After a program-best finish at the women’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Missouri looks to continue its momentum at the men’s meet. Competition starts Wednesday and runs through Saturday.
Here’s an event-by-event analysis for the Tigers:
800-yard freestyle relay: Missouri is currently seeded 13th in this event. Assuming junior Michael Chadwick is on the relay, do not be surprised if the Tigers jump up a few spots to place in the top eight. If coach Greg Rhodenbaugh sticks with the same relay team he used at Southeastern Conference Championships last month, Chadwick will be joined by freshman Mikel Schreuders and juniors Carter Griffin and Nick Davis.
200-yard freestyle relay: After finishing sixth in this event last year, Missouri could move into the top five relay teams if all goes well. Chadwick, a sprint specialist, will lead the way for the Tigers. Juniors Andrew Sansoucie, Christian Aragona and senior Matthew Margritier will most likely make up the rest of the team.
200-yard individual medley: The Tigers have two swimmers entered in this event: juniors Eddie Mapel and Fabian Schwingenschlogl. Mapel and Schwingenschlogl are seeded 51st and 52nd, respectively, and will need to drop significant time to make the top 16.
50-yard freestyle: Chadwick enters this event seeded seventh. He will be rested for NCAAs and is capable of posting a top-tier time at the meet. He will have a tough time winning because of U.S. record holder Caeleb Dressel, but he could certainly crack the top three with a strong swim. Sansoucie will also swim in this event.
1-meter diving: Two Tigers qualified for NCAAs in this meet: senior Clark Thomas and freshman Kyle Goodwin. Both placed at SEC Championships and could score points for Missouri.
400-yard medley relay: Missouri is seeded eighth in this event. Expect a big swim here. Schwingenschlogl, Sansoucie and Chadwick could all post major times to propel the Tigers into the range of the nation’s finest.
100-yard butterfly: Sansoucie enters this event ranked 18th. However, the junior has not swum rested since November and could see a major time drop. If all goes well for the Wentzville native, he could place in the top eight.
200-yard freestyle: This event has major potential for the Tigers. Though Chadwick is currently entered in the event, he may not swim so he can be eligible to compete in all five relays. Still, the Tigers could see strong swims from Schreuders and Griffin. Both placed in the top eight at SEC Championships.
100-yard breaststroke: Like the 200-yard freestyle, Missouri could score major points in the 100-yard breaststroke. Schwingenschlogl enters the meet with the nation’s top time, half a second ahead of the next closest swimmers. Mapel and sophomore Jordy Groters will also contest the event and could move into the top 16 if they have breakout swims.
100-yard backstroke: Griffin will swim this event for the Tigers. Though better in longer distances, the junior could still post a strong time.
3-meter diving: Goodwin and Thomas will also compete in this event.
200-yard medley relay: Like the 400-yard medley relay, Missouri has serious potential in this event. The Tigers go into the meet seeded tenth, but could place in the top three teams if all goes well for the team. The team will most likely consist of senior Dillon Love, Schwingenschlogl, Sansoucie and Chadwick.
200-yard backstroke: Griffin is the only Tiger in this event. He is one of the top swimmers nationally in the 200-meter backstroke. If he can take this potential into the yards pool, he could find himself in the top eight at NCAAs.
100-yard freestyle: This event is Chadwick’s specialty. Like the 50-yard event, he will have a hard time winning due to Florida’s Dressel. Still, if anyone has the potential to track down the Gator junior, it’s Chadwick. Sansoucie, Schreuders and Groters are also entered in the event.
200-yard breaststroke: Though he is stronger in the 100-yard event, Schwingenschlogl could still place highly in the longer distance race. The junior is seeded 11th and could move into the top eight. Mapel and Groters will also compete in the race.
Platform diving: Like the other diving events, Goodwin and Thomas will both look to score points for the Tigers in this competition.
400-yard freestyle relay: Missouri enters this race seeded 12th. If everything goes perfectly for the Tigers, they will move into the top eight. Chadwick will certainly compete in this race, but the other three spots are unclear. Margritier, Schreuders, Schwingenschlogl, Groters and Sansoucie could all earn a spot on the relay.