Wednesday, March 24
Greensboro, N.C.
Pitt
vs
NCAA Men's Championships
Panthers Prep for Men’s NCAA Championships
3/24/2021 5:19:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men's swimming and diving team is set for the men's NCAA Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C. Competition runs from Wednesday, Mar. 24 through Saturday, Mar. 27, with Pitt competing Thursday through Saturday.
LIVE RESULTS | WATCH
"We are excited we made it to this point," said head coach John Hargis. "It has been an up and down season, but the boys are ready and it should be a great week. Blaise and Cooper are ready to go and we are hopeful we walk away All-Americans. That is the goal."
"I am excited to have three men diving at NCAA's and to be competing on all three boards," said head diving coach Katie Hazelton. "This is the largest male team we have had and is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication they have all put in throughout the last two-three years. Our juniors Josh [Parquet] and Wes [Ahart] have both been integral in developing the culture of excellence in the pool and classroom and it's really exciting to see their commitment pay off and qualify for the NCAA's."
Among the Pitt athletes competing at NCAA's are sophomore diver Dylan Reed, junior swimmer Cooper van der Laan and senior swimmer Blaise Vera. Reed is making his first appearance at the national stage, as he qualified for the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at the NCAA Zone A Championship qualifiers Mar. 11-13. Reed earned first in the 3-meter with a final round score of 358.20 and took seventh in the 1-meter with a total score of 520.85.
"Dylan is looking great, his freshman and sophomore year we have seen him battle with injuries and not being able to train for extended periods," said Hazelton. "However he has been back consistently training since January and the determination and persistence we have seen from him not just since then but throughout his recovery has been incredible."
Vera, who has endured a very successful career in the pool as a Panther, will make his third appearance at the NCAA Championships, previously doing so in 2019 and 2020. Vera became the second Panther since joining the ACC in 2013-14 to earn three medals at the ACC Championships (Dominic Giordano). Vera earned silver in both the 50 free and 100 free, as his 50 free time clocked in at 19.03, surpassing his own school record in the event. Vera also broke his own school record in the 100 fly, clocking a time of 45.29 and finishing fourth. He will compete in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.
van der Laan endured a successful ACC Championship meet, claiming two bronze medals and shattering the 200 breaststroke record by more than two seconds (1:52.76). The Gold Coast, Australia, native took home the bronze hardware in the 100 breast as well, clocking a school record and NCAA A cut time of 51.52. van der Laan will compete in the 100 breast and 200 breast.
Also competing for Pitt are two junior divers Josh Parquet and Wesley Ahart. Parquet will compete in the 1-meter, as he placed sixth at the NCAA Zone A Championship meet with a total round score of 521.30. Ahart will partake in the platform diving event, as he earned fourth with a total score of 549.05. Both Ahart and Parquet are making their first appearances at the NCAA Championships.
"Wes and Josh lead by example and work tirelessly in the pool and classroom and we are seeing that in their improvements in the pool," stated Hazelton. "I am extremely proud of the improvements and determination we have seen from both of these men over the last three years."
Joining van der Laan and Vera in the pool are sophomore Szymon Pytlarczyk and junior Stephen Hopta. All four will compete in the 200 medley relay, a relay in which the Panthers finished a tenth of a second below the NCAA qualifying threshold (1:24.30). The time broke Pitt's school record in the event from 2019 as well.
Full Schedule
All prelims begin at 10 a.m., with finals starting at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 25
LIVE RESULTS | WATCH
"We are excited we made it to this point," said head coach John Hargis. "It has been an up and down season, but the boys are ready and it should be a great week. Blaise and Cooper are ready to go and we are hopeful we walk away All-Americans. That is the goal."
"I am excited to have three men diving at NCAA's and to be competing on all three boards," said head diving coach Katie Hazelton. "This is the largest male team we have had and is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication they have all put in throughout the last two-three years. Our juniors Josh [Parquet] and Wes [Ahart] have both been integral in developing the culture of excellence in the pool and classroom and it's really exciting to see their commitment pay off and qualify for the NCAA's."
Among the Pitt athletes competing at NCAA's are sophomore diver Dylan Reed, junior swimmer Cooper van der Laan and senior swimmer Blaise Vera. Reed is making his first appearance at the national stage, as he qualified for the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at the NCAA Zone A Championship qualifiers Mar. 11-13. Reed earned first in the 3-meter with a final round score of 358.20 and took seventh in the 1-meter with a total score of 520.85.
"Dylan is looking great, his freshman and sophomore year we have seen him battle with injuries and not being able to train for extended periods," said Hazelton. "However he has been back consistently training since January and the determination and persistence we have seen from him not just since then but throughout his recovery has been incredible."
Vera, who has endured a very successful career in the pool as a Panther, will make his third appearance at the NCAA Championships, previously doing so in 2019 and 2020. Vera became the second Panther since joining the ACC in 2013-14 to earn three medals at the ACC Championships (Dominic Giordano). Vera earned silver in both the 50 free and 100 free, as his 50 free time clocked in at 19.03, surpassing his own school record in the event. Vera also broke his own school record in the 100 fly, clocking a time of 45.29 and finishing fourth. He will compete in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.
van der Laan endured a successful ACC Championship meet, claiming two bronze medals and shattering the 200 breaststroke record by more than two seconds (1:52.76). The Gold Coast, Australia, native took home the bronze hardware in the 100 breast as well, clocking a school record and NCAA A cut time of 51.52. van der Laan will compete in the 100 breast and 200 breast.
Also competing for Pitt are two junior divers Josh Parquet and Wesley Ahart. Parquet will compete in the 1-meter, as he placed sixth at the NCAA Zone A Championship meet with a total round score of 521.30. Ahart will partake in the platform diving event, as he earned fourth with a total score of 549.05. Both Ahart and Parquet are making their first appearances at the NCAA Championships.
"Wes and Josh lead by example and work tirelessly in the pool and classroom and we are seeing that in their improvements in the pool," stated Hazelton. "I am extremely proud of the improvements and determination we have seen from both of these men over the last three years."
Joining van der Laan and Vera in the pool are sophomore Szymon Pytlarczyk and junior Stephen Hopta. All four will compete in the 200 medley relay, a relay in which the Panthers finished a tenth of a second below the NCAA qualifying threshold (1:24.30). The time broke Pitt's school record in the event from 2019 as well.
Full Schedule
All prelims begin at 10 a.m., with finals starting at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 25
- 1-meter dive (prelim) | 12:15 PM
- 50-free prelim | 10 AM
- Finals begin at 6 PM for each event
- 100 breast (prelim) | 10 AM
- 100 fly (prelim) | 10 AM
- 3-meter (prelim) 10 AM
- 200 medley relay final 6 PM
- Finals begin at 6 PM for each event
- 200 breast (prelim) | 10 AM
- 100 free (prelim) | 10 AM
- Platform dive (prelim) | 10 AM
- Finals begin at 6 PM for each event
Players Mentioned
DIVE
/ Swimming & Diving
BACK/FREE
/ Swimming & Diving
DIVE
/ Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Swimming & Diving
DIVE
/ Swimming & Diving
FLY/FREE
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