Join the Discussion "After looking at the news stories, reading the stats, and checking with the 8 ball, I'm calling Texas the champion of the 2001 NCAA Swimming & Diving meet. Georgia will be close, but will fall flat with no individual stars, and not enough depth to overcome that shortfall." Mat, Swim Guide

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The list of swimmers for the 2001 NCAA Division I Championships is out, with divers to be determined at Zone qualifying events on March 9 and 10. This year's meet will be a good one, with a close race for the top two spots. I predict...

Texas

A review of the swimming entries and official psyche sheet shows Texas with a slight edge over defending champion Georgia. Auburn and Stanford will battle to the top over Arizona, SMU, California, and Florida. The diving results will have an effect on theses predictions, but until then - I'm calling Texas number 1!

Texas is led by Colleen Lane (Sr), ranked first in the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle. Georgia has no clear top contender, with their best ranking by Stefanie Williams (Jr) at second in the 200 free and a slew of strong relays. Auburn's Maggie Bowen (So) is ranked first in both of the IM's, while Stanford is counting on Misty Hyman (Sr) in both of the fly events.

The meet almost always comes down to relays and their double point value, and this year all the top teams will be in the hunt for those points. Texas looks strongest in the 200 free relay, with Auburn and Stanford chasing. In the longer relays, Texas is top in the 400 free, followed by Auburn and Arizona. The 800 free relay has Georgia first, with Texas, Auburn, and Stanford not far behind. In the 200 medley, Texas, Auburn, Stanford, Georgia, Arizona, and California are all under 1:40. Stanford leads the pack in the 400 medley, with Arizona and Auburn more than one second off the pace.

The meet, March 15, 16, and 17, will be held at the Nassau County Aquatic Center on Long Island, New York. ESPN will televise the event, tape-delayed, on March 23 at 2:00 pm EST. The Division II championship meet is slated for March 14 - 17 at the C. T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio. Denison fans are excited - their team stopped Kenyon's repeat bid by 16 points at the DIII Championship Meet. NAIA swimmers raced in the Simon Fraser University pool February 28 - March 3.

Swim On!

Mat