2021 BIG TEN MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
- When: Tuesday, March 2nd to Saturday, March 6th | Prelims 11am | Finals 5pm Tues, 6:30pm Wed-Sat (ET)
- Where: Ohio State University (Eastern Time Zone)
- Defending Champion: Michigan (1x) (2020 results)
- Streaming: Big Ten Network
- Championship Central
- Live Results
Michigan and Indiana lead the way with 5 men up in A-finals, each, while Michigan has 13 individual finals swims tonight ahead of IU (11) and Ohio State (10). Meanwhile, Wisconsin, Purdue and Northwestern look to distance themselves from the pack, as the Badgers and Boilermakers look especially strong for fourth right now with 3 up, each.
Tonight, Ohio State’s Paul Delakis is the favorite in the 200 IM, while Michigan’s Patrick Callan could lead a Wolverine podium sweep in the 500 free. The 50 free will be electric, as Penn State was able to put three into the A-final, including freshman standout Jake Houck.
After the absurd breaststroke depth shown in the 200 medley relay splits last night, the 400 medley relay should be another exciting event, with at least one potential 49-split incoming.
200 IM – FINALS
- Big Ten meet record – 1:41.05, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2019
- Big Ten record – 1:41.05, Vini Lanza (Indiana) – 2019
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 1:43.79
- Defending champion: Andrew Loy (Ohio State), 1:42.03
Top 3
- Paul Delakis (Ohio State) – 1:41.71
- Van Mathias (Indiana) – 1:43.61
- Wes Jekel (Wisconsin) – 1:43.78
Wisconsin’s Wes Jekel was out flying, splitting a 2 and 24.85 back opening 100. But Ohio State’s Paul Delakis pulled almost even on the breast leg, then flew by him on the free leg to set a new personal best of 1:41.71.
Indiana’s Van Mathias also snuck by Jekel under the flags, going 1:43.61 for second, as both he and Jekel were tenths off of their lifetime bests. Jumping up from eighth to fourth was Michigan’s Jared Daigle, stopping the clock at 1:43.99.
With a 1:44.15, Michigan sophomore Danny Berlitz posted the B-final victory.
Indiana cut into Ohio State’s lead with this event done, now down 75 points, while the Badgers moved past Northwestern into fifth.
50 FREE – FINALS
- Big Ten meet record – 18.69, Bowe Becker (Minnesota) – 2018
- Big Ten record – 18.69, Bowe Becker (Minnesota) – 2018
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 19.32
- Defending champion: Bruno Blaskovic (Indiana), 18.97
Top 3
- Sem Andreis (Ohio State) – 19.05
- Jack Franzman (Indiana) – 19.14
- Will Roberson (Penn State) – 19.17
In the splash-and-dash, Ohio State junior Sem Andreis got the job done, beating his PR of 19.18 from this meet last year to win in 19.05, rattling the 19-second barrier. Andreis was third in this event last year.
Jack Franzman of Indiana was second in 19.14, erasing his old best of 19.30, and he just edged out Penn State’s Will Roberson (19.17) and Ohio State’s Hunter Armstrong (19.19). Roberson and Armstrong both took over two-tenths off of their old bests (done in prelims).
For Michigan, Gus Borges went 19.31 for fifth, as Penn State freshman Jake Houck was .09 off of his big morning swim to finish sixth (19.38).
The B-final went to River Wright of Michigan, a huge swim at 19.31, dropping .31 from prelims. He shaves time off of his old best, a 19.58 from this meet last year.
Michigan moved up to third ahead of Purdue after the 50 free, while Penn State passed both Minnesota and Northwestern to take a narrow lead over the Wildcats for sixth.
500 FREE – FINALS
- Big Ten meet record – 4:09.29, Felix Auboeck (Michigan) – 2018
- Big Ten record – 4:08.60, Peter Vanderkaay (Michigan) – 2006
- 2020 NCAA invite time – 4:16.49
- Defending champion: Felix Auboeck (Michigan), 4:10.14
Top 3
- Jake Mitchell (Michigan) – 4:12.92
- Patrick Callan (Michigan) – 4:13.10
- Josh Dannhauser (Wisconsin) – 4:16.50
Michigan needed to make a statement in this 500 free, well behind Ohio State and over 70 points back of second-place Indiana, and they did that with a 1-2 finish here. Leading the whole race, Patrick Callan was passed in the final seconds of the race by freshman teammate Jake Mitchell.
Mitchell broke 4:14 for the first time, swimming to a new best of 4:12.92 en route to a Big Ten title. Mitchell split 25s on four-straight 50s, then churned out a 23.99 final 50 to roar up to Callan and out-touch him at the wall.
Wisconsin’s Josh Dannhauser was clear in third at 4:16.50, a big podium finish for the Badger, while Ohio State freshman Charlie Clark dropped more time from his best in prelims, going 4:17.74 to take fourth.
In the B-final, Jake Newmark of Wisconsin won with outside smoke in lane eight, dropping over four seconds from prelims (and his old best) at 4:17.72. Mateusz Arndt of Iowa (4:19.01), freshman Sawyer Grimes of Minnesota (4:19.53) and Bora Unalmis of Michigan (4:19.74) were all under 4:20 in that final.
Michigan now sits just 13.5 points back of Indiana with that 500 free done, and they’re just over 100 points back of Ohio State, as the Buckeyes still hold a comfortable lead. Northwestern, meanwhile, jumps back ahead of Penn State, as the Nittany Lions had no swimmers in this event’s finals.
400 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS
- Big Ten meet record – 3:01.30, Indiana – 2018
- Big Ten record – 3:01.30, Indiana – 2018
- NCAA automatic qualifying standard – 3:05.95
- Defending champion: Indiana, 3:02.27
Top 3
- Indiana – 3:02.57
- Michigan – 3:03.16
- Ohio State – 3:03.17
Indiana got a tight win here, as the Hoosiers, Wolverines and Buckeyes all swam in different heats. Gabriel Fantoni was 45.26 leading off, with Zane Backes (50.85) and Brendan Burns (44.79) making up the middle two legs. Jack Franzman was 41.67 coming home.
Michigan finished by a mere hundredth over Ohio State, going 3:03.16 with a huge 44.85 fly leg from River Wright. The Wolverines were impressive across the board, as freshman Wyatt Davis set a personal best leading off in 45.68, Will Chan split a 50.65 and Gus Borges anchored in 41.98.
Hunter Armstrong had a major lead-off leg of 44.92 for Ohio State, dropping over a full second from his old best. Hudson McDaniel was next, dropping a 50.85 breast leg, with 50 free champ Sem Andreis splitting a 45.47 and 200 IM champ Paul Delakis bringing it home in 41.93.
Purdue snagged fourth in 3:05.92, with a field-best 41.44 anchor from Nikola Acin a 51.01 breast leg from Trent Pellini, while Wisconsin was 3:06.39 for sixth, getting a 51.67 breast leg from freshman Andrew Benson. Benson has yet to break 53 in the flat-start 100, and this swim was nearly two seconds better than his flat-start best of 53.61.
Minnesota’s Max McHugh split 50.09 on their breast leg as the Gophers finished sixth a 3:06.96, getting a 42.81 anchor from Lucas Farrar. Northwestern finished just eight, but they got a 50.93 split from sophomore Kevin Houseman on the breast leg.
TEAM SCORES (THROUGH DAY 2)
- Ohio State – 628
- Indiana – 547.5
- Michigan – 526
- Purdue – 414.5
- Wisconsin – 345
- Northwestern – 296
- Penn State – 267
- Minnesota – 259
- Iowa – 250
- Michigan State – 102
Inspired! Watching Iowa’s last Big Ten meet and seeing the Hawks set three school records (thus far) while being ‘marched to the gallows’ is a direct reflection of the poise and leadership of the IOWA swimmers/divers and coaches. “it’s still Great to be a Hawkeye!
5th best breast split is 51.01, continuing the fast breaststroke!
And I’m wrong, that was actually the 6th best split. There were 5 :50 splits, insane.
For perspective at 2019 NCAAs there were only 4 sub :51 splits. 2018 NCAAs there were 4. 2017 NCAAs there were 3. 2016 NCAAs there were 3.
So, tonight was historic.
Michigan beats OSU by 0.01!!!
But huge respect to Hunter Armstrong leading off in 44.92 with a previous PB of 46.2
School record! Destroys the 2013 time from the National Championship team… was 3.04.73! Great swims all around… (though I still think River is absolutely crushing this meet). Would have been amazing to see these top teams actually swim in the same heat so they can race one another and not just the clock!
Some great swims… River Wright is having a particularly strong meet! Jared Daigle’s time drop in the 2IM from a 147.79 (2020) to 143.99 for 4th! Huge step up after M graduated their Top 5 IM swimmers from last year. Danny Berlitz swimming the 2IM instead of the 500 Free and dropping a 144! Great job guys! Will Chan is hitting his taper this year as well. Nice to see!
Edit: many other great swims too… Bora’s 500 from 427 to 420… Patrick Callan, Cam Peel and others… impressed with swims from so many of the teams… especially this year.
River also gives incredible flexibility depending on the needs of the team at the time. 200IM, Breast, Fly, Free – you name it, he can swim it and drop huge times. Always delivering!!!
Jake Mitchell with a negative split -_-
He negative both his 500 swims today.
He split 23.99 for his last 50. That has to be one of the fastest final two laps ever in the event.
That boy Sem Andreis really a problem 💨💨. The stallion!!
PSU freshman with a 19.3! Man, freshmen across the country are swimming lights out
Wow, the depth in the 200 IM is insane