The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Championships
Friedland, McBroom claim NCAA titles as Men's Swimming and Diving takes second at NCAA Championships
03.26.2011 | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 26, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Texas sophomore Michael McBroom became UT's first NCAA champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle and set a new school record en route to victory, and junior Eric Friedland added a national title in the 200 breaststroke Saturday evening on the final day of the 2011 NCAA Championships at The University of Minnesota.
Texas, who trailed by 63.5 points heading into the meet's final session, took second place overall with 470.5 points, just 22.5 points behind NCAA champion California. Stanford placed third with 403 points. It marks the ninth NCAA runner-up finish for 33rd-year head coach Eddie Reese to go with 10 NCAA titles. Reese has led the Longhorns to 26 NCAA top-three finishes in his 33 years at the helm of the Texas program.
McBroom (The Woodlands, Texas), who called Minnesota's University Aquatic Center his home pool as a Minnesota Golden Gopher last season, took the lead from Georgia's Martin Grodzki with 350 yards remaining and pulled away to victory in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 14:32.86, good for a new school record. Junior Jackson Wilcox placed eighth overall in 14:48.69 to earn his third consecutive All-America finish in the event.
Sophomore Austin Surhoff chipped in 13 points for the Horns in the 200 backstroke, where he finished in 1:42.28 and earned his second consecutive All-America finish in the event. Sophomore Cole Cragin, who was swimming his third 200 backstroke of the day after reaching the final via a swim-off against Auburn's Kyle Owens, took eighth overall in 1:46.15. Freshman Patrick Murphy became an honorable mention All-American by taking sixth in the consolation final in 1:43.03.
Junior Jimmy Feigen became a three-time NCAA runner-up in the 100 freestyle when he took second in 41.66, his and UT's second-fastest time in the event. Sophomore Dax Hill nailed down his second individual All-America finish, as he took fifth in 42.06.
Friedland followed by becoming UT's first NCAA champion in the 200 breaststroke since Brendan Hansen in 2004, as he claimed the event in 1:52.43 and became the second-fastest Longhorn ever. Sophomore Nick D'Innocenzo registered his first career All-America finish and took third in 1:53.13. Senior Scott Spann placed sixth in 1:54.39.
Junior diver Drew Livingston secured his third consecutive All-America finish in the platform event, where he placed fifth with 417.40 points. Livingston's finish cut the California lead over to Texas to 12.5 points at 453-440.5. But, California put away the NCAA team title with its victory in the ensuing 400 freestyle relay, where the Horns placed fourth at 2:50.47. Hill led off in 42.63 before Feigen picked up the second leg in 41.60. Freshman Miles Joye split 43.43 on the third leg before Surhoff anchored in 42.81.
2011 NCAA Championships - Day 3 Finals
1,650 Freestyle
1 Michael McBroom - 14:32.86 (school record, 9th fastest all-time in the event)
8. Jackson Wilcox - 14:48.69
200 Backstroke - Championship Final
6. Austin Surhoff - 1:42.28
8. Cole Cragin - 1:46.15
200 Backstroke - Consolation Final
6 Patrick Murphy - 1:43.03
100 Freestyle - Championship Final
2. Jimmy Feigen - 41.66
5. Dax Hill - 42.06
200 Breaststroke - Championship Final
1 Eric Friedland - 1:52.43
3 Nick D'Innocenzo - 1:53.13
6 Scott Spann - 1:54.39
Platform Diving
5 Drew Livingston - 417.40
400 Freestyle Relay
4 Texas - Hill 42.63, Feigen 41.60, Joye 43.43, Surhoff 42.81 - 2:50.47
POST-MEET COMMENTS
Michael McBroom, NCAA champion, 1,650 freestyle
"I dropped 18 seconds from my personal best, so I was pretty excited. I was trying to hold an even pace through the whole race and bring it home at the end. It was a little better than I had planned. I had my whole team down the side of the pool and my lap counter helped pace me the whole way. I was pretty excited with the way I swam. I was just trying to follow my teammates and coaches' guide from the side of the pool. I'm just really happy to represent The University of Texas, just thrilled. It's great to have people to train with like Jackson Wilcox. It's one of the reasons I wanted to come to The University of Texas."
Eric Friedland, NCAA champion, 200 breaststroke
"I just wanted to get out there and go after it. I went after it and I just held on in the last 50. But, I felt good out there. I was relaxed during the race, and it means a lot to come out and win this event."
