CSCAA All-Americans
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – All-American honors were bestowed upon eight members of Purdue swimming & diving, recognizing their accomplishments during a season that was cut after the cancellation of the Zone C Diving Championships and NCAA Championships.
The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America announced its All-American teams Wednesday, utilizing adjusted selection criteria for each Division due to the special circumstances this year.
Swimmers Trent Pellini and Nick Sherman and divers Ben Bramley, Emily Bretscher, Greg Duncan, Emily Meaney, Maggie Merriman and Maycey Vieta were the Boilermakers recognized as All-Americans.
Purdue won a combined seven diving medals at Big Tens this season, claiming one of each color and at least one in all six events.
Pellini and Sherman had officially qualified for the NCAA Championships via a breaststroke event, Pellini earning an individual berth at the national championship meet for the second year in a row.
"Despite the cancellation of the NCAA Championships, Purdue coaches Dan Ross, Adam Soldati and John Klinge did a remarkable job this season," explained Greg Earhart, Executive Director of the CSCAA. "These eight student-athletes had the rug pulled out from them this season, so we are excited to recognize them."
The CSCAA detailed this year isn't the first time the association adjusted All-America criteria. The first CSCAA All-America team was published in 1924, 13 years before the first men's NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship meet. The first women's All-America team was published in 1975, seven years prior to the first NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championship meet. During much of that time, the All-America teams were selected by a panel of coaches. In 1985, All-America honors were standardized around the NCAA Championships. That practice remains in place, with the top eight championship finalists in an event receiving first-team recognition and consolation finalists being named honorable mention.
The Zone C Diving Championships – diving's NCAAs qualifier for the states of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio – was the last of the five Zone meets around the country to get underway the week of March 8. When the developing COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel all remaining winter and spring sporting events for the remainder of the school year March 12, the women's 1-meter final at the Zone C Championships was in round 3. Duncan had already officially qualified for NCAAs on 3-meter that day. Bretscher was among the divers competing in the 1-meter final.
Dating back to 2017, every Purdue diver that competed at Zones had qualified for the NCAA Championships that season.
Pellini was part of team records in the 200 and 800 freestyle relays at Big Tens. He also helped the 200 medley relay team win bronze while posting the 10th-fastest time in the nation this year. It was the Boilermakers' first relay medal since 2009. Sherman scored in all three of his individual events at Big Tens and also contributed to the 800 free relay record. A week later at the Boiler-Make-It NCAA last chance meet, he posted a career-best time of 1:53.31 in the 200 breast to qualify for NCAAs.
Ben Bramley – Sophomore Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Silver on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 43
Emily Bretscher – Junior Diver
• Individual Honor: Big Ten Diver of the Championships
• Medals at Big Tens: Gold on 3-Meter, Bronze on 1-Meter
• Points at Big Tens: 83 (Championship Finalist in all 3 Diving Events)
• Notable: 4-Time Big Ten Diver of the Week
Greg Duncan – Junior Diver
• Medals at Big Tens: Gold on 3-Meter, Bronze on 1-Meter
• Points at Big Tens: 59
• Notable: 5-Time Big Ten Diver of the Week
Emily Meaney – Senior Diver
• Points at Big Tens: 53 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)
• Purdue Record Holder: Platform (359.30)
• Notable: Purdue's active career scoring leader at Big Tens (187 points)
Maggie Merriman – Sophomore Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Bronze on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 35 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)
Trent Pellini – Junior Swimmer
• Medal at Big Tens: Bronze in 200 Medley Relay
• Points at Big Tens: 38
• Top National Rank: T-10th in 100 Breast (51.81)
• Purdue Record Holder: 100 Breast (51.76), 200 & 800 Free Relays, 200 & 400 Medley Relays
Nick Sherman – Sophomore Swimmer
• Points at Big Tens: 25 (Scored in All 3 Individual Events)
• Top National Rank: 22nd in 200 Breast (1:53.31)
• Purdue Record Holder: 800 Free Relay
Maycey Vieta – Freshman Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Silver on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 36 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – All-American honors were bestowed upon eight members of Purdue swimming & diving, recognizing their accomplishments during a season that was cut after the cancellation of the Zone C Diving Championships and NCAA Championships.
The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America announced its All-American teams Wednesday, utilizing adjusted selection criteria for each Division due to the special circumstances this year.
Swimmers Trent Pellini and Nick Sherman and divers Ben Bramley, Emily Bretscher, Greg Duncan, Emily Meaney, Maggie Merriman and Maycey Vieta were the Boilermakers recognized as All-Americans.
Purdue won a combined seven diving medals at Big Tens this season, claiming one of each color and at least one in all six events.
Pellini and Sherman had officially qualified for the NCAA Championships via a breaststroke event, Pellini earning an individual berth at the national championship meet for the second year in a row.
"Despite the cancellation of the NCAA Championships, Purdue coaches Dan Ross, Adam Soldati and John Klinge did a remarkable job this season," explained Greg Earhart, Executive Director of the CSCAA. "These eight student-athletes had the rug pulled out from them this season, so we are excited to recognize them."
The CSCAA detailed this year isn't the first time the association adjusted All-America criteria. The first CSCAA All-America team was published in 1924, 13 years before the first men's NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship meet. The first women's All-America team was published in 1975, seven years prior to the first NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championship meet. During much of that time, the All-America teams were selected by a panel of coaches. In 1985, All-America honors were standardized around the NCAA Championships. That practice remains in place, with the top eight championship finalists in an event receiving first-team recognition and consolation finalists being named honorable mention.
The Zone C Diving Championships – diving's NCAAs qualifier for the states of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio – was the last of the five Zone meets around the country to get underway the week of March 8. When the developing COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel all remaining winter and spring sporting events for the remainder of the school year March 12, the women's 1-meter final at the Zone C Championships was in round 3. Duncan had already officially qualified for NCAAs on 3-meter that day. Bretscher was among the divers competing in the 1-meter final.
Dating back to 2017, every Purdue diver that competed at Zones had qualified for the NCAA Championships that season.
Pellini was part of team records in the 200 and 800 freestyle relays at Big Tens. He also helped the 200 medley relay team win bronze while posting the 10th-fastest time in the nation this year. It was the Boilermakers' first relay medal since 2009. Sherman scored in all three of his individual events at Big Tens and also contributed to the 800 free relay record. A week later at the Boiler-Make-It NCAA last chance meet, he posted a career-best time of 1:53.31 in the 200 breast to qualify for NCAAs.
Ben Bramley – Sophomore Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Silver on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 43
Emily Bretscher – Junior Diver
• Individual Honor: Big Ten Diver of the Championships
• Medals at Big Tens: Gold on 3-Meter, Bronze on 1-Meter
• Points at Big Tens: 83 (Championship Finalist in all 3 Diving Events)
• Notable: 4-Time Big Ten Diver of the Week
Greg Duncan – Junior Diver
• Medals at Big Tens: Gold on 3-Meter, Bronze on 1-Meter
• Points at Big Tens: 59
• Notable: 5-Time Big Ten Diver of the Week
Emily Meaney – Senior Diver
• Points at Big Tens: 53 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)
• Purdue Record Holder: Platform (359.30)
• Notable: Purdue's active career scoring leader at Big Tens (187 points)
Maggie Merriman – Sophomore Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Bronze on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 35 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)
Trent Pellini – Junior Swimmer
• Medal at Big Tens: Bronze in 200 Medley Relay
• Points at Big Tens: 38
• Top National Rank: T-10th in 100 Breast (51.81)
• Purdue Record Holder: 100 Breast (51.76), 200 & 800 Free Relays, 200 & 400 Medley Relays
Nick Sherman – Sophomore Swimmer
• Points at Big Tens: 25 (Scored in All 3 Individual Events)
• Top National Rank: 22nd in 200 Breast (1:53.31)
• Purdue Record Holder: 800 Free Relay
Maycey Vieta – Freshman Diver
• Medal at Big Tens: Silver on Platform
• Points at Big Tens: 36 (Scored in all 3 Diving Events)