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Music: Otis McDonald

With the 2021 Women's NCAA Championships on the horizon, University of Virginia head coach Todd Desorbo sat down with the media to preview the meet. We asked about UVA's event lineup choices for 2 of their more versatile stars, Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh. For both swimmers, DeSorbo said the event choices came down to what they wanted to swim and what events excited them the most. Douglass will be taking on the 50 free, 100 fly, and 100 free while Walsh will swim the 200 IM, 200 free, and 200 breast.

DeSorbo also emphasized the importance of his team staying loose and having fun while not forcing good swims. DeSorbo recalled that at the 2020 ACCs, the 200 medley relay squad had a year-long goal of breaking the US Open record in the 200 medley relay, but with the weight of that goal on their shoulders all year, the squad fell short of that time at the championships. This year, DeSorbo told the same squad to simply relax and have fun, and they ended up breaking the US Open record.

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Music: Otis McDonald

Olympic and World Champion distance swimming icon Katie Ledecky swam well at the San Antonio Pro Swim, but she was her own biggest critic unpacking her swims in the post race interviews.  I thought Ledecky looked great considering she hasn't really traveled and competed in a year.  Suiting up at home and running an elite meet schedule isn't the same experience.  I think Ledecky knocked off some rust in San Antonio. What do you think?  If you missed the meet coverage, see her times:

Ledecky - 2021 San Antonio Pro Swim

• 1500 free - 15:42.92

For reference, see Ledecky's 2020 Des Moines Pro Swim Times:

• 1500 - 15:29.51

U.S. Olympic Trials Predictions?

Ledecky will swim fast, but not as fast as she will at the 2021 Olympic Games.  At U.S. Olympic Trials I see a 1:54.5 200 free,  3:59.1 400 free,  8:09  800 free, and a 15:29 1500 free.  I might be playing it a little too safe, but I don't see a reason for her to swim faster when making Team USA  is all that's needed.  Still, those would be solid swims in June for Ledecky, but the big question is will she swim the 100 free? I don’t know. I haven’t asked her, but I don’t think so. It’s been a weird year battling the pandemic. I think Ledeckey stays focused on her core schedule at U.S. Olympic Trials.  But who cares what I think?  I want to know what you think? Give me your best expert swimming analysis.

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify

Music: Otis McDonald

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify

Music: Otis McDonald

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify

Music: Otis McDonald

SWIMSWAM PODCAST LINKS

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify

Music: Otis McDonald

After reinstating men and women’s swimming and diving and 3 other varsity athletic programs , Dartmouth Athletic Director Harry Sheehy held an evening Zoom call with the returning teams – a Zoom call that the college newspaper described as “hostile.” The teams went into the hour-long call hoping for an apology and accountability for the decision to cut their sports which negatively affected recruiting efforts and potentially violated Title IX compliance.

“It was chaos,” former Dartmouth swimmer Connor LaMastra told The Dartmouth in an interview. LaMastra, who transferred to Northwestern in August to finish his collegiate career, says he asked Sheehy for a personal apology toward the end of the meeting.

Reportedly, Sheehy responded, “I’m sorry you transferred.”

We sat down with junior diver Bella Lichen and junior swimmer Parker Hershberger to get their take on the zoom call and how they hope to move forward as a team. Lichen and Hershberger both agreed that this zoom call was discouraging, however they and the rest of Dartmouth Swim & Dive seem ready to put it behind them and move forward into their new era of being a team again.

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Music: Otis McDonald

We sat down with Kaitlyn Dobler, the freshman from Southern California who walked away from the Pac-12 championships with wins in the 100 and 200 breast. Dobler takes us through her freshman year, emphasizing that knowing she had an extra year of eligibility was a huge stress-relief. Dobler had felt pressure coming into USC to get back down to the times she had registered pre-COVID and with that extra time, she could work on having fun and learning in the pool, which showed at Pac-12s.

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Music: Otis McDonald