The men's swimming team went into the NCAA Division III Championships hoping to make history, namely by putting an end to Kenyon College's incredible streak of 26 consecutive national titles. However, Kenyon received their practically inevitable trophy, and the Blue Jays placed fourth.
Despite Kenyon's ultimate success, the meet was still a strong finish to a successful season for the Blue Jays, who set numerous school records at the meet. Hopkins finished the weekend with 303 points, just seven points behind third place finisher Emory University. Kenyon took their 27th straight title, finishing just two points shy of 500 points. Denison College took second place with 345 total points. The Championships were held by Carleton College at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
"Our team performed very well at NCAAs," head coach George Kennedy said. "The team effort to finish fourth was outstanding. Our seniors were excellent leaders and Sean Kim and Tyler Harris were both great on relays and in the butterfly [for Kim] and breaststroke [Harris]. [Senior] Sean Kim broke the school record in the 200-meter butterfly and [senior] Tyler Harris broke the school record in the 100-meter breaststroke."
Kim took silver in the 200 butterfly for the Blue Jays' best individual finish at the meet. This second-place finish was in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1:49.59 which was over a second faster than his previous season-best time.
In the 200-yard breaststroke Harris had another season-best time of 2:04.61 for seventh place. This time was over two seconds faster then his previous season-best. Freshman John Kegelman finished ninth, sophomore Matt Fedderly came in 13th, with senior Zane Hamilton right behind.
Kim and Harris were both members of the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relays, both of which took second place. Sophomores Ryan Kim and Brad Test joined them on both of these relays.
In the 200-yard Medley Hopkins finished just .04 behind Kenyon with a time of 1:31.77, almost two seconds better then their previous fastest time. The 400-yard medley had the fastest time in the nation before race, but finished just behind Kenyon with a time of 3:20.77.
"NCAAs was a great end to the championship season," Kim said. "Many people had lifetime-best swims and scored higher than they were ranked going into the meet. Several new school records were set, including Brad Test's 100-yard freestyle. The team really came together for this meet and we all had a great time in Minnesota."
Test broke the school record in the 100-yard freestyle and brought home the bronze medal with a time of 45.13, his fastest time of the season. His classmate Ryan Kim also took bronze in the 200-yard backstroke. His time of 1:49.52 broke another school record. Kim also took fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 50.57.
"[Senior] Gary Itskovich performed best times to score in the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly," Kennedy said. "Zane Hamilton was key in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and the in 200-yard breaststroke. Juniors Richard Guerard, Kevin Walsh and Keith Parent all swam very well, with Guerard finishing seventh in the 500-yard freestyle and sixth in the 200-yard freestyle, Walsh scoring in the relays and 100-yard backstroke and Parent in the 200-yard butterfly."
In the 200-yard freestyle relay Hopkins came in fourth. Harris, Test, Hamilton and Walsh combined for a time of 1:22.81, which was their fastest of the season. Kenyon won the event in a time of 1:21.68.
In the 800-yard freestyle relay, Hopkins finished tenth. Guerard, Test, freshman Kyle Foust and junior David Strickland combined for a time of 6:51.07. In the 400-yard freestyle relay Walsh, Guerard, Hamilton and Test finished seventh with yet another Blue Jay best time.
Fedderly scored valuable points for the Jays in the 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard breaststroke. Fedderly came in 12th in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:04.79
Freshman Colin Kleinguetl and Kegelman scored in the 1650-yard freestyle, 400-yard individual medley and 200-yard breaststroke.
On the first two days of the championships, Hopkins was in fifth place. On the last day of the meet, thanks to some great individual and relay performances, they moved into fourth place.
"Our third day was the best one for us, and should give us momentum for next year," Kennedy said.
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