TicketsHOUSTON, Texas - University of Cincinnati swimming and diving's men finished runner-up while the women finished third at the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championship.
The men's championship came down to the final race, where ECU out-touched UC to take the title. Host Houston won the women's team championship.
Michael Balcerak brought home additional hardware as the Men's Swimming Freshman of the Year as he earned an impressive 52 points for the Bearcats throughout the event.
On the fourth and final day Saturday, Noah Smith got the day started with a win in the 1650 free with teammate Tyler Jones finishing in second. Blake Hanna broke the school record with a second-place finish in the 200 back, with Joey Puglessi taking third. Two more podium finishes came in the 200 fly when Parker Saladin was second and Balcerak third.
// DIVING FINALS
Women's Platform Finals
8. Tricia Roscoe (202.85)
Men's Platform Finals
5. Dylan Porter (263.70)
8. Luke Cheetham (235.00)
// FINALS SWIMS
Women's 1650 Free
4. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (16:25.87)
8. Katie Qualls (16:49.32)
12. Rocky Laabs (16:58.04)
15. Victoria Miyamoto (17:33.54)
Men's 1650 Free
1. Noah Smith (15:03.83)
2. Tyler Jones (15:05.71)
5. Din Selmanovic (15:23.60)
Women's 200 Back
12. Jaclyn Klimczak (2:01.09)
Men's 200 Back
2. Blake Hanna (1:43.49)
3. Joey Puglessi (1:44.37)
10. Kevin Leibold (1:50.36)
Women's 100 Free
4. Lina Kutsko (50.44)
7. Maddie Exton (50.68)
12. Claire Farrell (51.05)
Men's 100 Free
6. Alberto Garcia (44.53)
7. Alex Fortman (44.68)
12. Murat Sagdullaev (44.85)
14. Dom Intas (45.12)
Women's 200 Breast
6. Lindsey Sanders (2:15.64)
7. Victoria Hunt (2:16.22)
13. Victoria Miyamoto (2:20.88)
Men's 200 Breast
5. Dominic Polling (1:57.13)
8. Dalton Lillibridge (1:58.74)
9. Zach Baecker (1:59.10)
13. Spencer Sehlhorst (2:02.20)
Women's 400 Free Relay
3. Exton, Kutsko, Johnston, Farrell (3:20.38)
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Polling, Garcia, Fortman, Balcerak (2:55.33)
// TEAM STANDINGS
Women
1. Houston (952.5)
2. SMU (640.5)
3. Cincinnati (562)
4. ECU (461.5)
5. Tulane (456)
6. UConn (356.5)
Men
1. ECU (845)
2. Cincinnati (838)
3. SMU (763)
4. UConn (588)
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)
The men's championship came down to the final race, where ECU out-touched UC to take the title. Host Houston won the women's team championship.
Michael Balcerak brought home additional hardware as the Men's Swimming Freshman of the Year as he earned an impressive 52 points for the Bearcats throughout the event.
On the fourth and final day Saturday, Noah Smith got the day started with a win in the 1650 free with teammate Tyler Jones finishing in second. Blake Hanna broke the school record with a second-place finish in the 200 back, with Joey Puglessi taking third. Two more podium finishes came in the 200 fly when Parker Saladin was second and Balcerak third.
// DIVING FINALS
Women's Platform Finals
8. Tricia Roscoe (202.85)
Men's Platform Finals
5. Dylan Porter (263.70)
8. Luke Cheetham (235.00)
// FINALS SWIMS
Women's 1650 Free
4. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (16:25.87)
8. Katie Qualls (16:49.32)
12. Rocky Laabs (16:58.04)
15. Victoria Miyamoto (17:33.54)
Men's 1650 Free
1. Noah Smith (15:03.83)
2. Tyler Jones (15:05.71)
5. Din Selmanovic (15:23.60)
Women's 200 Back
12. Jaclyn Klimczak (2:01.09)
Men's 200 Back
2. Blake Hanna (1:43.49)
3. Joey Puglessi (1:44.37)
10. Kevin Leibold (1:50.36)
Women's 100 Free
4. Lina Kutsko (50.44)
7. Maddie Exton (50.68)
12. Claire Farrell (51.05)
Men's 100 Free
6. Alberto Garcia (44.53)
7. Alex Fortman (44.68)
12. Murat Sagdullaev (44.85)
14. Dom Intas (45.12)
Women's 200 Breast
6. Lindsey Sanders (2:15.64)
7. Victoria Hunt (2:16.22)
13. Victoria Miyamoto (2:20.88)
Men's 200 Breast
5. Dominic Polling (1:57.13)
8. Dalton Lillibridge (1:58.74)
9. Zach Baecker (1:59.10)
13. Spencer Sehlhorst (2:02.20)
Women's 400 Free Relay
3. Exton, Kutsko, Johnston, Farrell (3:20.38)
Men's 400 Free Relay
2. Polling, Garcia, Fortman, Balcerak (2:55.33)
// TEAM STANDINGS
Women
1. Houston (952.5)
2. SMU (640.5)
3. Cincinnati (562)
4. ECU (461.5)
5. Tulane (456)
6. UConn (356.5)
Men
1. ECU (845)
2. Cincinnati (838)
3. SMU (763)
4. UConn (588)
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For an inside look at Cincinnati swimming and diving follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GoBearcatsSwim)