5 Events You Wish Were Added To The NCAA Program

5 Events You Wish Were Added To The NCAA Program

Five events you wish were added to the program for the 2017-2018 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships.

Sep 27, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
5 Events You Wish Were Added To The NCAA Program

It may be wishful thinking, but sometimes we like to ponder the "what if" questions in life.

As it pertains to swimming, we are pondering the "what if" question of adding events to the NCAA program. While this is extremely unlikely to happen, it is still fun to pretend and wonder what it would be like if Caeleb Dressel raced for an NCAA title in the 25 freestyle or the Stanford women put together an epic 100 medley relay.

So without further ado, here are the top five events we think would add a unique twist to the NCAA Championships.

1.) 100 IM

This one is actually the most feasible. In June 2015, the NCAA voted to approve the inclusion of the 100 IM at conference championships -- although it is not required. This is an event that is competed on the FINA SCM World Cup circuit as well as the FINA SCM World Championships. It is also an event that every college swimmer competed in as a kid during summer league, so there is familiarity.

This is a true test of short course swimming mastery -- speed, turns, underwaters, and versatility.

What do you think?

2.) 100-Yard Medley Relay

Talk about chaos. The waves in that pool would be worse than this video. Although, 60-plus percent of the race would be done underwater.

3.) 25 Freestyle

Let's be honest. Who doesn't want to see Dressel go something crazy like 6.4 seconds in a 25 freestyle? All this race truly requires is an explosive start -- and Dressel has the best start in the NCAA hands down.

Just like the 50, the allure of the 25 freestyle is the hype and the build up prior to the race -- similar to the 100m dash in track. It's a nine-second sprint, but always the event that garners the most attention at every World Championships and Olympics. Speed in it's most pure form.

4.) 200-Yard Underwater Relay

Who are the best swimmers, typically, in short course? The ones who are the most proficient underwater. That includes underwater dolphin kicking and breaststroke pullouts.

As a matter of fact, the best swimmers are faster underwater than they are on top of it. So who wouldn't want to see this in action without the 15-meter rule? We know David Berkoff would.

These dolphins probably would, too.


5.) 50s of Stroke

Just like the argument of adding them to the Olympics, the 50s of stroke would be equally as exciting at the NCAA Championships. The only way this could realistically work is if you expanded the meet by one day. Seems reasonable, right? I mean, the NCAA already does 200-yard distance relays -- something the Olympics does not -- so what would be the harm in adding 50s?

Just imagine what Lilly King could throw down in a 50 breast and Dressel could unleash in a 50 fly...