Badgers ready to take on Big Ten championships
February 20, 2018 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Senior captains expected to lead Wisconsin at conference meet
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's swimming and diving team is set to compete in the 2018 Big Ten Championships this Wednesday through Saturday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Badgers are in search of a fourth-consecutive top-five finish at the Big Ten meet, something UW hasn't accomplished since finishing in the top five for six straight seasons from 1999 to 2004.
The entirety of the championships — including the daily 11 a.m. (CT) preliminary rounds and 6:30 p.m. finals sessions — will be streamed live via BTN Plus, accessible on BTN2Go.com or the BTN2Go mobile app.
LOOKING BACK
Four school records fell last year for Wisconsin, which secured a fifth-place team finish. The Badgers return three swimmers who qualified for "A" finals at last year's meet in seniors Victor Goicoechea and Ryan Stack and sophomore Griffin Back.
RANKINGS RUNDOWN
Wisconsin enters championship season unranked in the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Top 25, after being raked No. 25 in the preseason poll. The Big Ten championships will feature four ranked teams: No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Michigan, No. 15 Ohio State and No. 22 Minnesota.
WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE
Head coach Whitney Hite put his Badgers through another gauntlet in 2017-18. In what has become a routine, UW did not shy away from tough competition. UW competed in seven dual meets, with four coming against teams ranked among the nation's top 25 in the latest CSCAA coaches poll: No. 5 NC State, No. 9 Georgia, No. 22 Minnesota and No. 23 USC. In addition, the Badgers faced No. 19 Notre Dame in the Shamrock Invitational earlier this month and took part in one of the nation's top multi-team events, competing in the Texas Invitational in December.
Hite says his team will be up to the task.
"We have faced the best teams in the country, so at this point no one is going to be a surprise for us," he said. "The intimidation factor is not really there for our team any more. At this point, it's pretty simple — go out there and race. It doesn't really matter who we're up against."
CAPTAINS PREPPING FOR SUCCESSLooking back on a record-setting #B1G women's meet and ahead to the men taking their turn...#OnWisconsin https://t.co/Yq0UiVM43c
— Wisconsin Swimming & Diving (@BadgerSwimDive) February 19, 2018
Senior captain Victor Goicoechea is poised to make some noise at his final Big Ten championships.
The Barcelona product owns the third-fastest 1650-yard freestyle time in the Big Ten this season, putting up a 15:04.44 at the Texas Invitational. He also owns the fifth-fastest time in the 1000 free (9:04.72).
"Victor has been one of the best captains this program has had," Hite said. "The expectation is for him to go out and make some noise, and I really do expect him to have a great meet.
"The same thing can be said about Ryan Stack, who is another great senior who has come a long way developing in our program. I think he's going to tear it up this weekend, and it's really cool to see how both of them have matured and taken on leadership roles."
Goicoechea placed fifth in the 1650 free (14:50.59), ninth in the 500 free (4:17.12) and 16th in the 200 free (1:37.52) at last year's Big Ten meet. Stack reset three school records at those championships, earning a runner-up finish in the 800 free relay (6:13.78), third place in the 400 free relay (2:50.66) and sixth in the 200 free relay (1:18.47). Individually, he also placed 15th in the 200 free (1:36.11) as a "B" finalist.
BACKSTROKE
Between freshman standout Matt Novinski, sophomore Cam Tysoe and senior Todd McCarthy, the Badgers own at least one of the top six times in each of the backstroke events.
Wisconsin backstrokers have been on the national radar as of late — the women's team secured three of the top seven spots in the 100-yard backstroke at last week's Big Ten meet, only to follow that performance with three of the top six spots in the 200 back a day later. Sophomore Beata Nelson took home the gold in both events, setting a pair of Big Ten records in the process.
"The women did a nice job, and we've got a good group of backstrokers on the men's side as well," Hite said. "I'm excited to see what they can do."
Justin Temprano adds even more firepower to the group and holds times of 48.54 (100 back) and 1:47.62 (200 back).
READY FOR THE RELAYS
Wisconsin heads into the Big Ten meet ranked among the league's top six teams in each of the three freestyle relay events that will be contested: the 200 free (sixth, 1:20.84), 400 free (sixth, 2:57.06) and 800 free (fourth, 6:31.95).
"Our 800 free relay has been somewhat of a staple since I've been here, so we expect that group to do very well," Hite said. "I think it's tough, because we lost so much last year, but we really have the opportunity to surprise some folks."
BIG TIME ON THE BOARDS
Junior Andrew Pearce and sophomore Kevin Pomeroy have led the way for the Badgers in diving, with each securing qualifying marks for the NCAA Zone Championships.
"Kevin Pomeroy is going to have a heckuva meet, is my expectation. He is somethings special," Hite said. "Andrew Pearce has been great. The kid is relentless — a bit of a bulldog. I think with Kevin and Andrew leading the way, our diving program is going to take a step in the right direction."
Both Pearce and Pomeroy have put forth notable performances this year. Pearce scored a UW Natatorium record earlier this season after posting a score of 348.15 on the 1-meter springboard vs. Georgia. Pomeroy had one of his best meets as a Badger vs. NC State, picking up a victory on the 3-meter (320.10) board and finishing third in the 1-meter (288.98) competition.
Matt Aronson has also qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships after scoring a 331.95 on the 3-meter vs. Georgia.
Players Mentioned
