Swimcloud

Men's 2015 College Swimming Awards

By: Scott Scofield

Swimmer of the meet: Ryan Murphy

College Swimming’s swimmer of the meet is Cal’s Ryan Murphy. The sophomore was asked to do everything for Cal and he lived up to the expectations. On day one of the meet, he anchored their 200 free relay with a 18.68. He finished 5th in the 200 IM. And to finish things off on the first day of the meet he lead off the 400 medley relay in a new NCAA record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 44.17. On day two of the meet Murphy lead off the 200 medley relay with a time of 20.64 and then finished first in the 100 backstroke.  On day three he set a new American / NCAA / and US Open record in the 200 backstroke  with a 1:36.77. He then finished the meet anchoring Cal’s 400 free relay with a time of 41.14. As he was asked to everything, he definitely did on the biggest stage in the NCAA for swimming.

Diver of the meet: Steele Johnson

Freshman of the meet: Joseph Schooling

Texas’ Joseph Schooling as a freshman was your NCAA champion in the 100 butterfly and the 200 butterfly. He clocked a 44.51 in the 100 and 1:39.62 in the 200. Probably the most impressive swim of the meet for Schooling was his 43.95 split on the 400 medley relay which helped Texas come from behind and win the event. Also, Schooling had a fantastic anchor for Texas on the 400 free relay in which he split a 41.74.

Coach of the meet:  Eddie Reese

Texas’ Eddie Reese wins his 11th overall team title and first title since 2010. He coached his team to the unprecedented accomplishment of qualifying six swimmers into the A final of the 100 butterfly. There have been several instances of teams qualifying four into an A final, but there hasn’t ever been 5 much less 6. This accomplishment will go down in history as the Texas 6 Shooters. His team also racked up a total of 528 points in the three day meet and essentially assured Texas would win when day 2 was over.

Individual swim of the meet: Ryan Murphy’s 200 backstroke

After posting a time of 1:37.35 at last year’s championships it was only a matter of time before Murphy took down the American record in this event. That record was held by another Ryan, former Florida Gator Ryan Lochte. Murphy’s swim in this race told the world that there is a new Ryan in town. His time of 1:36.77 would be a new American record, NCAA record, and US Open record.

Relay swim of the meet: Texas’ 400 medley relay

In a race where we watched Cal’s Ryan Murphy lead the race off in new NCAA record, the Texas swimmers hung around and made a gigantic move starting with the 3rd leg of the race. That 3rd leg was freshman Joseph Schooling who split a 43.95 to give Texas a chance to win. The 4th leg was Jack Conger who entered the water at the same time as Cal’s Seth Stubblefield. Conger would go on to split 40.96 to Stubblefield’s 41.84. Texas’ final time would be 3:01.23 which would be a new NCAA and US Open record. Cal’s time, which was spectacular in itself at 3:01.60 would be a new American record. 

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