TCU’s Men Receiving Votes in CSCAA December Update
12/18/2020 2:01:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
FORT WORTH — TCU's men's swimming and diving team received four votes (No. 31) in the December edition of the CSCAA Top 25 poll. In the November variant, the Frogs earned their highest position (No. 29) since picking up the same ranking in January of 2011 and at the end of the 2009-10 poll.
In the month of December, TCU broke two school records, notched four NCAA B cuts and recorded multiple program top-10 times at the Texas Hall of Fame Swimming Invitational.
NCAA B Cuts
Janis Silins collected his fifth and sixth straight NCAA B cuts in the 100 breast in Austin between prelims and finals, setting a school record in the process.
In the 200 breast, Silins earned his second and third NCAA B cut of the season (1:54.98). His mark ranks 14th nationally. The sophomore won his heat with a 1:55.84 and then placed second in finals with a 1:54.98. Silins had the fastest split in the final 50 of the race (30.19).
At No. 18 Florida State, the sophomore took the 100 breast and tied the Morcom Aquatics Center pool record (53.97). He now shares it with Laurent Bams (1/12/18) of Alabama.
Fellow sophomore Piotr Sadlowski notched his second NCAA B cut of the season in the 100 fly. TCU's Polish pistol swam a 47.27 en route to a fifth-place finish against the top-ranked Longhorns. His time places him 42nd in the country.
Ashleen O'Brien continues to chase Maddie Ibrahim's 100 back school record. The sophomore swam a collegiate-best 53.84, just .01 seconds off the school record, on the leadoff leg of TCU's 400 medley 'B' relay. She obtained an NCAA B cut and maintains her No. 2 spot in school history, which positions her at No. 47 in the NCAA. Earlier this season at SMU, O'Brien registered a 54.52.
Record Breakers
Both Silins and Noah Cumby broke their own school record at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center earlier this month. Cumby broke his own school record in the 100 free, swimming a 43.83 en route to a fourth-place finish. The junior's previous record was 43.94.
Silins broke TCU's 100 breast school record, clocking a 52.71. He bested his own previous 100 breast record (52.83), collecting his sixth NCAA B cut in as many races. The sophomore finished third in the race.
Big 12 Swimmers of the Week
Megan Morris and Silins were named Big 12 Co-Swimmers of the Week in November. The duo bestowed the honors thanks to their standout performances at Florida State.
Silins notched his fourth straight NCAA B cut in the 100 breast. The Valmiera, Latvia, native took the event with a season-best time of 53.97, which at the time sat at No. 14 in the nation, and tied the Morcom Aquatics Center pool record. He now shares it with Laurent Bams (1/12/18) of Alabama. Silins remained undefeated (4-0) in the event.
In the 200 breast, Silins earned his first NCAA B cut of the season (1:57.53). His mark ranked ninth nationally following that weekend's competition.
As a freshman, Silins led the way for TCU's men, breaking both the 100 and 200 breast records en route to two silver medals at the 2020 Big 12 Championship (100 & 200 breast). No TCU swimmer had finished higher than second place since John (Ford) Story won the 2016 Big 12 Championship in the 100 breast. Silins' 100 Breast time (52.83) broke Story's Big 12 Championship time from 2016. Silins' 200 breast time (1:54.63) bested former TCU great and Olympian Edgar Crespo's record from 2012 that won a Conference USA title.
Silins is the fifth Horned Frog to win the award and first since teammate Dusan Babic won it in January of 2020. Babic recorded his first dual meet double win of his Horned Frog career against West Virginia, winning the 100 free (46.56) and the 1,000 free (9:45.76). Silins joins the impressive company of Ford Story (January 2016), Cooper Robinson (Nov. 2014 + Jan. 2013) and Adam Szilagyi (Jan. 2013).
Morris placed second in the 400 IM with a time of 4:22.48 against No. 25 Florida State. Her time in the 400 IM ranked 18th in the nation at the time. Morris is the second woman to win the award and first since Sara Brzozowski back in January of 2013. She ranks No. 8 on TCU's all-time records in the 400 IM.
Big 12 Newcomer of the Week
Emma Hultquist was named the Big 12 Conference's first Women's Newcomer of the Week for swimming and diving. The Arkansas transfer won the 100 free for the third time in as many meets, adding No. 17 Texas A&M to complete the trio with SMU and Kansas.
In the 2020-21 season opener at No. 13 Missouri, the sophomore nearly took the women's 200 free, placing second by just .09 seconds. Her mark (1:48.88) placed her fifth in TCU's record book. At SMU, she won both the 100 and 200 free, accounting for a season-high 21 individual points.
Program Breakthrough
TCU's women's swimming and diving team notched its first win over SMU in program history with a 175-120 victory at the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center.
The Horned Frog women took first, second and third in four different events (100 + 200 back, 100 + 200 breast).
O'Brien won both the 100 back and 100 fly. The UC Davis transfer swam a 54.52 and now sits at second on TCU's all-time records in the 100 back.
Freshman Mary Jania took both the 100 and 200 breast, cracking TCU's top-10 in both. Jania's 1:03.57 in the 100 breast places her fourth all-time while her 2:16.41 puts her at eighth.
NCAA Zone Cuts
Both Izzy Ashdown and Connie Deighton have produced qualifying NCAA zone scores on 1-meter. Ashdown has three while Deighton has two.
Players Mentioned
