Golden Bears Retain Crown

With the points all totalled for the final time this season, the Florida Gators, Swimming World Magazine's top pick for the gold in this year's race for the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship, packed for home with only a third place finish while the truly Golden Bears from Cal Berkeley remained atop the collegiate swimming ladder with 234 points to 220 for runner-up Texas.

At the close of the meet, Florida diver Tom Le Maire looked toward the scoreboard one last time. "Hey, I know the best team didn't win. We are the best. We're good and solid, so what if we don't have the big guns."

Mathematics

The disappointed freshman summed the meet up right there--big guns. The balance that Randy Reese brought with him from Gainesville enabled the squad to nail down a ton of consolation points, but their lack of medal-winners relegated the team to a back seat, while Par Arvidsson led the Bears with two wins for the second straight year.

Rori Ballatore's UCLA Bruins rode the back of multitalented Brian Goodell into fourth place. Goodell set an NCAA record in the 1650-yd. freestyle, coasting to a win in 14:54.07. The two-time gold medalist never looked back during the race, afterwards picking up his third individual crown and the high point trophy. He is also the three-time winner of the 500-yd. free and the 400 IM.

Although Tennessee Volunteer spring ace Andy Coan failed to defend his title in the 100-yd. freestyle, his appearance in the meet alone is a tribute to his determination and willpower.

Drive Faster

In a car accident shortly after last year's NCAA championships, Coan crushed both wrists and doctors feared his swim career had ended. Refusing to take no for an had ended. Refusing to take no for an answer, he underwent nine operations over the past year, the most recent of which was completed just six weeks ago. Amazingly, the senior raced to a victory in the 50-yd. freestyle in 19.92.

Sadly enough, the rest of the Volunteer squad couldn't pick up the slack, and Tennessee slipped to 11th in the overall standings, posting 66 points.

Finishing second to Coan in the fifty was Kris Kirchner of Texas in 19.95, followed by Rowdy Gaines of Auburn. Gaines led the Eagles with two individual sprint victories in the 100-yd. and 200-yd. freestyle, both American records.

Gaines's 200 was a 1:34.57. Only Dave Larson of Florida--second place--stayed within striking distance past the first 100 yards.

"My goal this year was to break 1:35. This morning (Saturday) I felt easy, going at 1:35.80--and I'd let up for the last lap. Tonight I was really hurting from head to toe for the last 15 yards. I just put my head down and I didn't look to see where anyone was," Gaines said.

Bill Barrett joined the double winners with a victory in the 200 IM and the 200-yd. breaststroke. The burly football player, now representing the UCLA Bruin swim squad, also set two American records.