FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Alone at the top of the team standings halfway through the Pac-12 Championships are the No. 1 Sun Devil Men.
They received massive performances from Léon Marchand and Jack Dolan, among a handful of others, to jump into sole possession of first amongst the six competing schools. They currently sit 106.5 points ahead of Cal in second.
They're vying for their first Pac-12 Championship title in program history.
Marchand was victorious in the 200 IM for the second consecutive year with his winning time of 1:37.81, the new meet record and just .12 off from beating his own all-time record.
Dolan became an individual conference champion for the first time in his career on Thursday, taking the 50 free at 18.86. It's a new program record for Dolan, breaking his previously held record by .06.
JACK DOLAN. PAC-12 CHAMPION ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 3, 2023
He wins the 50 free at 18.86, the new fastest time in program history ??
?? @Pac12Network | #Pac12Swim pic.twitter.com/nNIR6cW5Ys
IM-pressive.
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 3, 2023
Léon Marchand is a Pac-12 Champion once more ?? pic.twitter.com/c9oxcwXNSz
TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY 2
1. ASU, 357.5
2. Cal, 251
3. Stanford, 238
4. USC, 202.5
5. Arizona, 197
6. Utah, 174
SUN DEVIL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS THIS WEEK
Léon Marchand, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay
Jack Dolan, 50 free, 200 medley relay
Max McCusker, 200 medley relay
Jonny Kulow, 200 medley relay
Grant House, 800 free relay
Patrick Sammon, 800 free relay
Julian Hill, 800 free relay
The Sun Devils were well-positioned to erupt on Thursday evening after a terrific showing in the morning prelims. In the 200 IM, eight Sun Devils finished within the top-20, including five among the top-10.
Marchand (1st) paced the way, but Owen McDonald (5th), Grant House (6th), David Schlicht (7th), and Hubert Kos (10th) weren't far behind. Alex Colson (12th), Cale Martter (18th) and Ethan Hansen (20th) rounded out the top-20.
The Sun Devils scored 70 points alone in the 200 IM, a huge swing in their overtaking of first place.
Similarly to the 200 IM, the Sun Devils stacked the 50 free, highlighted by Dolan's first conference title. Freshman Jonny Kulow (4th) continued his strong week, as did Max McCusker (6th) and Patrick Sammon (8th). Cody Bybee (17th) and Tiago Behar (23rd) competed in the C final.
Julian Hill podiumed in the 500 free (3rd), the first of four Sun Devils in this A final. Andrew Gray (5th), Daniel Matheson (6th) and Zalan Sarkany (8th) rounded out the top-eight. The Sun Devils have become major players in the long-distance events this season, thanks in part to the arrivals of Matheson and Sarkany.
The Sun Devils capped the night with a second-place effort in the 200 free relay, done by Dolan-Kulow-McCusker-House (1:15.75).
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES UNDER COACH BOWMAN (PAC-12/NCAA)
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
2022: 3rd
1995: 2nd
1993: 3rd
1987: 3rd
1983: 3rd
1980: 3rd
To recap our week in Federal Way so far:
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 3, 2023
?? 200 medley relay
?? 800 free relay
?? 200 IM
?? 50 free
Are you not entertained? pic.twitter.com/YMPkjesDyT
MORNING PRELIMS
The Sun Devils delivered a lights-out performance in the morning preliminary session, sending four to the A final in each of the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free.
Six finished within the top-13 of the 500 free – Julian Hill (4th), Daniel Matheson (5th), Andrew Gray (7th), Zalan Sarkany (8th), Jack Wadsworth (11th) and Jake Mason (13th).
Seven finished among the top-19 in the 200 IM, led by Léon Marchand (1st) – Grant House (4th), Owen McDonald (5th), David Schlicht (6th), Hubert Kos (11th), Alex Colson (14th) and Cale Martter (19th).
Six finished within the top-22 in the 50 free, highlighted by the runner-up finish by Jack Dolan (2nd), Jonny Kulow (3rd), Max McCusker (6th), Patrick Sammon (7th), Cody Bybee (19th) and Tiago Behar (22nd).
Paired with the always-steady performances from veterans such Marchand, House, Schlicht, Dolan and Hill, six freshmen also qualified for a final on Thursday evening, a testament to the depth the Sun Devils boast this season.
FRIDAY EVENT SCHEDULE
400 IM | 100 Fly | 200 Free | 100 Breast | 100 Back Finals | 400 Medley Relay
Preliminaries: 12 p.m. MST
Finals: 7 p.m. MST
FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up with the Sun Devils on Day 3 in Federal Way via the team's Twitter account, @ASUSwimDive, which will be updated with scores, results, recaps and more this week.
Fans can also follow along via the Pac-12 Championship Central.