INDIANAPOLIS — The Wisconsin men's swimming and diving team began its time at the 2017 NCAA Championships with a bang Wednesday, placing 10th in the 800-yard freestyle relay.

Earning honorable mention All-America honors in the event was the quartet of Cannon Clifton, Ryan Barsanti, Matt Hutchins and Brett Pinfold, who notched a time of 6 minutes, 13.93 seconds.

The time ranks second in UW history and is a mere .15 seconds off the school-record time set at the Big Ten championships last month.

Clifton set the tone for the Badgers, notching a leadoff split of 1:33.95, which is only .63 seconds off his school-record time in the 200 free.

After trailing the field in the 'A' final for the majority of the race, Pinfold kicked it into high gear on his anchor leg, earning a 1:32.04 split that allowed him to chase down Michigan and nearly out-touch Indiana -- the reigning Big Ten champions in the event. 

After swimming in one event Wednesday, the Badgers will have a busy Thursday with the swimmers set to compete in all five events being contested.

The 200 free relay will kick things off, followed by Matt Hutchins and Victor Goicoechea in the 500 freestyle, Brett Pinfold in the 200 individual medley, Cannon Clifton in the 50 free and the 400 medley relay.

The morning preliminary session will start at 9 a.m. (CT) followed by finals at 5 p.m.