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MEET INFORMATION
No. 24 Purdue Men at the Big Ten Championships
Wednesday to Saturday, Feb. 27 to March 2
Noon ET Prelims, 7:30 p.m. Finals / BTN Plus on BTN2Go
Campus Recreation and Wellness Center / Iowa City, Iowa
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For its 100th anniversary season competing at the Big Ten Championships, No. 24 Purdue men's swimming & diving makes a return trip to Iowa City after winning the seven-team Hawkeye Invitational in November.
Action at Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center begins Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET and continues through Saturday night. The opening session features the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Preliminaries are set for noon ET. Relays are contested, Big Ten champions determined and team points earned in the evening finals, which begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. Diving prelims begin daily at 2 p.m. as the afternoon bridge between the sessions.
The Big Ten Network will televise the Saturday finals session Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon ET. BTN Plus on BTN2Go will also be offering live pay-per-view webcast coverage of all seven sessions. Fans connected to the internet network of any Big Ten university receive complimentary access to BTN Plus.
Purdue swimming & diving made its debut at the Big Ten Championships in 1919, making this a centennial season of competition for the Boilermakers.
Iowa is also in line to host the 2021 NCAA Championships. Although the practice has since been discontinued, for much of this decade Big Ten universities that were selected to host NCAAs were automatically moved up in the six-school rotation for Big Tens in the same year they were hosting NCAAs. That's how Iowa City became the site of the Men's Big Ten Championships in both 2012 and 2015. The CRWC opened in the summer of 2010 and hosted both the men's and women's conference championships for the first time in 2012. It was later selected to host the 2015 Men's NCAA Championships and thus Big Tens as well.
The Purdue men won't have to travel far for their championship season next year. Big Tens is slated to be held in Bloomington and the NCAA Championships return to the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. The 2020 Zone C Diving Championships are also likely be held at Indiana's aquatic center.
CLOSED THE FALL WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWING IN IOWA CITY
• Even with the divers competing – and posting a trio of top-three finishes – the same week at Texas, the Boilermakers won the seven-team Hawkeye Invitational to close the fall. Minnesota, Iowa, Grand Canyon and Missouri State were among the formidable opponents in attendance that weekend. It marked the first time Purdue won a multi-team invitational meet on the road since November 2001 at Northwestern.
• Even with C finals being non-scoring at the Hawkeye Invitational, the Boilermakers still had 28 swimmers score in at least one individual event. That's more than their 26-man travel roster this week. Erik Juliusson and Brett Riley both scored in four individual events. Student-athletes are capped at a maximum three individual events at Big Tens.
MORE FOND MEMORIES OF IOWA CITY
• At the 2015 Big Ten Championships in Iowa City, Purdue placed fourth in the team scoring to match its best-ever finish at the meet. Lyam Dias won the Big Ten title in the 200 breaststroke and Steele Johnson claimed silver medals in all three diving events.
• A month later, the Boilermakers returned to Iowa City for the NCAA Championships. Ten student-athletes qualified for the national championship meet, including the 200 medley relay team (Purdue's last relay to make it). Led by Johnson's NCAA titles in 1-meter and platform diving, Purdue finished 17th at NCAAs. Johnson was joined in the platform diving championship final by Jamie Bissett and Sean Mokhtari.
• The Boilermakers also finished fourth in the team scoring at Big Tens last season in Minneapolis. The team's goal this week is to crack the elusive top three for the first time. The student-athletes are feeding off the confidence of their collective performances at the Hawkeye Invitational in November. Head coach Dan Ross also feels the goal is in sight, saying "I believe this is one of the most complete teams we've had in my 30-some years here." But he also acknowledged the program's improved depth will need to show up with multiple qualifiers for A and B finals of every event, not just C finals.
• Purdue has finished fourth at Big Tens four times in the last 10 seasons dating back to 2008-09. Prior to 2009, the program had not finished fourth since 1996-97.
BRANDO A FAVORITE TO REPEAT, BUT STEELE SIDELINED
• Brandon Loschiavo (platform) and Steele Johnson (3-meter) both won Big Ten titles last season, joining David Boudia and David Colturi in 2010 as the only set of Purdue teammates to win conference championships in the diving well in the same season. Loschiavo's season-best score of 508.85 on the tower at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in November remains the top collegiate mark in the nation this season, making him a favorite to repeat.
• However, Johnson has been sidelined all season by a lingering foot injury and will not compete this season. Having exercised an Olympic redshirt waiver during 2015-16 school year leading up to winning a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, Johnson is believed to have one season of college eligibility remaining should he wish to use it in 2019-20. However, having already won five NCAA titles and with another Olympics quickly approaching, Johnson will likely opt to train for USA Diving and international competitions after returning from injury.
• Newcomer Greg Duncan is also a reigning conference champion. He was the 2018 ACC Diver of the Year at North Carolina after sweeping the springboard events. He and freshman Ben Bramley have both demonstrated they have the ability to be championship finalists at Big Tens. That's a feat senior Joe Cifelli has already accomplished in each of his first three seasons at Purdue.
PURDUE'S CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS AND TOP SCORERS IN 2018
• Eight Boilermakers qualified for at least one championship final at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. Even with Johnson sidelined by injury, five are still active. Nineteen Purdue student-athletes scored in at least one individual event.
• Brandon Loschiavo – 1st in Platform Diving
• Joe Young – 3rd in 100 Back, 5th in 200 Back
• Joe Cifelli – 4th in 1-Meter Diving, 5th in 3-Meter Diving
• Batuhan Hakan – 8th in 500 Free
• Trent Pellini – 8th in 100 Breast
• Pellini and Young scored in all three of their individual events. Both were part of three records. Young eclipsed team records in both backstroke events and swam the leadoff leg on the 200 medley relay. Pellini established freshman records in the 100 breast and 200 IM. He was also part of the 200 medley relay team.
• Grant Lewis, Cifelli and Young have an opportunity to score at Big Tens for the fourth consecutive year.
BIG TEN'S RANKED TEAMS IN CSCAA TOP 25
• No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Michigan, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 24 Purdue
YEAR FOUR OF THE NEW SCORING BREAKDOWN
• A Final: 32-28-27-26-25-24-23-22
• B Final: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11
• C Final: 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (and 17th through 24th in Diving Prelims)
• Relays: 64-56-54-52-50-48-46-44-40-34
MEET INFORMATION
No. 24 Purdue Men at the Big Ten Championships
Wednesday to Saturday, Feb. 27 to March 2
Noon ET Prelims, 7:30 p.m. Finals / BTN Plus on BTN2Go
Campus Recreation and Wellness Center / Iowa City, Iowa
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For its 100th anniversary season competing at the Big Ten Championships, No. 24 Purdue men's swimming & diving makes a return trip to Iowa City after winning the seven-team Hawkeye Invitational in November.
Action at Iowa's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center begins Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET and continues through Saturday night. The opening session features the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. Preliminaries are set for noon ET. Relays are contested, Big Ten champions determined and team points earned in the evening finals, which begin nightly at 7:30 p.m. Diving prelims begin daily at 2 p.m. as the afternoon bridge between the sessions.
The Big Ten Network will televise the Saturday finals session Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to noon ET. BTN Plus on BTN2Go will also be offering live pay-per-view webcast coverage of all seven sessions. Fans connected to the internet network of any Big Ten university receive complimentary access to BTN Plus.
Purdue swimming & diving made its debut at the Big Ten Championships in 1919, making this a centennial season of competition for the Boilermakers.
Iowa is also in line to host the 2021 NCAA Championships. Although the practice has since been discontinued, for much of this decade Big Ten universities that were selected to host NCAAs were automatically moved up in the six-school rotation for Big Tens in the same year they were hosting NCAAs. That's how Iowa City became the site of the Men's Big Ten Championships in both 2012 and 2015. The CRWC opened in the summer of 2010 and hosted both the men's and women's conference championships for the first time in 2012. It was later selected to host the 2015 Men's NCAA Championships and thus Big Tens as well.
The Purdue men won't have to travel far for their championship season next year. Big Tens is slated to be held in Bloomington and the NCAA Championships return to the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. The 2020 Zone C Diving Championships are also likely be held at Indiana's aquatic center.
CLOSED THE FALL WITH AN IMPRESSIVE SHOWING IN IOWA CITY
• Even with the divers competing – and posting a trio of top-three finishes – the same week at Texas, the Boilermakers won the seven-team Hawkeye Invitational to close the fall. Minnesota, Iowa, Grand Canyon and Missouri State were among the formidable opponents in attendance that weekend. It marked the first time Purdue won a multi-team invitational meet on the road since November 2001 at Northwestern.
• Even with C finals being non-scoring at the Hawkeye Invitational, the Boilermakers still had 28 swimmers score in at least one individual event. That's more than their 26-man travel roster this week. Erik Juliusson and Brett Riley both scored in four individual events. Student-athletes are capped at a maximum three individual events at Big Tens.
MORE FOND MEMORIES OF IOWA CITY
• At the 2015 Big Ten Championships in Iowa City, Purdue placed fourth in the team scoring to match its best-ever finish at the meet. Lyam Dias won the Big Ten title in the 200 breaststroke and Steele Johnson claimed silver medals in all three diving events.
• A month later, the Boilermakers returned to Iowa City for the NCAA Championships. Ten student-athletes qualified for the national championship meet, including the 200 medley relay team (Purdue's last relay to make it). Led by Johnson's NCAA titles in 1-meter and platform diving, Purdue finished 17th at NCAAs. Johnson was joined in the platform diving championship final by Jamie Bissett and Sean Mokhtari.
BREAKTHROUGH INTO TOP THREE??? Seniors @JamesThomasBoon & Joe Young helped the #Boilermakers take 4th at Big Tens a year ago & win the Hawkeye Invite earlier this season. They shared their excitement for Big Tens this week in Iowa City in our latest #BehindTheBlocks. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/iCGN977FpV
— Purdue Swim-Dive (@PurdueMSwimDive) February 26, 2019
• The Boilermakers also finished fourth in the team scoring at Big Tens last season in Minneapolis. The team's goal this week is to crack the elusive top three for the first time. The student-athletes are feeding off the confidence of their collective performances at the Hawkeye Invitational in November. Head coach Dan Ross also feels the goal is in sight, saying "I believe this is one of the most complete teams we've had in my 30-some years here." But he also acknowledged the program's improved depth will need to show up with multiple qualifiers for A and B finals of every event, not just C finals.
• Purdue has finished fourth at Big Tens four times in the last 10 seasons dating back to 2008-09. Prior to 2009, the program had not finished fourth since 1996-97.
BRANDO A FAVORITE TO REPEAT, BUT STEELE SIDELINED
• Brandon Loschiavo (platform) and Steele Johnson (3-meter) both won Big Ten titles last season, joining David Boudia and David Colturi in 2010 as the only set of Purdue teammates to win conference championships in the diving well in the same season. Loschiavo's season-best score of 508.85 on the tower at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in November remains the top collegiate mark in the nation this season, making him a favorite to repeat.
• However, Johnson has been sidelined all season by a lingering foot injury and will not compete this season. Having exercised an Olympic redshirt waiver during 2015-16 school year leading up to winning a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro, Johnson is believed to have one season of college eligibility remaining should he wish to use it in 2019-20. However, having already won five NCAA titles and with another Olympics quickly approaching, Johnson will likely opt to train for USA Diving and international competitions after returning from injury.
• Newcomer Greg Duncan is also a reigning conference champion. He was the 2018 ACC Diver of the Year at North Carolina after sweeping the springboard events. He and freshman Ben Bramley have both demonstrated they have the ability to be championship finalists at Big Tens. That's a feat senior Joe Cifelli has already accomplished in each of his first three seasons at Purdue.
PURDUE'S CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS AND TOP SCORERS IN 2018
• Eight Boilermakers qualified for at least one championship final at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. Even with Johnson sidelined by injury, five are still active. Nineteen Purdue student-athletes scored in at least one individual event.
• Brandon Loschiavo – 1st in Platform Diving
• Joe Young – 3rd in 100 Back, 5th in 200 Back
• Joe Cifelli – 4th in 1-Meter Diving, 5th in 3-Meter Diving
• Batuhan Hakan – 8th in 500 Free
• Trent Pellini – 8th in 100 Breast
• Pellini and Young scored in all three of their individual events. Both were part of three records. Young eclipsed team records in both backstroke events and swam the leadoff leg on the 200 medley relay. Pellini established freshman records in the 100 breast and 200 IM. He was also part of the 200 medley relay team.
• Grant Lewis, Cifelli and Young have an opportunity to score at Big Tens for the fourth consecutive year.
BIG TEN'S RANKED TEAMS IN CSCAA TOP 25
• No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Michigan, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 24 Purdue
YEAR FOUR OF THE NEW SCORING BREAKDOWN
• A Final: 32-28-27-26-25-24-23-22
• B Final: 20-17-16-15-14-13-12-11
• C Final: 9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (and 17th through 24th in Diving Prelims)
• Relays: 64-56-54-52-50-48-46-44-40-34
?? "I believe this is one of of the most complete teams we've had in my 30-some years here." @CoachDanRoss is feeling confident going into Big Tens in Iowa City. Find out why in Dan's #BehindTheBlocks segment. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/QK23rsm31x
— Purdue Swim-Dive (@PurdueMSwimDive) February 26, 2019