M. Swimmers Impress at NCAAs

Coming off their strong performance at the EISL Championships, the Harvard men’s swimmers posted strong results at the NCAA Championships, hosted by the University of Texas at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center from March 27-29.

Junior phenom John Cole led the way for the Crimson, placing seventh and earning All-America honors in the elite field of the 1650-yard freestyle in 14:54.83.

Cole placed second at the prestigious Texas Invitational in the same pool earlier this year.

“The field was a little faster at this meet,” co-captain Dan Shevchik said.

USC senior Eric Vendt won the event at both meets, turning in the second-fastest time in NCAA history at the second one.

Shevchik took 16th in the 400-yard individual medley, finishing in 3:51.60.

The time was noticeably slower than his EISL time of 3:48.26.

“This meet has been the focus of my entire season, so I was fully rested for it,” Shevchik said. “I should have been significantly faster instead of significantly slower.”

Georgia sophomore Robert Margalis finished in 3:39.92 to take first place overall.

In the 200-yard individual medley, Shevchik finished 35th.

“I’m pretty disappointed in finishing my career with such poor performances,” Shevchik said. “I’m very proud to have been part of the team that responded so well to losing Easterns last year and defeated what was probably the strongest team that Princeton has ever had.”

On the diving boards, junior Enrique Roy took 24th on the 1-meter, finishing with 266.40 points. On the 3-meter, Roy encountered a little more difficulty, placing 35th with 207.65 points.

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu