2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 5
- Thursday, September 9 – Friday, September 10
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST (8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Local Time)
- Piscina Felice Scandone, Naples, Italy
- Short Course Meters (25m – SCM) Format
- ISL Season 3 Schedules, Start Times, & More
- Teams Competing: LA Current, Iron, Toronto Titans, DC Trident
- Match 5 Preview
- Omega Live Results
- Day 1 Live Recap
Day 1 of Match 5 had some exciting races, including Louise Hansson swimming a 54.73 100 butterfly split on the Toronto Titans’ 4 x 100 medley relay, as well as a 55.26 in the individual 100 butterfly, making her the 7th-fastest performer all-time. 15-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh posted a 3:58.78 in the women’s 400 freestyle to demolish the Canadian record and win the event. The DC Trident looked strong and won a total of 7 events, including the men’s 50 freestyle where ISL rookie Ryan Hoffer picked up his first ISL win.
Though DC was very strong on day 1, Toronto won the most events with 9 total victories. DC, as we mentioned, won 7 races on day 1, while the LA Current won 3 events and Team Iron only 2 events.
The LA Current still has time to make up ground on the Toronto Titans who have a 50.5-point lead, though the battle for 2nd is arguably more interesting right now as the DC Trident holds a 1.5-lead over LA.
Friday’s skins races will be butterfly for women and freestyle for men.
Day 2 Start Lists
Day 2 Lane Assignments
- 1&2 – LA Current
- 3&4 – Toronto Titans
- 5&6 – DC Trident
- 7&8 – Iron
TEAM STANDINGS – DAY 1
- Toronto Titans – 284.5
- DC Trident – 234.0
- LA Current – 232.5
- Iron – 161.0
Women’s 100 Freestyle
LA Current starts off day 2 with a win in the women’s 100 freestyle with Madison Wilson getting her hand on the wall 0.09 ahead of Toronto’s Kasia Wasick. Wilson’s 2nd 50 was a quick 26.46 despite turning in 7th place at 50 meters. LA Current’s Abbey Weitzeil posted a 52.14 to place 5th, giving LA a total of 14 points for the race–Wilson also stole one point from DC’s Ting Wen Quah. LA now takes a lead over the DC Trident. The Toronto Titans did well to earn 13 points with 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes from Wasick and Michelle Coleman. Iron earns 7 points while DC gets only 3 points.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
Maxime Rooney gave LA another much-needed win in the men’s 100 freestyle, posting a 46.68, just 0.04 ahead of Toronto’s Blake Pieroni. LA also did well with Brett Pinfold placing 4th to give them a total of 14 points in the race. Toronto, meanwhile, earns 11 points while LA brings in only 9 points. Iron is hurting with just 3 points coming in from this heat.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Alys Thomas gives Iron its first win of the day with a 2:06.00 in the women’s 200 butterfly. Iron teammate Maria Ugolkova places 7th to give Iron a total of 11 points. The DC Trident, however, earn 12 points thanks to 2nd- and 4th-place finishes from Szuszanna Jakabos and Klaudia Nazieblo, respectively. The LA Current earn just 5 points from this race, their weakest of the day so far.
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Tom Shields gives the LA Current their third win of the day with a 1:51.28. DC’s Zach Harting charged at the end but couldn’t catch Shields. Even so, Harting placed 2nd in 1:51.99 and DC teammate Velimir Stjepanovic placed 4th in 1:54.65 giving DC a total of 12 points, matching Shields’ haul. Iron’s Mikhail Vekovishchev and LA’s Abrahm DeVine both had their points stolen by Shields.
Team Points Update
- Toronto Titans – 326.5
- LA Current – 277.5
- DC Trident – 270.0
- Iron – 186.0
Women’s 100 Backstroke
Ingrid Wilm posted a massive 55.68 to win the women’s 100 backstroke and lower her own 1-week-old Canadian Record in the event. Wilm gets a massive jackpot and steals the points from both Iron swimmers, one DC swimmer, as well as her teammate from LA. All in all, Wilm earns LA 19 points. DC’s Ali DeLoof posts a 55.89 to go her second best time in as many days. Toronto takes 3rd and 4th giving them a total of 11 points.
Men’s 100 Backstroke
Robert Glinta surprises from lane 8 to win the men’s 100 backstroke and earn Iron 9 points. The LA Current did well to place 3rd and 4th earning a total of 11 points. Iron’s total points are buoyed up to 11 as well thanks to a 7th-place finish from Guilherme Basseto. DC earns just 7 points in this race while Toronto takes just 8 points.
Women’s 100 IM
Anastasia Gorbenko and Beryl Gastaldello gave the LA Current a 17-point bump with a 1-2 finish in the women’s 100 IM. More than the points, the energy the LA Current gets from the 1-2 finish is vital to the team’s momentum as they continue to whittle down the lead Toronto established on day 1. Toronto didn’t do too bad in this race with 3rd- and 4th-place finishes thanks to Kayla Sanchez and Louise Hansson, earning the Titans 11 points. DC had some trouble, only earning 6 points, though Iron came out worst with only 3 points, their second swimmer having their single point stolen by Gorbenko.
Men’s 100 IM
Marco Orsi gave Iron a huge win with 12 points in the men’s 100 IM. Iron teammate Leonardo Santos did well to place 4th, brining Iron’s point total up to 17. Toronto only earns 6 points in this race while DC takes 7 points and LA 6 points.
Team Points Update
- Toronto Titans – 362.5
- LA Current – 330.5
- DC Trident – 297.0
- iron – 217.0
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Tatiana Belonogoff and Maria Temnikova gave DC Trident the points infusion they needed with a 1-2 finish in the 100 breaststroke, good for 16 points. Toronto only earns 5 points while LA only takes 8 points. DC’s victory in the women’s 100 breaststroke is good news for Toronto since it keeps LA at bay somewhat.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Fabian Schwingenchlogl gets a win for Toronto in the men’s 100 breaststroke while DC finishes 2nd and 3rd with Felipe Franca Silva and Cody Miller. Iron picked up 9 points while LA gets only 5 points, half of what Toronto brings in.
Women’s 50 Butterfly
Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Emilie Beckman get a huge 19 points for Team Iron in the women’s 50 butterfly. Kromowidjojo jackpots Toronto’s Coleman and DC’s Quah. LA earns 8 points from the race while Toronto gets only 6 points and DC just 4 points.
This race was a little bit of a surprise in that Louise Hansson placed just 3rd–she seemed the favorite to win after her 55.26 100 butterfly on Thursday. Kromowidjojo now represents a serious threat in the skins.
Men’s 50 Butterfly
Nicholas Santos managed to hold off a charging Marius Kusch for the win in the 50 butterfly. Santos brings in 12 points for Iron and jackpots his teammate, as well as DC’s second swimmer. Toronto gets 12 points also in the men’s 50 fly while LA gets 9 points. DC, however, only earns 3 points.
Team Points Update
- Toronto Titans – 395.5
- LA Current – 361.5
- DC Trident – 333.0
- Iron – 265.0
Women’s 200 Freestyle
Madison Wilson takes the win in the women’s 200 freestyle, which was expected. Iron, however, swam very well to place 2nd and 3rd earning a combined 13 points. LA, meanwhile, earns 13 points also, though Toronto and DC earn just 4.5 points 6.5 points, respectively.
Men’s 200 Freestyle
Aleksander Shchegolev surprised with a victory in the 200 freestyle, though the LA Current did well getting 2nd and 3rd for a total of 13 points, equaling DC’s haul. Iron had a rough time after being so strong earlier in the session. Toronto’s results are mediocre with just 8 points.
Mixed 4 x 100 Medley Relay
The LA Current got a crucial win in the mixed medley relay, and with a 7th-place finish also the Current nets in 24 points, thanks also to a 2-point jackpot from Iron. Toronto brings in 18 points versus DC’s 22 points, though Iron hurts the most with only 10 points.
The LA Current has narrowed the gap with Toronto, and now only 14.5 points separates the Toronto Titans and the LA Current. The 400 IMs will be crucial to the outcome of the meet. If Summer McIntosh can get it done for Toronto, that might keep them in 1st. If Bailey Andison wins for DC and earns jackpot points, that could hurt Toronto, unless LA has some kind of disaster, though with Anastasia Gorbenko in the pool, that seems unlikely.
Team Points Update
- Toronto Titans – 426.0
- LA Current – 411.5
- DC Trident – 374.5
- Iron – 291.0
Women’s 400 IM
Bailey Andison overtook Summer McIntosh on the breaststroke leg of the 400 IM and didn’t look back. Andison’s 9 points for the win are stretched to 16 thanks to a checkpoint bonus as well as a jackpot steal from both of Iron’s swimmers. Toronto’s Tes Cieplucha placed 3rd and netted a total of 9 points.
All in all, Toronto earns 22 points in the women’s 400 IM, DC earns 21 points, while LA gets only 10 points and Iron 0 points.
Men’s 400 IM
Alberto Razzetti and Max Litchfield delivered big for the Toronto Titans with 1st- and 3rd-place finishes in the men’s 400 IM. LA’s Tomoe Hvas got the Current on the board, though Abrahm DeVine was much further back. DC’s Andreas Vazaios and Tommy Cope got DC on the board but it’s probably not enough to catch up to LA and nab 2nd place.
Women’s Butterfly Skins
Quarter-Final
Round 1 of the women’s 50 fly skins results in 2 swimmers from Iron, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Emilie Beckmann, move onto the semifinal. Louise Hansson wins the first round and gets Toronto 9 points while Helena Gasson earns a berth for the LA Current with a 4th-place finish.
Semi-Final
Louise Hansson blasts off the 25-meter turn and takes the lead, overpowering Kromowidjojo for the round 2 win. Iron’s Emilie Beckmann places 3rd and LA’s Helena Gasson 4th, knocking both out.
Final
Louise Hansson double-down on her great underwater skills in the skins final to rocket past Ranomi Kromowidjojo and seal the deal for Toronto in the skins. Hansson has now earned 57.5 points in Match 5 and is leading the MVP standings. If she wins Match MVP she gets an $8,000 bonus.
Men’s Freestyle Skins
Quarter-Final
Marco Orsi blasted ahead to win the first round of the skins. Orsi and teammate Thom de Boer will advance to the semi-final, along with Toronto’s Shane Ryan and Yuri Kisil. No LA or DC Trident swimmers will advance, including yesterday’s 50 freestyle winner Ryan Hoffer of the Trident.
Semi-Final
Thom de Boer gets the win, and interestingly, Shane Ryan and Yuri Kisil tied for 2nd, meaning there will be 3 swimmers in the skins final for the first time in ISL history. Only two swimmers in the final will be allowed to earn points for their team.
Final
As 3 swimmers race in the usually 2-person skins final, Shane Ryan has a great start but he is overpowered by Olympic finalist Thom de Boer who wins the men’s skins, making it 2-for-two in the skins in Match 5.
Final Team Standings
- Toronto Titans – 536.0
- LA Current – 452.5
- DC Trident – 416.5
- Iron – 374.0
There’s something shonky about the points allocated in the women’s 400 IM. I’m pretty sure McIntosh was supposed to jackpot 3 points for being 4.8s ahead of 4-5 at the checkpoint.
How I see the trajectory of these 4 teams
TOR: Have certainly retained wisely as well as recruited most judiciously. Clearly top 6 and contender for finals. Do they have anything extra other than what we have already seen may be the determining question separating them from being being finalists and actually giving some challenge to CAC
LAC: Finalists for the first 2 seasons; they’re realistically not looking the part so far. They should clear the top 6 hurdle but would need both a favourable play-offs draw plus a major lift across the entire team to progress further.
DCT: Like AQC, significantly more competitive than in past 2 seasons. Some solid recruiting but still lacking the real weapons who can… Read more »
Match 5 according to Rowdy:
David Marsh. David Marsh. Kaitlin Sandeno. OMG Tom Shields. David Marsh. Shields. Kaitlin Sandeno. Erroneous prediction. Marsh. Marsh and Shields. Shields and Marsh. I knew so-and-so would win this race even though he/she wasn’t even one of the 5 I mentioned as the favorite before the race started. Shields.
Gold star comment right here
Ingrid wilm is just unbelievable. Dave and Wendy Johnson have done something really special there getting her back to her best. Quality coaching from Canadian legends there.
So is everyone in agreement that skins is valued way too highly? It gives one swimmer the ability to gain absurd points for swimming one event (which has already been swum as it’s own event) just gives the top team more advantages. The vast majority of the time the same swimmer wins all 3 rounds as well.
TOR wins this match anyway regardless of skins, but just seeing every match where the top team is already ahead and then just demolishes skins feels pointless.
ISL was supposed to represent the depth of teams but with skins and jackpots it really gives a massive advanatge to teams with the top swimmers and solid team members are useless because their points… Read more »
Your point is interesting.
The jackpots and stolen points are too much for me too. I understand the idea but yes it is usually favors to the dominant teams. Btw the checkpoint extra points are also too much.
The idea of the skins is good, maybe yeah, the points are too high. Maybe if after their picks a stroke for skins, it should not be hold the “commen 50 meters” stroke for this event. And my other concern with ISL that I prefer the LCM than SCM.
And I think mixed relays (Both in free and medley) should be added to match because maybe we can see some interesting battle because of the different strategys.
I… Read more »
I’d actually keep it in scm. It’s more exciting. I agree with your other points though.
Thank you for your feedback. I am glad that you agree and I am not alone with my opinion. I have a new idea maybe they should change it between the years.
But honestly LCM or SCM is the lowest ranked issue with the league in my opinion.
Also in events where a team is expecting to jackpot they can just dump anyone in the other lane as long as they can beat the cut off time (opposite of team work) and even if they don’t meet the cut off time it’s a measly -1 point penalty.
Love seeing Toronto be the first team not in the original top 4 to take a win. I’m still not sure if they can make the finals given they’re performing at peak where as it feels like a lot of other teams has a lot of room for improvement come playoffs. I think they will also be really dependent on their match ups in the playoffs
I’d love to see the NCAAs go scm.
ok so energy is facing london 3 times and 0 time the condors, wtf is wrong with that repartition?
or that repetition?
Also Roar has Condors or Energy in every match. 💩 No other team has this.