(Tempe, AZ) For the first time in school history, the Sun Devil Men’s Swimming and Diving program has received the No. 1 ranking in the country, as the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America released its December polls on Thursday.
The Sun Devils had been ranked No. 5 in each of the first two polls of the season, but a fantastic showing at the midseason NC State Invite in November revealed head coach Bob Bowman‘s squad as the top team in the nation.
At the midway point of the 2022-23 season, the Sun Devils have already compiled an impressive resume. All four of their wins have come against opponents that are currently ranked, as they dispatched then-No. 20 Wisconsin in October (183-112) at home and then-No. 17 USC weeks later in Los Angeles (185-115). They began the season with wins against both Georgia (155.5-145.5) and Missouri (191-109) — who are now ranked No. 10 and No. 22, respectively — at an early October tri-meet.
They were crowned champions of the seven-team NC State Invite in Greensboro, backed by record-setting performances by Léon Marchand, Max McCusker and Jack Dolan. Marchand’s masterful stretch in November – in which he won every event he raced in – earned him Pac-12 Men’s Swimmer of the Month honors. He is also a perfect 13-for-13 in individual events to begin the season.
Marchand Named Pac-12 Swimmer of the Month
The Sun Devils have also posted some of the fastest times in the nation in a variety of events. They currently own the country’s best 200 free relay (Dolan-House-Marchand-McCusker/1:15.30), while Marchand has the fastest 200 IM mark (1:39.28). Marchand (1:39.57) also has the country’s fastest 200 fly time, with teammate Alex Colson (1:40.78) posting the second-best mark.
Additionally, their 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 400 medley relay are the second-fastest in the nation. Grant House has the country’s second-best time in the 200 free, Jack Dolanhas the fourth-best in the 100 back and Max McCusker has the fourth-fastest in the 100 fly.
A year removed from their highest showing at the NCAA Championships in 40 years, the red-hot Sun Devils have the personnel to make plenty of noise in early 2023.
The country’s top-ranked team is back in action on Friday, January 20, when they welcome Stanford to the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. It marks the first of a three-meet homestand to close out the regular season.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Doug Tammaro
Click on Logo
