How To Watch This Weekend’s SMU Classic

2021 SMU Classic

• Friday, October 8 – Saturday, October 9, 2021
• Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium
• Live Results / Meet Mobile | Diving Results
• Watch: PonyUp TV
• Teams Competing: SMU, Michigan, Louisville, Arizona, Texas A&M, Missouri

Courtesy: SMU Athletics

Women’s Release

Women’s swimming and diving opens the 2021-22 season with the annual SMU Classic held at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium Friday and Saturday.

The event has been held each year dating back to 1994, with the exception of last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday action is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m., while Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m. The meet can be seen on PonyUp TV and live results will be available on SMUMustangs.com, DiveMeets and on the Meet Mobile App.

Representing the Mustangs
Valentina Becerra | Junior | Colombia
Gabi Grobler | Senior | Johannesburg, South Africa
Olivia Grossklaus | Senior | Mesa, Arizona
Johanna Gudmundsdottir | Sophomore | Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Ilektra Lebl | Graduate Student | Athens, Greece
Nicole Stambo | Junior | Tampa, Florida
Alex Stevens | Junior | Summit, N.J.
Indra Vandenbussche | Sophomore | Bruges, Belgium
Jenna Watson | Sophomore | Flower Mound, Texas

The Competition
The 2021 edition of the Classic features five teams that finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Championships. Michigan earned a top-10 finish, placing sixth, while Louisville (13), Missouri (18), Miami (23) and Arizona (25) round out the group.

Classic History
Louisville has competed at each Classic dating back to 2009, winning the last two, and Miami has joined each year since 2016. Michigan returns for the first time since 2017 and Missouri the first time since 2015. This will be Arizona’s first time at the meet.

Classic Wins
SMU 7
Louisville 3
Michigan 2

Event Format
The event welcomes top competition from around the country and features eight swimmers and one diver from each competing institution. Each swimmer may compete in three events per day, and events will be contested in two heats, with one swimmer from each school in each heat. Divers will compete on 1 and 3 meter.

Schedule

All-American Returners
Five members of the SMU women’s swimming and diving program earned College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America honors for their work in the pool and in the classroom following the 2020-21 season.

To be selected as a member of the CSCAA Scholar All-America first team as an individual, swimmers and divers must have achieved a grade-point-average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Honorable mention selections have similarly achieved a GPA of 3.50 and achieved a “B” time standard or competed at their respective qualifying meets.

Three Mustang divers, who all competed at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, picked up accolades, including Johanna Holloway, Taylor Ohlhauser and Nicole Stambo. On the swimming side, Olivia Grossklaus and Gabi Grobler were honored. The pair of captains combined for four total relay all-conference performances, while Grobler was the conference champion in the 200 fly.

Last Time Out – Championship Season
The Mustangs closed out the 2020-21 season at the American Athletic Conference Championships where they earned a runner-up finish. Olivia Grossklaus (200 fly) and Nicole Stambo (1 meter) led the Mustangs with individual championships, while eight individuals and all five relays picked up a total of 14 all-conference honors.

SMU divers went on to compete at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships where a pair of divers advanced to finals, including Johanna Holloway on platform.

American Championships Return to Dallas
For the second consecutive year, SMU will host the American Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. The event is set to take place Feb. 16-19, 2022 at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.

Up Next
The Mustangs hit the road to take on Metroplex rival TCU Friday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m.

Men’s Release

PREVIEW
The SMU men’s swimming and diving program opens the 2021-22 season with the SMU Classic held at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9.

The event has primarily been a women’s-only meet dating back to 1994, with the exception of last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This season the men join in on the event bringing in great talent from all around the country.

Friday’s action is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m., while Saturday’s competition is set for 11 a.m. The meet can be seen on PonyUp TV and live results will be available on SMUMustangs.com, DiveMeets and on the Meet Mobile App.

Representing the Mustangs
Cole Bruns | Junior | New Braunfels, Texas
Connor Dalbo | Senior | Cary, N.C.
Jack Easton | Junior | Plano, Texas
Davis Edwards | Junior | New Orleans, La.
Russell Exum | Freshman | Greenville, N.C
Colin Feehery | Junior | Flower Mound, Texas
Parker Hardigree | Senior | Moultrie, Ga.
Tyler Mansheim | Sophomore | Clovis, Calif.
Elijah Sohn | Sophomore | Aledo, Texas

The Competition
The 2021 edition of the Classic features five teams that finished in the Top-25 at NCAA Championships a season ago. Louisville (#5), Arizona (T-#12), Michigan (T-#12), Texas A&M (#10), and Missouri (#16).

Event Format
The event welcomes top competition from around the country and features eight swimmers and one diver from each competing institution. Each swimmer may compete in three events per day, and events will be contested in two heats, with one swimmer from each school in each heat. Divers will compete on 1 and 3 meter.

Schedule

All-American Returners
Six members of the SMU men’s swimming and diving program earned College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-America honors for their work in the pool and in the classroom following the 2020-21 season.

To be selected as a member of the CSCAA Scholar All-America first team as an individual, swimmers and divers must have achieved a grade-point-average of 3.50 or higher and have participated in their respective NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Honorable mention selections have similarly achieved a GPA of 3.50 and achieved a “B” time standard or competed at their respective qualifying meets.

Championship Mentality
Three divers competed at the NCAA Zone D Championships a season ago.
Parker Hardigree | 1 meter, 3 meter
Dominic Hoefer | 1 meter, 3 meter
Peter Smithson | 1 meter, 3 meter, platform

Caleb Rhodenbaugh, Hardigree and Smithson all made their first trip to the National Championships. In diving action, both Hardigree and Smithson competed on 3 meter. Hardigree led the pair with a 299.40, which was good for 38th place. Smithson finished 42nd in the event registering a 268.15. Rhodenbaugh set the SMU program record in the 200-yard breaststroke for the second last season to lead the Mustangs on the final day of the NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships

Adding to The Trophy Case
The SMU men’s swimming and diving team brought home the team championship at the 2021 American Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships last season. The title is the 42nd in program history and first for the Mustangs since 2013. It is also the first AAC team championship after finishing as conference runner-up on four occasions.

American Championships Return to Dallas
For the second consecutive year, SMU will host the American Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. The event is set to take place Feb. 16-19, 2022 at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.

Up Next
The Mustangs travel to take on Metroplex rival TCU Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.