🚨 Men’s NCAA Swimming Preview

We are days away from one of the most exciting events of the year: Men’s NCAA Swimming Championships.

I’m amped to be heading out to Federal Way to watch it live, and let me tell you… this year’s meet is STACKED with talent, storylines, and potential record-breaking swims.

Let’s break it down. 🏊‍♂️💥

🔥 Crooks vs. Liendo – The Sprinter Showdown

This is the battle everyone’s talking about: Jordan Crooks (the pride of the Cayman Islands) vs. Josh Liendo from Florida.

Both these guys are insane sprinters. But can they both go under 39 seconds in the 100 free? I think yes. This could be the fastest 100-yard free final ever. My wild prediction?

• Crooks: 38.9

• Liendo: 40.1

  
  BOTH will put on a show, and one might make history.

🧨 Can Crooks Break Dressel’s Legendary 17.63 WR?

This is the big question I keep getting.

Caeleb Dressel’s 17.63 in the 50 free is absurd. To this day, it might be the most impressive sprint swim in yards history.

Crooks has been 17.8… and he’s the only other man under 18.

Could he do it? Sure.

Will he? I say… probably not yet.

But if he does—holy cow, it’ll be electric.

💪 The 100 Breaststroke: Will We See 48 Seconds?

I NEVER thought I’d say this, but YES—we’re getting closer to a sub-49 100-yard breaststroke, and I now believe a 48 is possible soon.

This year? Probably not. But we’re definitely going to see multiple 49s.

Indiana alone has a couple guys who could do it. As a breaststroker myself, this race has me fired up!

☀️ What’s Going On With ASU?

Let’s talk Arizona State. Last year, they were riding high— in fact they won the 2024 NCAA Championships. But this season? It’s a different story.

With Bob Bowman’s departure and several of their top swimmers transferring out, ASU’s momentum has hit a bit of a reset. This isn’t unusual—when a coach like Bowman moves, ripple effects happen. They're not out of the picture, but expecting another top-3 finish this year might be a stretch.

That said, I’m still optimistic about their long-term future. Herbie Behm and Dave Salo are steering the ship now, and they’ve got the coaching chops to rebuild.

Give them a year or two, let the roster stabilize, and ASU could be right back in the mix.

🧠Final Thoughts

This meet is going to be bananas. Records could fall. Rivals will clash.

I’ll be at the meet in person, soaking it all in. If you see me, come say hi!

Let me know your picks—who takes the 100 free? Will we see a 48 breaststroke? Does Crooks break 17.63? Hit reply, or tag me on social media. Let’s talk.

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Let’s get after it!

Until my next newsletter, I will see you all - later