Swimming & Diving

The Gophers men’s swimming and diving team heads to the NCAA championships this weekend with the memory of a disappointing finish last season on its mind.

The team took 24th place at the championships last season, its worst NCAA finish since 1990.

“All we talked about this year was being better,” head coach Kelly Kremer said. “If we could move up the list, we’ll be happy with where we finish, providing that we perform well all the way through.”

The Gophers men’s swimming diving team officially earned its first spot in the NCAA championships, which run March 28-30 in Indianapolis.

Senior Mikey Ross qualified for the championships Monday by placing third in 1-meter diving at the NCAA Zone D diving meet in Houston.

But don’t expect the Gophers to be a one-hit wonder. 

For the third straight season, the Gophers men’s swimming and diving team finished fourth at the Big Ten championships while one of its biggest rivals celebrated a conference title.

No. 3 Michigan cruised to its third straight Big Ten title Saturday at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Ind.

The Wolverines, who have won five of the past six conference titles, exerted their dominance over the four-day championships, winning more than half the events, including all five relays. The Wolverines finished with 899 team points.

Junior captain Derek Toomey finished third in the 50-yard freestyle, and the Gophers sit in fifth place out of 10 teams after two days of the Big Ten championships in Bloomington, Ind.

Michigan leads the championships with 316 team points, followed by Indiana (237), Ohio State (170), Purdue (144) and Minnesota (133).

The No. 3 Wolverines have won five of the first seven events and are looking to claim their third straight Big Ten title this weekend.

The Gophers are tied for fourth place out of 10 teams after one night of the Big Ten championships in Bloomington, Ind.

Michigan won two events Wednesday and leads the championships with 80 points. Ohio State (66 points), Indiana (66), Minnesota (54) and Iowa (54) round out the top five.

The Gophers finished sixth in the 200-yard medley relay, the first event of the championships. Sophomore Luke Bushman, senior Jared Anderson and juniors Sandy Whitaker and Derek Toomey swam the relay in 1:26.41 but finished more than three seconds behind Michigan.

The Gophers men’s swimming and diving team enjoyed a dynasty over the Big Ten championships as recently as 2007.

But the program that won five conference championships from 2001-07 has finished no higher than third since then.

Michigan has won four of the past five Big Ten championships and gone 34-1 in conference dual meets since the 2007-08 season. The Wolverines are seeking their third consecutive Big Ten title this week.