After first 2 relays... CAL improved by about 36 points compared to their score if they swam their qualifying times in both. No one expects that... the goal is always to peak at Nationals, I know... but as noted CAL was projected to win without scoring a ton of relay points. So that's cool...
Complete agreement with this sentiment! On a semi related topic... I still think it is fair to sort of mock CAL S AND D for not having any D (which I do from time to time) because I mostly mock the admin for claiming they are working to build up that part of the program with no apparent results in terms of actual divers. (New diving facilities and tried to hire a coach, right? so credit where it's due but still no divers) What I personally feel dumb about is not realizing that diving (just as an example, not that there's anything wrong with diving) is no more important to scoring than any other specialty. Why not spend that scholarship money on swimmers instead? (I'm not saying I think that was a conscious decision, but it could be valid if it were.) While divers can compete in up to 3 events, a swimmer can score individually and help with the double point relays. Of course it makes sense that a swim only approach could win championships (besides the obvious observation that it works, there is an explanation). Man, I have been following swimming since my HS days in the 1970's (you can partly thank my HS sweetheart for the expansion of women's H2O polo and women's distance events) but I literally just now thought about the team balance relative to diving (because it's kind of it's own thing, I guess). I feel as dumb as a Furd.
There is a limit on how many swimmers a team can bring to the NCAA. Texas hit that this year by having 20 swimmers and 4 divers qualified. Somehow, each diver only count as half a spot. So Texas is keeping two qualified swimmers home so they can use 1 of the spot for 2 divers.
On the women's side, Stanford a few years ago (with Ledecky, Manuel, etc.) also hit the roster limit and had to keep a qualified swimmers home.
Just in case other people may be confused about this, a swimmer is only allowed to compete in three individual events each. But like you said, they are also useful in the relays (I guess this is why they count as twice of a diver for roster purpose).
Rule 5 covers all sorts of entries issues... Championships all have their own special notes. I can't see this year's rules (cuz it costs money to see the rules one might actually be competing under...). Recent rules versions match my memory... 18 competitors "recommended" max for SAD championships (technically at the discretion of the organizers because ratings are so much more important than actual competition). Diver limits are based on number of events. When there is no platform diving, each one counts as a third of a team member, half when there is platform (which of course there is in the champs). In a three day champ meet, a competitor may participate in 3 individual and 7 total events each. They figure divers won't have relays available, but... if you could qualify as a diver and make it to swim in the relays... ?
After first 2 relays... CAL improved by about 36 points compared to their score if they swam their qualifying times in both. No one expects that... the goal is always to peak at Nationals, I know... but as noted CAL was projected to win without scoring a ton of relay points. So that's cool...
Fantastic write-up! Thanks for getting my blood pumped up!!!
Complete agreement with this sentiment! On a semi related topic... I still think it is fair to sort of mock CAL S AND D for not having any D (which I do from time to time) because I mostly mock the admin for claiming they are working to build up that part of the program with no apparent results in terms of actual divers. (New diving facilities and tried to hire a coach, right? so credit where it's due but still no divers) What I personally feel dumb about is not realizing that diving (just as an example, not that there's anything wrong with diving) is no more important to scoring than any other specialty. Why not spend that scholarship money on swimmers instead? (I'm not saying I think that was a conscious decision, but it could be valid if it were.) While divers can compete in up to 3 events, a swimmer can score individually and help with the double point relays. Of course it makes sense that a swim only approach could win championships (besides the obvious observation that it works, there is an explanation). Man, I have been following swimming since my HS days in the 1970's (you can partly thank my HS sweetheart for the expansion of women's H2O polo and women's distance events) but I literally just now thought about the team balance relative to diving (because it's kind of it's own thing, I guess). I feel as dumb as a Furd.
There is a limit on how many swimmers a team can bring to the NCAA. Texas hit that this year by having 20 swimmers and 4 divers qualified. Somehow, each diver only count as half a spot. So Texas is keeping two qualified swimmers home so they can use 1 of the spot for 2 divers.
On the women's side, Stanford a few years ago (with Ledecky, Manuel, etc.) also hit the roster limit and had to keep a qualified swimmers home.
Just in case other people may be confused about this, a swimmer is only allowed to compete in three individual events each. But like you said, they are also useful in the relays (I guess this is why they count as twice of a diver for roster purpose).
Rule 5 covers all sorts of entries issues... Championships all have their own special notes. I can't see this year's rules (cuz it costs money to see the rules one might actually be competing under...). Recent rules versions match my memory... 18 competitors "recommended" max for SAD championships (technically at the discretion of the organizers because ratings are so much more important than actual competition). Diver limits are based on number of events. When there is no platform diving, each one counts as a third of a team member, half when there is platform (which of course there is in the champs). In a three day champ meet, a competitor may participate in 3 individual and 7 total events each. They figure divers won't have relays available, but... if you could qualify as a diver and make it to swim in the relays... ?