University of Connecticut Athletics
Kearsey Becomes First UConn Male Swimmer Selected for NCAA Championships
3/11/2020 11:20:00โฏAM | Men's Swimming and Diving
STORRS, Conn. - Senior Will Kearseyย has qualified forย theย 2020 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Diving Championships as announcedย by the Division I Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Committee.ย The championships will be held March 25-28 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.ย Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Indiana Sports Corp. will serve as hosts.
"I really couldn't ask for a better way to close out my seniorย year at UConn than with a trip to one of, if not THE fastest meet in the world," said Kearsey.ย "It's something I've wanted to achieve since I got here and to finally make it is a dreamย come true. It's been the beat season of my career and we're still not done yet, plenty of work to put in, and hopefully some more results to come with it too."ย
Kearsey earned NCAAย qualifying timeย in the 100 Back (19th, 45.93) and will also compete in the 50 Free (35th, 19.40) and 100 Free (31st, 42.63). Kearsey becomes the first UConn male swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
"This is an exciting day for Will and our program, said head coach Chris Maiello.ย "Having Will be our programs first invitee is very special. Will has been progressing every year and to see his many years of training and competing payoff in this way is really rewarding. The body of work that it takes to make it to the NCAA Championships is substantial. Day in and day out for years Will has worked towards this, we are really happy for him."
"The NCAA meet is one of, if not the fastest meet in the world on a yearly basis, especially in yards, said Maiello. "His ranking in the NCAA this season in the 100 back is in the top 1%. Our goal going into the meet will be consistent in training, execute our races as we have all year and enjoy being part of swimming history here at UConn."
Earlier this season, Kearsey qualified for the Olympic Trails in the 100 Backstroke for both the United States and Great Britain.
A total of 270 participants (235 swimmers and 35 divers) will compete in the championships.ย Swimmers qualified for the championships by meeting the established minimum time for the events in which they entered.ย Divers will be determined by performances achieved at the Zone Diving meets March 9-14.ย The complete lists of all swimmers (athletes by institution, official psych sheet, relays and alternates) competing in the championships is available atย www.usaswimming.org/ncaa. ย Selected divers will be announced Monday, March 16.
ESPN3.com will live stream finals sessions Wednesday through Saturday.ย Preliminary sessions Thursday through Saturday will be streamed live onย https://www.indianasportscorp.org/events/2020-division-i-mens-swimming-and-diving-championships. ย Additionally, ESPNU will air a two-hour show at 9 p.m. Eastern time, Sunday, April 5.
