s one of our best last days ever,” Reese said. The championship was Reese’s 10th at Texas. He also became the only NCAA swim coach to win a title in four different decades. “The whole NCAA meet is a roller coaster,” Texas senior Ricky Berens said. “We went into the last day pumped. We had a meeting and said we’re tired of getting second place and we’re going to get it done.” California dominated the five relays spread over the three days and had three individual winners but could not overcome the determined Longhorns. “We won four relays and we’re hands down the best swim team here,” California’s Joshua Daniels said. “We came up a little short, but we’ll be back next year.” Stanford’s Chad La Tourette opened the night by winning the sport’s equivalent of the mile, the 1,650 freestyle, in a pool-record 14:42.87. Texas’ Jackson Wilcox picked up a third in the longest race of the meet and closed the Longhorns to 2.5 points of the team lead. “I felt pretty good,” La Tourette said. “My race wasn’t as fast as I would have liked, but it feels great to be an NCAA champion. I was worried after the first 500, but I felt OK and I was able to progress from there and bring it home.” In the 200 backstroke, Cory Chitwood of Arizona exploded through the final 50 yards to upset defending champion Tyler Clary of Michigan with a time of 1:39.29. The race affected the team battle as four Texas swimmers earned points to propel the Longhorns ahead of the Golden Bears, 365-353.5. American record-holder Nathan Adrian handed California its first victory of the night with a pool-best 41.50 in the 100 free. Adrian’s contributions over three days included three winning relays and a second in 50 free. “I’m proud of our guys,” California coach David Durden said. “You can’t control how fast the other teams are going to swim.” Clark Burckle (200 breaststroke) gave Arizona its second individual championship in the session, edging Scott Spann of Texas at the wall, 1:53.19-1:53.21. Spann’s second extended the Longhorns’ lead. “I just looked over and saw I was with someone,” Burckle said. “I like to race and so I told myself, `I didn’t come all this way not to try to win.’ I’m just super-happy right now.” The 200 butterfly went to 2009 winner Shaune Fraser of Florida in a controversial ending when Georgia’s Mark Dylla, who reached the wall first, was disqualified for a one- handed touch on a turn. Freshman Tom Shields wound up second and kept California within striking distance of Texas. Texas then dealt its closest pursuer a damaging blow in platform diving. Matt Cooper and Drew Livingston combined for third and seventh in a competition won by Duke’s Nick McCrory. At that point, the Longhorns only had to make it through the 400 free relay and they were home free. “An NCAA championship is what every college athlete dreams of,” Berens said. “We worked so hard for this.” 2010 TEAM STANDINGS 16. Kentucky..................................................................69 31. Indiana ........................................................................4 1. Texas ........................................................................500 17. Tennessee ...............................................................56 32. Harvard .......................................................................3 2. California ...........................................................469½ 18. Duke ..........................................................................52 Navy..............................................................................3 3. Arizona ...................................................................387 19. Florida St.............................................................. 49½ 34. Northwestern ...........................................................2 4. Stanford .................................................................369 20. Cincinnati ................................................................42 35. SMU ..............................................................................1 5. Florida .....................................................................364 21. Louisville ..................................................................37 6. Auburn ...............................................................277½ UNLV ..........................................................................37 7. Michigan................................................................204 23. Georgia Tech ..........................................................35 8. Georgia...................................................................143 24. Arizona St. ...............................................................31 9. Ohio St. ...............................................................136½ 25. BYU ............................................................................27 10. Virginia ...................................................................123 26. Alabama ..................................................................26 11. Southern California .......................................116½ 27. Missouri ...................................................................24 12. Texas A&M ............................................................102 28. Miami (FL) ...............................................................21 13. Purdue ......................................................................97 29. LSU .............................................................................16 14. Minnesota ...............................................................82 30. Wisconsin ................................................................12 15. North Carolina .................................................. 76½ 2 MEN'S DIVISION I SWIMMING AND DIVING—INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 2010 INDIVIDUAL RESULTS 100-yard breaststroke: Final—1. Damir Dugonjic, Three-meter diving: Final—1. David Boudia, Purdue, California, 51.65; 2. Scott Spann, Texas, 52.22; 3. Martti 494.90 (meet record; old record 493.10, Boudia, 2009); 50-yard freestyle: Final—1. Josh Schneider, Cincinnati, Aljand, California, 52.32; 4. Marcus Titus, Arizona, 52.33; 5. 2. Nick McCrory, Duke, 459.15; 3. Grant Nel, Texas A&M, 18.93; 2. Nathan Adrian, California, 19.02; 3. Adam Brown, George Klein, Auburn, 52.51; 6. Sean Mahoney, California, 450.50; 4. Brandon Watson, Brigham Young, 440.05; 5. Terry Auburn, 19.03; 4. Jimmy Feigen, Texas, 19.08; 5. Gideon 52.52; 7. Curtis Lovelace, Stanford, 52.61; 8. John Criste, Horner, Florida St., 439.50; 6. Benjamin Grado, Arizona, Louw, Auburn, 19.14; 6. Joshua Daniels, California, 19.41; Stanford, 52.83. Consolation—9. (tie) Nolan Koon, California, 432.00; 7. Kelly Marx, Auburn, 414.85; 8. Aaron Fleshner, 7. David Dunford, Stanford, 19.47; 8. Alex Coville, Stanford, and Bradley Craig, Tennessee, 53.16; 11. Christopher Fox, Alabama, 394.85. Consolation—9. Blaha Constantin, Arizona 19.51. Consolation—9. Graeme Moore, California, 19.29; Auburn, 53.29; 12. Carlos Almeida, Louisville, 53.32; 13. Dillon St., 457.05; 10. Reuben Ross, Miami (FL), 447.20; 11. Gregory 10. Michael Richards, Minnesota, 19.47; 11. Dave Walters, Connolly, Southern California, 53.35; 14. Stuart Ferguson, DeStephen, Missouri, 433.65; 12. David Colturi, Purdue, Texas, 19.63; 12. Karl Krug, Auburn, 19.64; 13. Jordan Smith, Auburn, 53.65; 15. Sam Pelkey, Ohio St., 53.73; 16. Emmett 424.70; 13. Ryan Jefferson, Ohio St., 410.40; 14. Weston Arizona, 19.67; 14. Alexander Forbes, Kentucky, 19.76; 15. Walling, Southern California, 54.02. Wieser, Ohio St., 384.75; 15. Landon Marzullo, Florida St., Warren Grobbelaar, Kentucky, 19.78; 16. Eric McGinnis, 383.60; 16. Matthew Cooper, Texas, 371.35. Kentucky, 19.85. 200-yard breaststroke: Final—1. Clark Burckle, Arizona, 1:53.19; 2. Scott Spann, Texas, 1:53.21; 3. George Klein,