Northwestern University Athletics
Tony Swanson Earns All-America at NCAA Swimming Championships
3/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 22, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Two members of the Northwestern men's swimming squad had success during the first day of competion at the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas, on Thursday. Freshman Tony Swanson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) and sophomore Kellan O'Connor (Phoenix, Ariz./Brophy Preparatory) both swam the 200 individual medley.
Swanson, who was seeded 27th in the field of 47 swimmers, swam a school-record time of 1:46.56 to place eighth in prelims and qualify for the evening's finals. In the championship race, he improved to seventh place, earning All-America honors. Swanson is only the second NU men's swimmer in more than three decades to swim in a championship final at the national meet. In 1999, Brian Walters finished fourth in the 200 backstroke. Prior to that, Pete Skoglund finished fourth in the 100 backstroke in 1966. Swanson is also the fifth Wildcat in the past 19 years to earn some type of All-American honor. In addition to Walters, Rob Rausch was a three-time honorable mention All-American, and Scott Smale and Steve Steketee each earned honorable mention All-America once.
O'Connor, seeded 28th, swam a 1:48.23 in prelims to finish 23rd. Swanson and O'Connor, who placed third and fourth, respectively, at the Big Ten Championships last month, were the highest Big Ten finishers in the 200 individual medley.
Swimming action continues on Friday as Swanson swims the 400 individual medley, O'Connor swims the 100 butterfly and freshman Aaron McCracken (Naperville, Ill./Central) swims the 100 breaststroke. Prelims begin at noon.
