Unusual Suspects | Michigan Women Are Top 5 NCAA Contenders
Unusual Suspects | Michigan Women Are Top 5 NCAA Contenders
Unusual Suspects features NCAA Division I swimming programs that have quietly experienced some success the past few years and are poised to break out at the 2018 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships.
In Unusual Suspects, we profile both men's and women's programs that have quietly experienced some success the past few years and are poised to break out at the 2018 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships.
Mike Bottom has been the head coach of the University of Michigan men's program since 2008, and in 2013 he took the reins of the women's program as well. From legendary coaches Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman to an extraordinary stable of swimmers including Gustavo Borges, Tom Dolan, Tom Malchow, Eric Namesnik, Chris Thompson, Peter Vanderkaay, and Tyler Clary, the Michigan men's team has experienced historic success over the years. But now in his fifth year leading the women's team as well, Bottom is poised to break into the top five at NCAAs.
Check out the pretty remarkable progress of the UM women's squad over the past five years, including back-to-back Big Ten Championships and moving up 29 spots at NCAAs.
NCAA Championships: 40th
Big Ten Championships: 6th
NCAA Championships: 30th
Big Ten Championships: 3rd
NCAA Championships: 22nd
Big Ten Championships: 1st
NCAA Championships: 10th
Big Ten Championships: 1st
NCAA Championships: 11th
The most encouraging thing for Bottom is that he does not lose a single NCAA qualifier from last season. On top of that, he picks up breastroke ace Miranda Tucker -- who had to sit out last season after transferring from in-conference rival Indiana -- and incoming freshman duo Sierra Schmidt and Daria Pyshnenko.
At the 2016 NCAA Championships representing Indiana, Tucker touched third in the 100 breast (58.10) and second in the 200 breast (2:06.27). Along with picking up major points in those two individual events, Tucker also immediately makes Michigan's medley relays formidable. Schmidt -- known on deck as the dancing queen -- has best times in the 500 (4:38.47) and 1650 (15:57.89) that would have scored at NCAAs last season. Her teammate Pyshnenko is a pure sprinter with times of 22.38 in the 50 and 48.75 in the 100. The Illinois native will certainly bolster the Wolverines' relays.
If all of that was not enough, Michigan picked up Arizona transfer Taylor Garcia, who has already been 51.8 in the 100 back and has experience at NCAAs.
Moral of the story? This Wolverines squad is absolutely loaded. Check out a few of their big guns below.
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Mike Bottom has been the head coach of the University of Michigan men's program since 2008, and in 2013 he took the reins of the women's program as well. From legendary coaches Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman to an extraordinary stable of swimmers including Gustavo Borges, Tom Dolan, Tom Malchow, Eric Namesnik, Chris Thompson, Peter Vanderkaay, and Tyler Clary, the Michigan men's team has experienced historic success over the years. But now in his fifth year leading the women's team as well, Bottom is poised to break into the top five at NCAAs.
Check out the pretty remarkable progress of the UM women's squad over the past five years, including back-to-back Big Ten Championships and moving up 29 spots at NCAAs.
2013 Results
Big Ten Championships: 6thNCAA Championships: 40th
2014 Results
Big Ten Championships: 6thNCAA Championships: 30th
2015 Results
Big Ten Championships: 3rdNCAA Championships: 22nd
2016 Results
Big Ten Championships: 1stNCAA Championships: 10th
2017 Results
Big Ten Championships: 1stNCAA Championships: 11th
The most encouraging thing for Bottom is that he does not lose a single NCAA qualifier from last season. On top of that, he picks up breastroke ace Miranda Tucker -- who had to sit out last season after transferring from in-conference rival Indiana -- and incoming freshman duo Sierra Schmidt and Daria Pyshnenko.
At the 2016 NCAA Championships representing Indiana, Tucker touched third in the 100 breast (58.10) and second in the 200 breast (2:06.27). Along with picking up major points in those two individual events, Tucker also immediately makes Michigan's medley relays formidable. Schmidt -- known on deck as the dancing queen -- has best times in the 500 (4:38.47) and 1650 (15:57.89) that would have scored at NCAAs last season. Her teammate Pyshnenko is a pure sprinter with times of 22.38 in the 50 and 48.75 in the 100. The Illinois native will certainly bolster the Wolverines' relays.
If all of that was not enough, Michigan picked up Arizona transfer Taylor Garcia, who has already been 51.8 in the 100 back and has experience at NCAAs.
Moral of the story? This Wolverines squad is absolutely loaded. Check out a few of their big guns below.
The Heavy Hitters
Yirong (Rose) Bi
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2017 NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Freestyle | 4:34.63 | 6th |
| 200 Freestyle | 1:45.05 | 25th |
| 1650 Freestyle | 15:45.26 | 16th |
Gabby DeLoof
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2017 NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Freestyle | 1:43.11 | 6th |
| 200 Backstroke | 1:52.63 | 18th |
Siobhan Haughey
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2017 NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 200 IM | 1:54.97 | 11th |
| 200 Freestyle | 1:41.21 | 4th |
| 100 Freestyle | 47.39 | 10th |
G Ryan
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2017 NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Freestyle | 4:34.28 | 8th |
| 200 Freestyle | 1:44.75 | 26th |
| 1650 Freestyle | 15:44.93 | 12th |
Miranda Tucker
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2016 NCAA Finish (Indiana) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 IM | 1:55.94 | 27th |
| 100 Breaststroke | 58.10 | 3rd |
| 200 Breaststroke | 2:06.27 | 2nd |
Vanessa Krause
| Event | Lifetime Best | 2017 NCAA Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Butterfly | 51.71 | 14th |
| 200 Butterfly | 1:54.60 | 15th |
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