Four members of the men's swimming and diving team competed at the NCAA Div. III Championships in Indianapolis, Ind., last week. The quartet performed exceptionally, scoring 50 points to place 19th at the national meet - Tufts' highest finish since 2010.
"It's a huge accomplishment to qualify for the NCAA Championships in swimming and diving," head coach Adam Hoyt said. "To go to the meet and compete the way we did is special. Right now we're trying to soak it in and enjoy the moment."
Nobody enjoyed the moment more than senior tri-captain Johann Schmidt, who, in the final competition of his collegiate career, was named the 2014 NCAA Div. III Diver of the Meet. On the first day of the championships at Indiana University Natatorium, Schmidt placed fourth in the three-meter event with a score of 520.10.
"I was pleased," Schmidt said. "I had worked hard all season on [it], and I had a great meet."
The four-time NCAA qualifier's performance was even better on Friday, when he placed third in the one-meter preliminaries and scored 522.95 points in the finals to win the championship. Overall, Schmidt contributed 35 points to the Jumbos' point total - 15 from his fourth-place finish and 20 from his one-meter victory.
As talented as Schmidt is, neither he nor diving coach Brad Snodgrass expected him to win, making his victory even more special.
"Frankly, the Dennison divers looked unbeatable, and I was hoping Johann would stay close to the top and have a little luck go his way," Snodgrass said. "In the final, Johann nailed his fourth and most challenging dive - a reverse 2.5 somersault tuck - for sevens and eights, and scored over 60 points. That was the luck he needed, and it put him in the running for first."
"It was an unexpected win ... [and] definitely a high note to end my collegiate career on," Schmidt added.
Freshman diver Matt Rohrer also stepped up, placing 10th in both the one-meter and three-meter competitions to score 14 points for the Jumbos in his first NCAA meet. He outperformed his preliminary scores in both events, finishing with 467.40 in the three-meter and an almost identical 467.30 in the one-meter.
"Matt dove very well and just missed making the final on each board by ... a few points," Snodgrass said. "He was very competitive with the field, and I see him returning to this meet as a sophomore and making a huge impact. To go from never having competed in the three-meter to being top 10 in the country in one season is a phenomenal achievement."
"He should be so proud of himself for how he placed at NCAAs and how far he has come this season," Schmidt said of his teammate.
The two Tufts swimmers also flourished in the championship events. Sophomore Michael Winget broke his school record in the 100 backstroke preliminaries with his time of 49.65, topping his record by roughly a half second. In the finals, he raced a 50.40, good for 16th place and one point for his team. The following day he finished 25th in the 200 backstroke preliminaries with a time of 1:50.64.
Freshman William Metcalfe also set a school record in the preliminaries, racing the 200 butterfly in 1:50.70 to beat sophomore Anthony DeBenedetto's time of 1:51.08 from last season. Metcalfe just missed making the top 16, falling short by only a half second. On Wednesday, he placed 39th in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:53.36.
"Having all four guys step up at the biggest meet of the year - and of their careers - is a statement about what it means to be a Tufts swimmer and diver," Hoyt said. "They're mentally tough and physically strong, and the future is bright for our team."
