FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Leaders of the Pac!
For the first time in Men's Swimming and Diving program history, the Sun Devils are Pac-12 Champions, as they put the finishing touches on their magical week in Federal Way on Saturday evening at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
They won nine times this week, broke eight program records and never once let go of their clutch of first place.
PAC-12 CHAMPIONS ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 5, 2023
For the first time in program history, the Sun Devil Men have won the Pac-12 Swimming and Diving Championships ??
?? @Pac12Network | #Pac12 Swim pic.twitter.com/ICtfAOAm92
FINAL STANDINGS
1. ASU, 897.5
2. Cal, 819
3. Stanford, 615.5
4. Arizona, 323
5. USC, 314.5
6. Utah, 300.5
It snapped a streak of five consecutive Pac-12 Championships by the Cal Golden Bears.
Léon Marchand delivered a historic performance on Day 4, winning the 200 breast in 1:47.67, which is now the fastest time ever in the event. It's his third title of the week (200 IM, 400 IM) and already the sixth of his career. He's also been a member of four winning relays – 800 free relay (2022) and 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay 800 free relay (2023).
For his efforts, Marchand was named the Swimmer of the Meet for the second consecutive year.
Zalan Sarkany kicked off the night with flare, winning the 1650 free at a school-record time of 14:41.65. Sarkany is the school's first Pac-12 Champion in the mile since CJ Nuess (2008). Trailing just behind in second place was teammate Daniel Matheson, whose time of 14:48.52 would've been a new record, beating Sarkany's previously held time of 14:49.68, had it not been for the speedy Sarkany.
The Sun Devils reached the podium in the remaining three events, via Owen McDonald (3rd/200 back), Grant House (3rd/100 free), Alex Colson (2nd/200 fly) and Andrew Gray (3rd/200 fly).
Six Sun Devils added top-eight finishes, as well, in Julian Hill (6th/1650 free), Hubert Kos (4th/200 back), Jack Dolan (4th/100 free), Patrick Sammon (5th/100 free), Jonny Kulow (8th/100 free) and David Schlicht (4th/200 breast).
Four Sun Devils – House, Dolan, Sammon and Kulow – were competing in the A final of the 100 free. It marked the sixth time this week that four Sun Devils have qualified for the same championship final – 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 400 IM, 200 free and 100 free.
They closed the week with a second place showing in the 400 free (Marchand-House-Sammon-Dolan), touching the wall at 2:46.14. It's the second-fastest time in program history and the second-best time in the country this year.
MOOD ?? pic.twitter.com/Y68oH1DSeE
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 5, 2023
SUN DEVIL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS THIS WEEK
Léon Marchand, 200 breast, 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay 800 free relay
Zalan Sarkany, 1650 free
Grant House, 200 free, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay
Jack Dolan, 50 free, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Max McCusker, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Jonny Kulow, 200 medley relay
Patrick Sammon, 800 free relay
Julian Hill, 800 free relay
Individual wins: 6
Relay wins: 3
RECORD BOARD MAINTENANCE
The record board at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center is soon to undergo some serious maintenance given what the Sun Devils did this week in Federal Way.
On Saturday evening alone, four school records were broken, but the Sun Devils set eight new program-best times:
50 free – Jack Dolan, 18.86
1650 free – Zalan Sarkany, 14:41.65
200 back – Owen McDonald, 1:39.01
200 breast – Léon Marchand, 1:47.67 (new NCAA record)
200 fly – Alex Colson, 1:39.55
400 IM – Léon Marchand, 3:31.57
200 medley relay – Dolan-Marchand-McCusker-Kulow, 1:21.69
800 free relay – Marchand-House-Sammon-Hill, 6:06.30
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES UNDER COACH BOWMAN (PAC-12/NCAA)
2023: 1st/TBD
2022: 3rd/6th
2021: DNC (entire program redshirted due to COVID-19)
2020: 4th/no NCAA due to COVID-19
2019: 4th/21st
2018: 4th/20th
2017: 4th/14th
2016: 5th/44th(T)
SUN DEVIL MEN'S TOP-3 FINISHES AT PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023: 1st
2022: 3rd
1995: 2nd
1993: 3rd
1987: 3rd
1983: 3rd
1980: 3rd
Mission accomplished. pic.twitter.com/dGNPJIhPbW
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 5, 2023
Sorry about that, @coach_bowman ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 5, 2023
?? @Pac12Network | #Pac12Swim pic.twitter.com/iQTuRfDinQ
MORNING PRELIMS
The Sun Devils raced with fire for the third consecutive morning, sending 10 to a championship final on Saturday evening.
Four Sun Devils clinched a spot in the 100 free – Jack Dolan (3rd), Grant House (6th), Jonny Kulow (7th) and Patrick Sammon (8th).
Léon Marchand (2nd) and David Schlicht (4th) were the top Sun Devil finishers in the 200 breast, pacing Cale Martter (9th), Andy Dobrzanski (15th), John Heaphy (19th) and Ethan Hansen (20th).
Owen McDonald vied for his first conference title, taking third in the 200 back. He and Kos (7th) were the two Sun Devils to qualify for the A final, and Jack Wadsworth (10th) trailed shortly after.
Martter, Dobrzanski, McDonald and Kos are among the handful of freshmen who have turned in terrific performances this week.
Alex Colson (3rd) and Andrew Gray (5th) went step-for-step with each other in the 200 fly, paving the way for a podium finish later Saturday evening.
DIVING
Though Sun Devil Men's Swim spent the week alone in Federal Way, they received 47 points from their divers a week ago at the Pac-12 Men's Diving Championships.
Thomas Wesche was the top Sun Devil Men's diver, as he placed sixth in the platform prelims on February 24.
Freshman Lane Stallworth added an 11th-place finish in the 1-meter with his score of 277.10 through six dives.
A season ago, Sun Devil Dive was comprised of just Wesche and Zachory Lundgren. The addition of Stallworth and fellow freshman Caleb Liban allowed the Sun Devils to grab nearly 50 points in Federal Way.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil Men will have to wait three weeks to showcase their skills on a national level, when they head to the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis from March 22-25.
Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Recap | Day 3 Recap