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Men's Swimming: 14th at NCAAs - cardcrimson - 03-28-2021

Surprised at our lackluster finish in men's swimming this year. I've not followed it closely over the years, but it seems that 14th is a tad lower than I would have expected. Any commentary by those in the know? Bobbbbbbb?

RE: Men's Swimming: 14th at NCAAs - DenverCard - 03-28-2021

CardCrimson,

I used to follow men's swimming more closely, but all of the effects of Covid, including those specific to Stanford's team, really sapped my interest.  The nexus of Covid and the Olympics, both as planned for 2020 and rescheduled for 2021, affected the team, although not as much as the women, for whom three swimmers, including probably the best in hte world and another close behind, did not enroll this year.  And when the team isn't having many swim meets, it's especially hard to get much information.

With that said, Stanford was missing a number of potential scorers this year.  First off, one of their recruits slated to start this year was Andrei Minakov, a Russian who originally chose Stanford over turning pro.  He was arguably the top recruit from a very strong class. He chose not to enroll, and I suspect we will never see him on the Farm.

A few years ago Stanford signed Jack Levant, and he was an up-and-comer expected to be a top college swimmer.  He had health issues and missed a considerable amount of time.  I believe he resumed his career, as he is listed on the roster, but I don't know if he swam this year at all. He did not suit up for Pac-12s.

Another past year NCAA qualifier, and maybe scorer (top 16) was Brennan Pastorek.  Also on the roster, but also did not swim at Pac-12's, and perhaps not at all this year.

Finally, there is Alberto Mestre, another previous NCAA qualifier.  He did not swim last year for Stanford in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics, where he would be swimming for Venezuela.  And I don't think he swam this year.  But still on the roster, I see.

So the team was rather gutted.  Another top couple of swimmers, Grant Shoullts and True Sweetster, returned for 5th (redshirt) years.  Shoults has had two or three shoulder surgeries (both shoulders), and rather heroically came somewhat close to his previous best, as it has been a long and grueling road back.  Scored this year at NCAAs, but not as high as previous years.  Sweetster came back after a year off to train for the Olympics.  He's a distance swimmer, and I understand he's happy to train massive distances, but how long can you maintain the motivation as younger swimmers eclipse you, as has been the case with him.  His best years were frosh and soph, I believe.

So the team was not whole this year in a few ways.

As mentioned, I've not tracked swimming much recently, so I have no idea what the recruiting situation is, going forward.  But this year's freshman class, even without Minakov, was strong.  It was coach Dan Schemmel's first, so maybe he has some of the Haase magic in that arena.

RE: Men's Swimming: 14th at NCAAs - cardcrimson - 03-28-2021

You don't follow swimming closely?!? Thanks for the very in-depth assessment!!! So, it's perhaps not as much of a fall off as it looks. Agree that it's a very odd year, and not much to judge on, especially with the lack of competitive meets.

You had me with optimism for the future, until you compared Schemmel's recruiting with Haase's. . . .  :-) 

(03-28-2021, 07:33 PM)DenverCard Wrote:  CardCrimson,

I used to follow men's swimming more closely, but all of the effects of Covid, including those specific to Stanford's team, really sapped my interest.  The nexus of Covid and the Olympics, both as planned for 2020 and rescheduled for 2021, affected the team, although not as much as the women, for whom three swimmers, including probably the best in hte world and another close behind, did not enroll this year.  And when the team isn't having many swim meets, it's especially hard to get much information.

With that said, Stanford was missing a number of potential scorers this year.  First off, one of their recruits slated to start this year was Andrei Minakov, a Russian who originally chose Stanford over turning pro.  He was arguably the top recruit from a very strong class. He chose not to enroll, and I suspect we will never see him on the Farm.

A few years ago Stanford signed Jack Levant, and he was an up-and-comer expected to be a top college swimmer.  He had health issues and missed a considerable amount of time.  I believe he resumed his career, as he is listed on the roster, but I don't know if he swam this year at all. He did not suit up for Pac-12s.

Another past year NCAA qualifier, and maybe scorer (top 16) was Brennan Pastorek.  Also on the roster, but also did not swim at Pac-12's, and perhaps not at all this year.

Finally, there is Alberto Mestre, another previous NCAA qualifier.  He did not swim last year for Stanford in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics, where he would be swimming for Venezuela.  And I don't think he swam this year.  But still on the roster, I see.

So the team was rather gutted.  Another top couple of swimmers, Grant Shoullts and True Sweetster, returned for 5th (redshirt) years.  Shoults has had two or three shoulder surgeries (both shoulders), and rather heroically came somewhat close to his previous best, as it has been a long and grueling road back.  Scored this year at NCAAs, but not as high as previous years.  Sweetster came back after a year off to train for the Olympics.  He's a distance swimmer, and I understand he's happy to train massive distances, but how long can you maintain the motivation as younger swimmers eclipse you, as has been the case with him.  His best years were frosh and soph, I believe.

So the team was not whole this year in a few ways.

As mentioned, I've not tracked swimming much recently, so I have no idea what the recruiting situation is, going forward.  But this year's freshman class, even without Minakov, was strong.  It was coach Dan Schemmel's first, so maybe he has some of the Haase magic in that arena.


RE: Men's Swimming: 14th at NCAAs - Jamesy - 03-29-2021

Here are their finishes since 2014:
2014: 9th
2015: 6th
2016: 14th
2017: 5th
2018: 7th
2019: 15th
2020: COVID
2021: 14th

Rather than a lackluster finish this year, more like par for the course when compared to the last several years. We've been spoiled by the success of the women.

RE: Men's Swimming: 14th at NCAAs - cardcrimson - 03-29-2021

Didn't realize it's been 23 years since the men won the NCAAs. They have placed 2nd 5 times this century, the latest being 2007 though.


(03-29-2021, 10:27 AM)Jamesy Wrote:  Here are their finishes since 2014:
2014: 9th
2015: 6th
2016: 14th
2017: 5th
2018: 7th
2019: 15th
2020: COVID
2021: 14th

Rather than a lackluster finish this year, more like par for the course when compared to the last several years. We've been spoiled by the success of the women.