The Case Western Reserve University men's swimming and diving team turned in another successful season in the pool during the 2022-23 campaign, finishing the year ranked 22nd by the CSCAA. The Spartans set six school records during the season and recorded 10 NCAA B cut times.
Six school records fell during the 2022-23 season with four new CWRU-best marks set by individuals and two by relays. Sophomore swimmer Peter Meng set records in the 1000 Free (9:29.11) and 1650 Free (15:36.79) at the Magnus Cup Invite at Cleveland State in November. The remaining four records were set at the Midwest Invitational at the University of Chicago, in the team's final meet of the season.
First-year swimmer Emil LaSida broke his own record in the 100 Back with a time of 49.33 seconds. He was also a member of the record-setting 200 Medley and 400 Medley Relays. LaSida, sophomores Ethan Chuang and Ben Zuo, and senior Campbell Patterson completed the shorter relay in 1:30.15, and LaSida, Chuang, first-year John Drumm, and senior Andrew Smith finished the longer relay in 3:18.48. Smith also broke the record in the 100 Free, touching the wall after 45.84 seconds.
CWRU recorded 10 B cuts in nine events during the season. Meng had three, eclipsing the times in the 500 Free, 1650 Free, and 400 IM. The record-setting 200 and 400 Medley Relays bested the B cut time, as did the 200 Medley Relay of Chuang, LaSida, Patterson, and sophomore Jackson Pollard. Individually, Drumm recorded a B cut in the 200 Fly, LaSida had one in the 100 Back, and sophomore Griffin Gushman recorded one in the 1650 Free at the UAA Championships. Finally, the 800 Free Relay of Drumm, Smith, first-year Mason Bencurik, and sophomore Stephen Hogeman also eclipsed the B cut time in the event.
The Spartans placed sixth at the University Athletic Association Championships, held on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta. Drumm recorded the top individual finish by a Spartan, placing fifth in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:49.36. The 800 Free Relay of Bencurik, Hogeman, Smith, and Drumm placed fifth, and the 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Medley, and 400 Medley Relays all placed sixth for CWRU at the conference championship.
Competing against Division I, II, and NAIA swimmers, CWRU placed fourth out of 10 teams at the Magnus Cup Invite in November. In the season finale in Chicago, the Spartans placed second out of five teams at the Midwest Invitational. CWRU finished the season with a dual record of 4-2.
In the classroom, Chuang was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team. In addition to Chuang, Patterson, Smith, and junior swimmer Sean Yetter received CSC Academic All-District honors, and 26 members of the team were recognized as UAA All-Academic honorees.
The Spartans earned the following honors during the 2022-23 swimming and diving season:
UAA Athlete of the Week |
Peter Meng |
November 21 (Swimming) |
The following were the top times/marks for the Spartans during the 2022-23 season:
50 Free |
Campbell Patterson |
20.90 |
UAA Championships |
100 Free |
Andrew Smith |
45.84 *SR |
Midwest Invitational |
200 Free |
Peter Meng |
1:40.29 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
500 Free |
Peter Meng |
4:31.07 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
1000 Free |
Peter Meng |
9:29.11 *SR |
Magnus Cup Invite |
1650 Free |
Peter Meng |
15:36.79 *SR |
Magnus Cup Invite |
100 Back |
Emil LaSida |
49.33 *SR |
Midwest Invitational |
200 Back |
Connor Chignell |
1:52.12 |
UAA Championships |
100 Breast |
Ethan Chuang |
55.99 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
200 Breast |
Ethan Chuang |
2:03.05 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
100 Fly |
John Drumm |
49.46 |
UAA Championships |
200 Fly |
John Drumm |
1:49.36 |
UAA Championships |
200 IM |
Peter Meng |
1:52.77 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
400 IM |
Peter Meng |
3:58.75 |
Magnus Cup Invite |
1-Meter Dive (11 dives) |
Trevor Elliott |
356.55 |
UAA Championships |
3-Meter Dive (11 dives) |
Nico Billoni |
333.70 |
UAA Championships |
200 Free Relay |
Emil LaSida, John Drumm, Mason Bencurik, Andrew Smith |
1:23.05 |
UAA Championships |
400 Free Relay |
Mason Bencurik, Campbell Patterson, John Drumm, Andrew Smith |
3:02.79 |
UAA Championships |
800 Free Relay |
Mason Bencurik, Stephen Hogeman, Andrew Smith, John Drumm |
6:44.24 |
UAA Championships |
200 Medley Relay |
Emil LaSida, Ethan Chuang, Ben Zuo, Campbell Patterson |
1:30.15 *SR |
Midwest Invitational |
400 Medley Relay |
Emil LaSida, Ethan Chuang, John Drumm, Andrew Smith |
3:18.48 *SR |
Midwest Invitational |
*SR indicates school record