Results
On Saturday, Feb. 20, the New York University men's swimming & diving team completed competition at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. The Violets finished in fifth place in the eight-team field.
The Violets, with a total of 904 points, finished behind Washington University (1,011.5), University of Chicago (1,180), Carnegie Mellon University (1,524), and host Emory (1,855).
Case Western Reserve University (798.5), University of Rochester (632.5) and Brandeis University (547.5) finished behind NYU.
On Saturday, junior diver Max Norris took first place in the one-meter diving event. His score of 431.20 surpassed NCAA provisional qualifying standards. On Thursday, Norris won the three-meter diving event with a score of 427.65. For his efforts, the Rochester, NY, native was selected UAA Men's Diver of the Year.
"It was a great day for Max," said NYU diving coach Scott Donie. "With his two victories this year and the two victories from his freshman year, he is now 4-4 at UAA's."
Donie and Todd Kolean were named the UAA Diving Coaching Staff of the Year.
In Saturday's 100 freestyle finals, senior Eric Pcholinski garnered a first-place finish with an NCAA B-cut time of 45.53. On Friday, Pcholinski posted a first-place and NCAA B-cut time of 21.94 in the 50 freestyle. Following competition on Saturday, Pcholinski was named the UAA Swimmer of the Year.
"Eric had some fantastic swims," said NYU head coach Bob Sorensen. "Those times should definitely qualify him for the NCAA Championships."
Also on the final day of the meet, sophomore Bryson Naylor added a second-place and B-cut time of 2:06.76 in the 200 breaststroke. That time not only broke an NYU record, it broke the longest-standing active school record, dating back to 1988.
Friday's action was highlighted by a fifth-place and NCAA B-cut time of 4:04.86 in the 400 individual medley by Naylor, as well as sophomore James Bedell's sixth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (51.22), which also surpassed NCAA provisional qualifying standards.
On Thursday, a third-place performance by the 200 freestyle relay team of Bedell, Naylor, junior captain Andy King, and Pcholinski (1:25.37) highlighted the day's results.
"I am a little disappointed with the fifth-place finish for the team, but I am extremely pleased with the actual times we posted," Sorensen explained. "You have to consider that the UAA is probably one of the most talented groups of swimming & diving teams in the nation."
The Violets will return to the pool on Saturday, Feb. 27, when they host the NYU Last Chance Invitational. Area swimmers and divers will get their final opportunity to post NCAA-qualifying times.
