AUSTIN, Texas – One relay and two Sun Devil individuals added All-America honors on the final day of the 2019 Men's Swimming and Diving National Championships. Grant House and Zach Poti led the charge for ASU, as the pair each notched their third All-American honor of the week today.
"This was a great week for the Sun Devils," coach Bob Bowman said. "We are a young team. We brought three freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and one senior to this meet. The younger guys gained invaluable experience and learned how tough it is to compete at this level. This will serve them well in the years to come."
After four days of competition at the National Championships, the Sun Devils totaled 14 All-America honors. Showcasing the fierce competition among the top this year in Austin, while the men easily surpassed their point total from 2018 – scoring just 45 points last year compared to 75.5 in 2019 – the men finished up in relatively the same place in the standings, taking 21st place this time around.
"We had seven All-Americans, two All-American relays and scored 75.5 points compared to 45 last year," Bowman said. "We have faced some significant challenges as a team and it has made us much stronger. These young men have built a culture that will take us to the next level."
Poti began the day for ASU in the 200 back, touching the wall at 1:39.09 in the preliminary round for a school record in the event. The sophomore broke Richard Bohus' 2017 record in the process while earning fifth place for his time and securing a guaranteed First-Team All-America honor.
He came back out later this evening in the championship heat, taking eighth place overall with a time of 1:40.38.
Showcasing his improvement in a year's time, the First-Team accolade is Poti's first of his career after earning honorable mention in the 100 back and as a part of the 400 medley relay team in 2018. Poti finishes the National Championship with a First-Team selection in the 200 back as well as honorable mentions in the 100 back in 400 free relay.
Up next for the Sun Devils was Selim, who notched his second All-America honor this week, this time in the platform dive. Selim took 15th place with 322.40 points in the preliminary round, good enough to secure a spot in the consolation finals.
The Egyptian put up a nearly identical score of 322.35 in the finals, securing 11th place and an honorable mention accolade. The honor is Selim's second of the week after doing the same in three-meter board yesterday. Also showcasing major improvement, the two All-America honors were the first of the junior's career.
Rounding out the Sun Devils on the day were the foursome of Carter Swift, Evan Carlson, Poti and House in the 400 free relay. The men touched the wall at 2:49.67, with Swift getting the Sun Devils off on the right foot after putting up an opening leg of 42.48, good for the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100 freestyle.
The men returned in the championship finals to against place eighth with a time of 2:50.47, effectively earning First-Team All-America honors in the final event of the 2018-19 season.
2019 Sun Devil All-Americans
Grant House (200 free/HM, 400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Zach Poti (100 back/HM, 200 back, 400 free relay)
Carter Swift (400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Evan Carlson (400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Youssef Selim (three-meter/HM, platform/HM)
Liam Bresette (800 free relay/HM)
David Hoffer (three-meter/HM)
"This was a great week for the Sun Devils," coach Bob Bowman said. "We are a young team. We brought three freshmen, three sophomores, two juniors and one senior to this meet. The younger guys gained invaluable experience and learned how tough it is to compete at this level. This will serve them well in the years to come."
After four days of competition at the National Championships, the Sun Devils totaled 14 All-America honors. Showcasing the fierce competition among the top this year in Austin, while the men easily surpassed their point total from 2018 – scoring just 45 points last year compared to 75.5 in 2019 – the men finished up in relatively the same place in the standings, taking 21st place this time around.
"We had seven All-Americans, two All-American relays and scored 75.5 points compared to 45 last year," Bowman said. "We have faced some significant challenges as a team and it has made us much stronger. These young men have built a culture that will take us to the next level."
Poti began the day for ASU in the 200 back, touching the wall at 1:39.09 in the preliminary round for a school record in the event. The sophomore broke Richard Bohus' 2017 record in the process while earning fifth place for his time and securing a guaranteed First-Team All-America honor.
He came back out later this evening in the championship heat, taking eighth place overall with a time of 1:40.38.
Showcasing his improvement in a year's time, the First-Team accolade is Poti's first of his career after earning honorable mention in the 100 back and as a part of the 400 medley relay team in 2018. Poti finishes the National Championship with a First-Team selection in the 200 back as well as honorable mentions in the 100 back in 400 free relay.
Up next for the Sun Devils was Selim, who notched his second All-America honor this week, this time in the platform dive. Selim took 15th place with 322.40 points in the preliminary round, good enough to secure a spot in the consolation finals.
The Egyptian put up a nearly identical score of 322.35 in the finals, securing 11th place and an honorable mention accolade. The honor is Selim's second of the week after doing the same in three-meter board yesterday. Also showcasing major improvement, the two All-America honors were the first of the junior's career.
Rounding out the Sun Devils on the day were the foursome of Carter Swift, Evan Carlson, Poti and House in the 400 free relay. The men touched the wall at 2:49.67, with Swift getting the Sun Devils off on the right foot after putting up an opening leg of 42.48, good for the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100 freestyle.
The men returned in the championship finals to against place eighth with a time of 2:50.47, effectively earning First-Team All-America honors in the final event of the 2018-19 season.
2019 Sun Devil All-Americans
Grant House (200 free/HM, 400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Zach Poti (100 back/HM, 200 back, 400 free relay)
Carter Swift (400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Evan Carlson (400 free relay, 800 free relay/HM)
Youssef Selim (three-meter/HM, platform/HM)
Liam Bresette (800 free relay/HM)
David Hoffer (three-meter/HM)