by Craig Morgan, theSunDevils.com writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bob Bowman has put the Sun Devil men's swim team in position to achieve its preseason goal.
"We've done well in the dual meets, they've consistently performed at a pretty good level and they have trained well," said ASU's third-year coach, who went head-to-head with No. 1 Cal, No. 2 Texas, and No. 5 Stanford over the past month. "I think we've learned that we sort of fit with them. We're probably not as good as them toe-to-toe, but we're definitely in the conversation and that's where we want to be. We want to be a top-10 team at the end of the year and we have set ourselves up to do that."
The No. 8 ranked Sun Devils will compete in the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington from Feb. 28-Mar. 3, with the NCAA Championships three weeks later in Minneapolis from Mar. 21-24.
The chance to compete against three of the nation' top five teams -- not to mention No. 18 Arizona, No. 20 Florida State and No. 21 Harvard -- gave the Sun Devils a better read on their capabilities and requirements.
"I don't think we necessarily needed it, but it's just good experience to race the best people -- good, bad or indifferent -- to see where you are," Bowman said. "I think if we raced other teams we'd probably still swim fast, but maybe it's going to give them a little something knowing that they have seen those people before.
"They can take a little pressure. They stepped up and swam well in relays, swam well against Cal and Stanford and Texas. It doesn't get any better than that and we certainly didn't get embarrassed."
For the Sun Devils to achieve their goal of a top-3 to top-4 showing at Pac-12/s, and a top-10 finish at NCAA's, Bowman said his biggest names will have to perform and he'll need strong efforts in the group events.
"I think the key thing for us is the relays have to be good," he said. "We're going to have good individual performances but if the relays are where we want them to be, top-8, then the meet will fall in line and everything else will fall from there."
ASU also gets a boost from its diving team, which competed at Pac-12 championships last weekend behind Heikki Makikallio and Youssef Selim, who won a Pac-12 Championship in the 1-meter dive and was named Men's Diver of the Meet.
Here is a look at eight swimmers who should figure prominently in ASU's hopes for a big finish.
Sophomore Cameron Craig: Craig has the 15th fastest time in the nation in the 100 freestyle (42.51), and the ninth best time in the 200 free (1:33.29).
"We just try to let him set his own expectations but it's clear he can swim with the best guys," Bowman said. "That's what he needs to do, step up and swim in the finals at NCAA's and score big points, see how he stacks up. Last year, we got him fully ready for Pac-12's so he was a little off for NCAA's. This year, we're going to do the opposite and train him through Pac-12's to be ready for NCAA's.
"He's much bigger and stronger and his training is light years ahead of where it was last year, and his attitude is, too. He has changed his mindset about training and trained better with more volume and more quality. He wants to make this move. He's fully invested. I think last year, he was just trying to feel this thing out and see if it was something he really wanted. Now he knows he can do it."
Sophomore Zach Poti: Poti has the fourth best time in the 100 backstroke (45.43) and the 12th best time in the 200 back.
"We're super excited about Zach Poti because he didn't get to swim in the championship meet last year because he broke his elbow right before Pac-12's," Bowman said. "He has been great all year, trained well so we're really excited to see him move to the next level and really happy for him that he's getting this opportunity."
Freshman Grant House: House has the 14th best time in the 200 free (1:33.69).
"He's gotten bigger, stronger, faster," Bowman said. "His times in dual meets have progressed every time we have swum and he has stepped up against top competition. I'm not sure we could ask for more."
Senior Christian Lorenz: Lorenz has the ninth fastest time in the 200 breaststroke (1:53.54).
"He's a very good kicker, which in the breast stroke is hugely important -- probably more than other strokes -- and consistency is definitely one of his biggest strengths," Sun Devil assistant Derek Schmitt said. "He gives his best effort at most meets."
Graduate student Andrew Porter: Porter has the 11th best time in the 100 butterfly (45.75).
Others to watch: Freshman Evan Carlson, senior Patrick Park and graduate student Reid Elliott.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bob Bowman has put the Sun Devil men's swim team in position to achieve its preseason goal.
"We've done well in the dual meets, they've consistently performed at a pretty good level and they have trained well," said ASU's third-year coach, who went head-to-head with No. 1 Cal, No. 2 Texas, and No. 5 Stanford over the past month. "I think we've learned that we sort of fit with them. We're probably not as good as them toe-to-toe, but we're definitely in the conversation and that's where we want to be. We want to be a top-10 team at the end of the year and we have set ourselves up to do that."
The No. 8 ranked Sun Devils will compete in the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington from Feb. 28-Mar. 3, with the NCAA Championships three weeks later in Minneapolis from Mar. 21-24.
The chance to compete against three of the nation' top five teams -- not to mention No. 18 Arizona, No. 20 Florida State and No. 21 Harvard -- gave the Sun Devils a better read on their capabilities and requirements.
"I don't think we necessarily needed it, but it's just good experience to race the best people -- good, bad or indifferent -- to see where you are," Bowman said. "I think if we raced other teams we'd probably still swim fast, but maybe it's going to give them a little something knowing that they have seen those people before.
"They can take a little pressure. They stepped up and swam well in relays, swam well against Cal and Stanford and Texas. It doesn't get any better than that and we certainly didn't get embarrassed."
For the Sun Devils to achieve their goal of a top-3 to top-4 showing at Pac-12/s, and a top-10 finish at NCAA's, Bowman said his biggest names will have to perform and he'll need strong efforts in the group events.
"I think the key thing for us is the relays have to be good," he said. "We're going to have good individual performances but if the relays are where we want them to be, top-8, then the meet will fall in line and everything else will fall from there."
ASU also gets a boost from its diving team, which competed at Pac-12 championships last weekend behind Heikki Makikallio and Youssef Selim, who won a Pac-12 Championship in the 1-meter dive and was named Men's Diver of the Meet.
Here is a look at eight swimmers who should figure prominently in ASU's hopes for a big finish.
Sophomore Cameron Craig: Craig has the 15th fastest time in the nation in the 100 freestyle (42.51), and the ninth best time in the 200 free (1:33.29).
"We just try to let him set his own expectations but it's clear he can swim with the best guys," Bowman said. "That's what he needs to do, step up and swim in the finals at NCAA's and score big points, see how he stacks up. Last year, we got him fully ready for Pac-12's so he was a little off for NCAA's. This year, we're going to do the opposite and train him through Pac-12's to be ready for NCAA's.
"He's much bigger and stronger and his training is light years ahead of where it was last year, and his attitude is, too. He has changed his mindset about training and trained better with more volume and more quality. He wants to make this move. He's fully invested. I think last year, he was just trying to feel this thing out and see if it was something he really wanted. Now he knows he can do it."
Sophomore Zach Poti: Poti has the fourth best time in the 100 backstroke (45.43) and the 12th best time in the 200 back.
"We're super excited about Zach Poti because he didn't get to swim in the championship meet last year because he broke his elbow right before Pac-12's," Bowman said. "He has been great all year, trained well so we're really excited to see him move to the next level and really happy for him that he's getting this opportunity."
Freshman Grant House: House has the 14th best time in the 200 free (1:33.69).
"He's gotten bigger, stronger, faster," Bowman said. "His times in dual meets have progressed every time we have swum and he has stepped up against top competition. I'm not sure we could ask for more."
Senior Christian Lorenz: Lorenz has the ninth fastest time in the 200 breaststroke (1:53.54).
"He's a very good kicker, which in the breast stroke is hugely important -- probably more than other strokes -- and consistency is definitely one of his biggest strengths," Sun Devil assistant Derek Schmitt said. "He gives his best effort at most meets."
Graduate student Andrew Porter: Porter has the 11th best time in the 100 butterfly (45.75).
Others to watch: Freshman Evan Carlson, senior Patrick Park and graduate student Reid Elliott.