GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 9-ranked Indiana University men’s swimming and diving team advanced five individuals (one Championship Final) and a relay to the evening finals at the 2021 NCAA Championships on Saturday morning at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. IU will also have two swimmers competing in the timed finals of the 1,650 Freestyle throughout the afternoon.
200 BACKSTROKE
Senior Jacob Steele finished 10th with a career-best time of 1:40.49 out of the preliminary heats of the 200 Backstroke. The time makes him the fifth-fastest performer in program history in the event. Senior Gabriel Fantoni touched 15th with a time of 1:41.07.
Both Fantoni and Steele earned a second swim in the 200 Backstroke Consolation Final in the evening after being seeded 24th and 27th, respectively, heading into the prelims.
200 BREASTSTROKE
Junior Zane Backes took 35th place in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 1:56.40.
200 BUTTERFLY
Sophomore Brendan Burns shot out to an early lead in the final heat of the 200 Butterfly preliminary rounds before taking sixth overall with a time of 1:40.83, the ninth-fastest time in program history in the event. He will swim for gold in the evening finals.
Freshman Tomer Frankel popped the ninth-fastest time of the prelims out of the second heat with a career-best time of 1:41.73 to make him the third-fastest performer in the history of the event. Frankel will be the top seed in the Consolation Final tonight.
Senior Corey Gambardella will serve as the first alternate after taking 17th with a time of 1:42.64. Junior Van Mathias finished 35th overall with a mark of 1:44.85.
PLATFORM DIVING
Redshirt junior Andrew Capobianco, just a day removed from winning the NCAA title in the 3-Meter, scored 356.05 points in the prelims of the Platform Dive to earn a spot in his third final in as many events. He will be seeded second (10th overall) in the event Consolation Final.
Junior Cole VanDevender finished 35th with a score of 262.20 on the platform to close out his first-career trip to the NCAA Championships.
PRELIM RESULTS
200 BACKSTROKE
Jacob Steele – 1:40.49 (Consolation Final, Career Best)
Gabriel Fantoni – 1:41.07 (Consolation Final)
200 BREASTSTROKE
- Zane Backes – 1:56.40
200 BUTTERFLY
Brendan Burns – 1:40.83 (Championship Final)
Tomer Frankel – 1:41.73 (Consolation Final, Career Best)
- Corey Gambardella – 1:42.64
- Van Mathias – 1:44.85
PLATFORM DIVE
- Andrew Capobianco – 356.05 (Consolation Final)
- Cole VanDevender – 262.20
The 2021 NCAA Championships will conclude with Hoosier representation on Saturday evening with the finals of the 1,650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 200 Butterfly, Platform Dive, and the 400 Freestyle Relay. The action gets underway at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
