Transcript
Casey Stowe: And welcome back. to season two of the DFL Swimming Podcast, everyone. Des and I are absolutely elated. to be back for season two. I know that we had a lot of.
Casey Stowe: you know, fans out there, listeners who. We're starting to wonder. Wait, what happened to the DFL boys? And. You'd be right. We... We weren't sure maybe what what what it was going to look like this year, but we made the decision.
Casey Stowe: I believe it was the correct one to return back to the podcasting. realm and and get back into it. it was just There's too much excitement this season, Des, and I think we have to make sure that we're covering it. So how the heck have you been, Des? How was your summer?
Desmon: uh just living a life summer was nice man had a good uh ended with some good meats I ended up getting a little vacation in August, as some coaches do. and Got to see Casey, some of our college buddies. got to travel around a little bit and now I'm back in the Back on the deck.
Desmon: With the kids.
Casey Stowe: Back in the thick of it.
Desmon: How you been, Case?
Casey Stowe: back like that Yeah, hanging in there, pursuing an amateur cycling career. And that's about it.
Desmon: yeah
Casey Stowe: living life. so It's safe to say that I'm not the one who... No. through who caused the podcast to stop but no we're We're super excited to be back.
Casey Stowe: So I think without further ado, Des, I think we just have to get straight into this preview episode for the season.
Desmon: let's do it
Casey Stowe: every everyone so I think there's Um. Some really fun really fun things to to talk about. But quickly, just you know picking up where we left off from... 2026 NCAA is last spring.
Casey Stowe: We definitely got some notable names leaving the sports.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: um what Is there, especially as we we look into this season, I think it's you almost have to start with who do who are we losing when I'm you know thinking about... People like Josh Leendo or Hubert Koch.
Casey Stowe: um How do you think that that's going to really play into the season this year?
Desmon: you know I think there are a lot of big names that graduated. There are a lot of big names that transferred. Um. And I think. you know A team like Texas or like Florida will always – reload and kind of next man up but You know, there are a lot of other big transfers that left teams like Pitt lost Julian Koch.
Desmon: Kosh. it was a big summer for them right like pretty much their only score ncaa's um you know Florida lost some talent in the portal as well. And we'll really see kind of how it plays out. We won't really know. we We just have our best guesses until we actually see them get in the pool here in a couple weeks. but What are you thinking?
Casey Stowe: I think it's always, it's interesting, especially. one star one area that always stands out to me and i and look towards and moving towards a new season is a team like Texas who had a Hubert Koch.
Casey Stowe: um move on. but still has a will modulin for an example and it's It's situations like that that I'm looking toward for this season of, okay, does that person now take... i mean Who am I really saying? I mean, Will Modulin's already you know the American.
Casey Stowe: Or just about the American record holder? What is the American record holder in the 100?
Desmon: John Marshall.
Casey Stowe: oh sorry you're right yeah so i mean but he's been he's been 43 mid and the hunter back so it's not like he but
Desmon: Hmm.
Casey Stowe: Does he now take the next step to now be like the outright, you know, stud for them, expand his role even more so on that team where you you had Huber coach like basically filling in on all the realize by the end of of last year to just the. Um,
Casey Stowe: versatility of his abilities there so and stuff like that is definitely areas that i'm interested to see how does that how does that shake things up. uh moving forward to this season so um you already mentioned it but there are certainly Also a lot of...
Casey Stowe: headline big name transfers that we saw coming out of last year and the and the new swimming world with you know. headline transfers that that all of us are still adjusting to um was there anything what did you think about last year compared to this year from the the transfer perspective
Desmon: I think we saw a lot. of bigger names in the portal i think last year we saw some pretty big names but i think we saw Kind of more of an abundance of them. this year. And I think you're really starting to see kind of what football started to see back in 2021, 2022.
Desmon: When NIL and the transfer portal became a bigger thing, I think that's finally catching up to the swim world. you know And you see – NCAA champions, NCAA runner -ups.
Desmon: A lot of big names that decide to. kind of put their name in the portal and see what happens, you know?
Casey Stowe: Yeah, it's... It is a weird time to be... where you have... A finalist. Jumping ship. And...
Casey Stowe: Going to a different program. It seems almost counterintuitive in that sense but
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: Especially when I mean swimming is such a and Being in the the right fit like like any other sport, but you know being in the right fit and you see someone like first name on our list, Luka Ladonovic from Michigan.
Casey Stowe: going 50 .4 on the 100 breast and 149 in the two breasts and hopping in the portal and ended up in texas which Amen. I guess. how did you see How do you see that move?
Casey Stowe: for him.
Desmon: That one for me is a little mind boggling. Now he's not from here, obviously. and If you look at what Bowman has done with... swimmers on the international stage. I think that you know, that move kind of makes sense. But if you look at it from the standpoint of he had a lot of Really really great swims. It seems like he improved um Long course and short course at Michigan. He was their top breaststroker would come back as their best summer
Desmon: but instead decides to go to Texas, who... As of right now, I think he's there. Third best brushstroker. Um... Second, best, third.
Casey Stowe: It just...
Desmon: There are other breaststrokers there. like They have four breaststrokers that go 50 -point, which is awesome for you to train with, but like don't you want to be the guy? Maybe not.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, well you just never a know to them the thing that is always an underlying factor to a certain extent for people to as is the the long course pool and looking from this euro or european euros uh results from this year he was um You know 208 .9 in the two breast long course, which I mean obviously is is world class, absolutely.
Casey Stowe: um What? From his perspective, I don't know. how he felt you know the long course exposure or the the the training was over at michigan But there's always that underlying factor of that four year cycle working towards the, you know, LA 28.
Desmon: Definitely.
Casey Stowe: And i mean um I mean, maybe I don't it's.
Desmon: Yeah, I mean, that that when you say it like that, like...
Casey Stowe: I can't believe we're starting. For sure. but
Desmon: Texas makes sense, right? But when he went to 089, like he was already. either at Texas training, but he was already committed.
Casey Stowe: No, right, right, right.
Desmon: Right. But like,
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: That one was a little weird to me. like I figured he would go somewhere to a team, maybe just... is missing a breaststroke leg, right? Like if you look at ah a Florida. Or... a UVA or, I guess, you know, one of the teams, NC State, who just need a breaststroke leg.
Casey Stowe: Mhm.
Desmon: for a really, really good top -class relay. like That's where you're looking, whereas you're at Texas. and you might not even have a c relay spot open for you
Casey Stowe: Well, it does make you one or two especially I These days with once he was in the portal was Texas the place he... you know, intended on landing from the gun.
Desmon: No.
Casey Stowe: Or was he actually looking around at options where, you know, if. NC State. that's a perfect school that you know probably would love a breaststroker of. of this caliber uh even a Florida with you know, the law now co Cohen being are moving on um as well down there like
Desmon: yeah
Casey Stowe: A lot of these schools would kill for a... an elite breaststroker like that and so it makes me wonder uh is there was there money on the table for him at other places that he decided to pass on. to go to Texas. I mean, I'd imagine he's still... receiving something at Texas, but um
Desmon: I think like the one thing. We don't know much about the NIL.
Casey Stowe: uh
Desmon: There's not as much It's not as in public in the public eye and swimming as it is in football, right?
Casey Stowe: right
Desmon: but we One thing we do know is Texas has a lot of NIL money. And there have been a lot, there have been. people that have came out and said how much money they've gotten from Texas in the past. and They are the team that has the most money. from you know the whispers through the trees and
Casey Stowe: Okay.
Desmon: it would be very surprising if he didn't go there and money was a part of it right
Casey Stowe: Right. Right. So it's it's interesting, and I'm sure it's not going to be the last one. We see even someone like Teagan O'Dell from...
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: uh cal all the way over to uva it seems like one of those another one of those moves where it's You know, Cal great season last year on the women's side really. over -performed you could you could say almost. ah It was, I mean, absolutely great season. And then. Sure enough, they're I mean, one of their core pieces there.
Desmon: Nice.
Casey Stowe: John Shepin goes over to UVA. Which, like the...
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: Almost like the cop out. The cop -out move. ah
Desmon: Like, everyone else everyone's swimming super well at UVA. Why don't I go there? I'm a good swimmer, right? she She had a...
Casey Stowe: I don't know. I mean, that's where it gets me a little, it gets me a little fired up because it's like. werere We're we're you're hurting your I mean, we're hurting ourselves within the sport. Everyone obviously wants to be in the best training program where everyone's swimming fast, but it's also like...
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: okay, is it really the best now to... um prolong the the Now Texas, you know forming dynasty on the men's side and the already current dynasty of UVA women now so
Desmon: and
Casey Stowe: It's just kind of like it seems the second that you know, they almost maybe they're gonna waver. It's like it's just I don't know
Desmon: Yeah, it's – and you know again, that's interesting. It kind of goes back to your point of like – the international scene Teagan didn't have a very good year at Cal. I think she was... a little off some of our best times
Casey Stowe: um god
Desmon: Um. But, like, she's a very good long course summer. And I don't know if that was the reason, but similar to Luca, like. does the four -year cycle of like...
Desmon: Bob Bowman does really good at training internationals and is very good in the international scene. and Todd DeSorbo is very good with this woman on the international scenes.
Casey Stowe: riot Right.
Desmon: What can they do for me? But yeah, at the end of the day, like you're just giving in to...
Casey Stowe: we even see it on the pro level too it's just like at the consolidation i mean realistically the pro groups that around the country right now are Texas. cal men and then uva women basically is where the consolidate i mean even people you know isabel statin over to uva had an amazing summer phoebe bacon now i know is also ending up in Charlottesville too, so it's kind of just...
Casey Stowe: the way of the the swimming world right now, it seems.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: But some other big names, Anita Batazo from Florida, NCAA. podium finisher, I believe. Um,
Desmon: Didn't she win the hundred?
Casey Stowe: She won, yeah, yeah, okay. Yeah, 56 -8 last year in the in the one breast. ah I believe was the fastest she was, but let me, I'll, but.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: She's off to
Desmon: Indiana.
Casey Stowe: Indiana and then we got you know, Jacob Johnson, Minnesota down to Georgia
Desmon: but no
Casey Stowe: Um, that one that one hurts but but you know we move we move we move forward
Desmon: Oh, Jacob, though.
Casey Stowe: ah Good kid. Julian Koch, already mentioned, paid over Tennessee. um And even some smaller moves too, like Abdel Yusuf Nasser from Auburn over to Florida. So you just see these.
Casey Stowe: They're just... there's There's more talent moving around than...
Desmon: one
Casey Stowe: You would have ever... than normal and so you know there is obviously some underlying um reasoning rationale for that which i think is largely the
Desmon: I have a question for you.
Casey Stowe: keyboard.
Desmon: what
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: What do you think is... What transfer kind of... intrigues you the most out of this this set of of summers.
Casey Stowe: i Think it's Julian um from landing in Tennessee to me.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: He was... was a little not like you slow to get into things his first season um last year than absolutely exploded 18 .6 in the 50, 40 .4 in the 100, 43 .8 in the 100 fly.
Casey Stowe: Now he's moving over to and We'll get to it. But Chase Kreitler from Pitt. obviously moved on from the program after last season and we'll dive into that a little bit more but Now he's moving from, which I think it was a great fit for him over there at Pitt, but now to a...
Casey Stowe: you know, Tennessee. program that's very established in the sprint realm. um Yeah. does he i mean you can only go so far but now does he go into the The absolute. you know. The...
Casey Stowe: the next level which is you know Is he the next dominant? 50, 100 guy, 100 fly. ah I, that's, that's where I'm actually, is he going to be, is he now, you know, you're going to fill that Jordan Crooks hole for them or something or the Geekery.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: uh that sort of thing that's i'm that's to me what i'm what i'm most interested to see
Desmon: yeah
Desmon: That's kind of what I was going to say too. It's like, if you. you know He's not a one -for -one Caribe replacement. but If he improves at all. pretty much is. um which is a big...
Casey Stowe: Oh, yes. um He's it's already there. For them, it's i mean this is huge.
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: No no matter how you you spin it, this is this is a massive pickup for them.
Desmon: Yeah. Yeah.
Casey Stowe: so
Desmon: I mean, Kariba was the biggest piece that they lost, one of the only pieces they lost.
Casey Stowe: Right, yeah.
Desmon: that's a couple of transfers but i also think like there's a lot of really cool names on here
Casey Stowe: It's like black man, yeah.
Desmon: Um, Anita Patazzo, it'll be interesting to see. like How she does with Ray Luce, who... obviously he's a very good breaststroke coach arguably the best in the world
Casey Stowe: Absolutely.
Desmon: um Jacob Johnson to Georgia. While sad, it's kind of intriguing because you know they lost Luka.
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: um You're never going to replace Luca, but bringing in a very good 100 -200 flyer, you know can they get that stability in the fly on the relays and in the 200 fly on a podium?
Desmon: from a guy like him. And then obviously David Johnston. from Texas to Florida. It was someone who we had we did not see last year's short course. but Could have.
Desmon: an impact on their distance program, which right now is. Best in the nation.
Casey Stowe: Absolutely. i mean theyre They have. A ah wealth of of distance talent down there. So, I mean, really, the next the next piece of it, and, I mean, we can even analyze which team kind of wins. or who we're most looking forward to after we finish this conversation of.
Casey Stowe: who are the incoming uh the incoming talent that we have stepping into
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: the college swimming world and we definitely do have some Some some big, big hitters this year. maybe are I mean, the biggest storyline being Luka Mijatovic deciding to...
Casey Stowe: graduate early and join Texas in the spring semester. Or you, was that a shocker for you? or you more expected.
Desmon: I think that was expected. I mean he's obviously already a generational talent. And, you know, for a fact wanted to get. to Texas and train our Bob as soon as he possibly can. Cause another kid who could have a really big effect in the world stage here in the next.
Desmon: three years before the Olympics. Um, And I think it was only a matter of time before Bob was you know kind of like, all right.
Casey Stowe: yeah
Desmon: what have What have you come on now?
Casey Stowe: What do you think about coming to Austin this winter?
Desmon: He's fast enough. clearly Yeah, yeah. What if we graduate a little early, buddy?
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: Slip likelip a couple hundred dollar bills back under there for him.
Casey Stowe: Yeah. Exactly. I mean... I don't think this move... we Makes a ton of sense for the majority of income even you know your top 20 recruits often. I think this is you know doing something like this reclassifying graduating early and and joining the Hey.
Casey Stowe: It can be risky, especially in a situation where you're now joining a new program in the middle of the year, then trying to qualify for NC and time everything right.
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: there. i think for his perspective it won't be a challenge for him to qualify for ncs and he already has that training base of you know swimming on national teams, swimming at the largest meets, to...
Casey Stowe: I... probably transfer over. pretty seamlessly i would imagine i wouldn't be too concerned about this one kind of being a a bust from Texas's perspective.
Desmon: I think like... I don't think he'll be a boss, but I do wonder how well he will swim at NCAAs. I think like. i Don't know what they do exactly as club team But I mean, the amount of threshold work and...
Desmon: hard stuff that Bob does.
Casey Stowe: yeah
Desmon: sometimes it takes more than a semester to adjust so it'll be interesting to see if he's able to make those adjustments that quickly again like you said he's uh One of those talents that only comes around. one generation, but like.
Desmon: if If his training is vastly different, I can see him kind of struggling at NCAAs just a little bit this year.
Casey Stowe: Absolutely. and that's now in this day and age now with the reclassification of all so athletes being granted a fifth year. Yep. would assume for his situation he's probably planning on five years anyway so
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: um I don't know. I guess, especially with that new rule, I mean... be Maybe you see more... people being interested in this i this uh possibility um of joining a year early but i just don't think
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: At least in swimming, I don't know if it it makes sense long -term. Other big names, though, Baylor, Stanton, to Cal. Great backstroker. Great, great IM -er.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: Gabriel Mantafuel, or Manta... Is that? Right. Well, that's true.
Desmon: Man to fire.
Casey Stowe: to Indiana. Um, great distance talents to kind of... bolster that not lackluster distance program but i think i think that's for indiana that's a big area that they were probably hoping to improve on.
Casey Stowe: A big one, especially recency bias, but Rowan Cox this summer, absolutely.
Desmon: yes
Casey Stowe: lights out.
Desmon: Yeah, I mean He dropped. put a second and a half in the 100 fly He won. um They had like a junior heat at Nationals. He ended up winning that and going 50 -point.
Casey Stowe: the brook highlands uh nag right now
Desmon: Five? Yeah, he broke broke Thomas Harmon's... national is your brecker which I didn't think it was going to be broken anytime soon. and I mean, dropping a second and a half out of nowhere.
Desmon: to be and already being that good. I'm interested to see how he does. with Texas this year.
Casey Stowe: I think. Opposed or opposite of Luca. He, Rowan, right after graduating last year, was in training with Texas. And so he's already got that first season that, you know.
Desmon: h
Casey Stowe: was decently successful underneath his belt so that's uh It's bittersweet. He's probably going to be he's probably going to be all right this year.
Casey Stowe: On the women's side. Riley Erisman, Audrey Darivaux to Texas, and Erisman to Cal. Charlotte Crush to Tennessee, Kalehan, Indiana. Um, Kayla Hans are funny because I think she was what one of the you the youngest qualifiers to olympic trials back in like
Desmon: Yep.
Casey Stowe: 20... Was it 2021?
Desmon: Hmm. Yeah, because that would have been...
Casey Stowe: Maybe even 2060. ah
Desmon: It was not 2016. She would have been.
Casey Stowe: She was.
Desmon: Eight then.
Casey Stowe: He was five. ah
Desmon: It was 2021, which is what?
Casey Stowe: ah
Desmon: Five years ago now, CSU would have been.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, so she must have been 13 or something like that, which is ridiculous so crazy that she's we're getting old does
Desmon: 13, yeah.
Desmon: She's still still on. Doing pretty damn well.
Casey Stowe: Yeah. Yeah, but there's some interesting ones there obviously Riley her has been joining her brother who had a great Great season long course as well. So Hopefully that's that's the right fit there i would imagine that that plays out well um But yeah, another, I think the the women's side there, is there any any particular one that you're interested to see in that list?
Desmon: Yeah, I think I don't want to spoil too much before we get to our Um...
Casey Stowe: Some of the superlatives there.
Desmon: Kind of. Yeah, superlatives, but... you know I think... Erisman to Cal is going to be really interesting. She... Um, She trains pretty hard. I think she'll do pretty well at Cal. you know Obviously, she knows what to expect with her brother being there.
Desmon: um Charlotte Crush of Tennessee is really interesting to me. um, You know, anytime you see anyone go to Indiana, that's a middle distance summer. Distance summer is going to do pretty well as well.
Casey Stowe: Mm hmm. Yeah.
Desmon: to Kayla Han, so. Yeah.
Casey Stowe: I mean, to me, really, it's it does obviously, Texas, I think, again, probably.
Desmon: yeah
Casey Stowe: Um... I don't know. At least on... There's another discussion, but... You know. freshmen who actually have substantial impact at the NCAA.
Casey Stowe: meat. Or... Relatively. Few on a yearly basis. I mean even though your top 20 ranked recruits are. It's not gonna be... You know, I would say there's probably.
Casey Stowe: four to five in the top 20 that are scoring at at MCs their first year. and
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: you know. maybe 50 % even qualifying for the meet. The names we pulled out here, I would say, are the ones that I would say likely have the chance to impact the NCAA meet here this this first year.
Casey Stowe: um But that's certainly not the, you know.
Casey Stowe: the Amen.
Desmon: than normally.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, I think it's swimming is just freshman class or it's good but it's all i mean we back throw back to the days of nc state just bringing
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: recruiting class of just monster recruiting class with top 20 names And I don't know how you felt, but I just felt like it never... resulted in like Hey.
Desmon: No.
Casey Stowe: Massive. you know needle you know. pushing the needle for i don't so removing the needle so i we'll see we'll see but i think these these names here for at the at the i would expect to see all of them at the the big um the big dance come come march but
Desmon: Yeah, definitely.
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: Now we've got some cover the names coming in here but To coaching! small coaching moves here not a lot of head coaching activity in the offseason all right you know head coaching's moving or head coach is moving on or uh being removed from service but um kind of the biggest story here was chase kreidler out of um Pittsburgh.
Casey Stowe: What's up? you want to just explain a little bit of what happened with that situation or and what the fallout has kind of been since there.
Desmon: Yeah, I was uh It was a little weird. um Kind of came out of nowhere and he... He's been there for four seasons. Pitt has done really, really well under him. He came.
Desmon: um From Cal under Durden.
Casey Stowe: Mm hmm.
Desmon: And. you know He sent in a resignation letter. in may and we kind of got to see what he said and he kind of said he hoped for a multi um your extension, but was told by the department that they kind of had to plan.
Desmon: They plan to go in a different direction moving forward. um He was off for one more season, but just... ultimately didn't take it up. And it's kind of really weird. it made it seem like he was hinting at...
Desmon: Um... pit losing some funds and Um, Kind of not really supporting what he wanted moving forward, which is really unfortunate.
Desmon: I do know. That AD has had a past of... cutting programs. Um... That obviously didn't happen. They still have a program. It seems like. Again, you can't quote me on it because I don't totally know, but it really seems like based on what he was saying that they just lost a lot of funds and weren't going to give him what he needed to compete at the high ACC level.
Casey Stowe: It's really... This one is tough because... Okay, I mean It's... it's a changing landscape things are tough but i mean when you look at a program that probably you know warrants support.
Casey Stowe: And...
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: everything in this moment. It's tough to see that. This. is the result. Because... It's like exactly what you said. They have, you know, Julian Koch like on their team.
Casey Stowe: Best one of the best athletes they've had out of Pitt In the last you know, I don't even know 20 years ah
Desmon: or
Casey Stowe: and then you have this and it basically you see you know. more than more names than we even mentioned there was a massive exodus from ped because You know?
Casey Stowe: everyone on the team is saying hey is this program even exist if i don't jump ship is there going to be a place for me to land all these i mean so it's just it's it's a bunker
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Desmon: on And Chase is a very highly touted coach. um you know he he'll obviously find his landing spot. but it's just kind of weird that. you know after the for You can see kind of the first four seasons. like you know Pitt wasn't winning ACC's, but year in and year out they were developing and they were bringing in recruits.
Desmon: And you kind of see the trajectory that program was was heading towards. And so it's really unfortunate. to kind of see that they chose to go in a different direction. Definitely not what you want first for a sport.
Casey Stowe: That's what we'll see. And he's he's absolutely a name word. I... Look to him landing, you know, probably on another head coaching job before too long. But but but we'll see other other than that, though, some. associates level positions kind of rotating around Minnesota bringing in Logan Redondo I know we had new coaches at Cincinnati um you mentioned Virginia
Desmon: Um...
Casey Stowe: Coaching Shane. What?
Desmon: What did you say? Sorry.
Casey Stowe: Coaching changes.
Desmon: Oh yes, sorry. um We talked about...
Casey Stowe: Guys, Earth, Earth.
Desmon: I am like in researching some stuff for a later topic.
Casey Stowe: I'm proud of it. ah
Desmon: Um... but and there's been some coaching changes uh brown actually ended up poaching Um,
Casey Stowe: Oh, Texas, yep.
Desmon: Mitch Dalton, who was the associate at Texas for a while, and he is the Brown women's head coach now. um And then. Texas ended up hiring Brant
Desmon: from Army and he will be a Texas texas assistant moving forward. um Let's see what other big names you got out there
Casey Stowe: Not a ton of movement and that's that's interesting because I mean usually there is a decent you We'll see if I'm a power for school with. a head coach vacancy and so beyond
Desmon: I know.
Casey Stowe: And Pitt just filled their... code They promoted a an in -house associate. And so.
Desmon: Yep.
Casey Stowe: There was really no Major major major moves there
Desmon: Who else?
Desmon: Oh, Virginia, Reid Foujon, who was the associate at Louisville. Kansas, Virginia. Um...
Desmon: That's about it.
Casey Stowe: Well, I think that really sets the stage I think for You know the next this next year season. I can't believe that were Already. on the the trail again with even the the csl starting this week and i think it's You know, we can...
Casey Stowe: sit here and and chat about all of what might end up happening but the second those those meat results are are coming in um you really get to actually see it play out and see if some of these moves and some of these recruits are actually Um...
Casey Stowe: Get a pan out for for some of these yet the real deal so
Desmon: the real deal. yeah
Casey Stowe: With that... I think we kind of are, we're gonna... We're just going to go out here and and start talking about some of the the areas. you know, some Little NCAA preview in at the the middle of end of of September. What do you think about that?
Desmon: Let's see it. Let's do it.
Casey Stowe: All right, so we we went through here. We we took ah top five top five schools, both men's and women's. We'll well we'll start get started here with the men's team. but i think it's I think it's obvious for me that Texas is probably still lands at the top when you're talking about Campbell McKeon. um Now, Luka Modanovic, you got you know Will Modulin, I already mentioned him, but even Rex Maurer.
Casey Stowe: among the you know the first couple names that i'll that I'll mention there. I think it's going to be tough for anyone to get past them. Um, But I have an interesting one, too. I'm going to take Indiana. I think that Luke Whitlock, um I think last year for Toby Barnett.
Casey Stowe: Uh... I think they have a chance to... Surprised I think they just have so much depth and you know always having the strong diving as well. It gives them a chance to always be there at the NCAA meet as long as they they
Desmon: m
Casey Stowe: perform like um you know having those that that those pad padded up points kind of from the diving is is ah is a nice buffer to have i would say cal three i think that they're Um,
Casey Stowe: I'm going to step back up. They still got Yamato. They still got Ryan Erisman, I think is the kind of core there. And they just really need to just. develop some of those elite recruits that they have that just haven't been able to get to ncs in the past years I'll take Florida four. I'm at, obviously, Jowoudi.
Casey Stowe: um It goes without saying. Uh... i think i think they're still gonna be there even if they you know with the departure of liendo And then last, I'll take Tennessee, especially with Julian coming in there from Pittsburgh. I think that...
Casey Stowe: The relays are... going to be right up their podium. Uh... area. of for for them and the in the relays again especially i mean nikolai blackman uh
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: usc saravia i think there's i mean they're still they're still they'll be there so to me is there anything that Seems, uh...
Desmon: You got it, yeah.
Casey Stowe: of course suspect in there
Desmon: No, I mean I My rankings are a little different. um We actually have the same five. but just a little different order.
Casey Stowe: Thank you.
Desmon: And, you know, I think I was really iffy about bringing Arizona State into that top five as well, but I ended up backing out of that last second.
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: Bye. My top five are Texas, Indiana, which we both agree on. And then I actually have Tennessee third. Cal fourth, Florida fifth. So a little bit different of an order.
Desmon: The reason why I have Tennessee three is, you know, they bring in coach, but I think that. You know, Nunziata is going to be a really, really big piece. Someone who. Had a good freshman year last year.
Desmon: And it was really standout on relays, especially as a freestyler. But I think he's going to come into his own a little bit more in brushstroke, which has been a leg that they've kind of been lacking on in previous years. And you bring in Koshin, you bring in Koken, you bring in... You still have Blackman. You still have Saravia. Um,
Desmon: You know, I think overall they're going to be better than they are last year. um As long as Julian is. you know, can kind of fill a little bit of their shoes that Caribe left, I think they could be better than last year.
Casey Stowe: Mhm. Yep. Yeah.
Desmon: cal I agree. I think Cal takes a step up this year. They bring in another really, really big class. Um, I think Baylor -Stanton is going to be a huge piece. And.
Desmon: the They had a big freshman class last year that, like you said, as long as they develop and i think that them being sophomores and having more experience under their belt going into the season I think is going to be huge for Cal.
Desmon: And then Ford, I have his fifth. Like you mentioned, their their distance program is just ridiculous right now. and i don't think their relays are going to be as high powered as they have been the past four years but and It'll be really interesting to see kind of where they end up.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, and I do. I i think even you know The other teams that could end up in there, like you mentioned already, Michigan. It seems was crazy to even have ASU dropping out of the top five. but it's I think you could be it's going to be competitive in that 3 -7.
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: uh even i mean i don't even think indiana's necessarily a lock at two by any means and so
Desmon: I mean, who else? you got
Desmon: No. Arizona State. NC State, like they're bringing back some big pieces. They obviously lose Aiden Hayes and Bustos. And Bustos was a big...
Desmon: Big relay summer. He was their only decent brushstroker
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: Arizona State, Virginia could have another awesome season. Stanford had a really good short course last year. like Five to ten. I think could kind of be...
Desmon: really up in the air.
Casey Stowe: and so that's i mean And you start to see it a little bit more. uh you know And one thing that's exciting is that we see a lot of these teams right away in the the CSL. and so That makes it almost.
Desmon: m
Casey Stowe: gives a better picture of okay how ah how how good are some of these these pieces gonna actually How meaningful will they be to these teams? um I... Oh, here, let me get back.
Casey Stowe: I just. Yeah, it's...
Casey Stowe: I think to me the biggest slipper probably is is Michigan. I think it's tough to... To have Luca depart the program. They're losing some they lost some big seniors out of last year Um,
Casey Stowe: And so... I think they have a lot of work to do to kind of maintain let alone improve on. on where they finished last year but
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: um Yeah, is there any already mover big mover that you you would
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: be a surprise to see in either direction.
Desmon: Um... I think you kind of mentioned it. i think Realistically, Michigan's probably going to be the – biggest to drop Um, But I get I'm really excited to see how the year plays out. You don't know who's gonna step up Um...
Desmon: And. who we're going to see that's going to kind of have a show out year. Ciao.
Casey Stowe: all right let's take a look let's take a look yeah that's
Desmon: I don't know I do want to say one thing, actually.
Casey Stowe: I mean...
Desmon: If I'm remembering this correctly. Um, You made a hot take at at the end of our last episode.
Casey Stowe: ah
Desmon: You had a team that was going to be top. five you might have even said three and you don't have them on your list right now
Casey Stowe: We were leaving that in the past.
Desmon: Do you remember what team that was?
Casey Stowe: Ha ha. actually don't even remember. for
Desmon: You said UVA men's team was going to be top five or top three.
Casey Stowe: but
Desmon: I don't remember what you said. You said top five or top three, and you don't even have them on your list right now.
Casey Stowe: yep
Casey Stowe: i' i think I think you said that, Des. I think you said that.
Desmon: I did not say that. cause you were like You were like, oh, I'm going to get. I'm going to get made fun of for this because it's always Des that says it was not me that time.
Casey Stowe: but but Yeah. I've cooled off on that.
Desmon: but
Casey Stowe: I mean, no, it's not and that's ah i mean that's a good point, too.
Desmon: It's not that.
Casey Stowe: I think they still do have the potential to... to move up there. I think it's...
Desmon: Again, those five, four to eight, five to eight range, I really think it could be anyone.
Casey Stowe: They need more development too. Good job. It's... theres and they and they are also full of with the team that had A lot of swimmers have great summers as well. so that's that's You know it bodes well for them. I just don't I think they need a, like...
Casey Stowe: two three more bodies than what they currently have to make that that next step and so
Desmon: Agree. I'm 100 % with you.
Casey Stowe: I would say that they...
Desmon: I just had to make fun of you for it.
Casey Stowe: And it's not to say... Yeah. That's always just the final way to bring UVA into the conversation.
Desmon: You caught me You caught me.
Casey Stowe: ah
Desmon: Shout out Charlottesville.
Casey Stowe: Shout out Charlottesville. Well, I think that's the the perfect segue. I mean, if they're questionable on the – I mean, not questionable. they're There's, you know.
Desmon: Some question marks.
Casey Stowe: Probably not quite there. on um on the men's side but i think one side i think we we might already have our answer on that Uh... When I look at this team, I think it's probably you know once again set in stone unless there is uh some sort of I don't even know if there might, there could be a catastrophe and they could still win.
Casey Stowe: um You know, especially with the addition of Tegan O'Dell, but I mean, Claire Cruzan, Anna Moche, Sarah Curtis, all.
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: Still getting better on a yearly basis. I just think it's too much I think. Texas I think is primed for the second finish Um.
Casey Stowe: I think Cal rises the momentum from last year, finishes third. i got tennessee with ah you know some good recruiting pieces as well as some you know talent that's uh returning like you know ella jansen as an example or mizuki harai uh arriving on the scene last year.
Casey Stowe: And then Indiana, I think, has to be to be spoken for in the top five as well. um so especially with the addition of batazo so um ah Is there...
Casey Stowe: I don't think so. Do you agree?
Desmon: um I think we have the same five again.
Casey Stowe: Again.
Desmon: Top two are the same I think. I think... like i don't know we can go over like virginia is virginia Um, I said this last year. I'm going to think it again this year. Is like is this the best team that they've had?
Desmon: Somehow they lose big pieces and yet year in and year out somehow find. other just amazing swimmers they've now tapped into the international scene, which they haven't really done before.
Casey Stowe: Makes me sick.
Desmon: It's just scary. Um, Texas brings in a big recruiting class. um they seem like the clear two and then i feel like it's more open from there and
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: I had Tennessee three. Indiana four and Cal five.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, so I think I mean really really think it's it's a matter of does Cal I think do they continue
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: The progression that they had without Atiyah and Odell. um
Desmon: I think that like... Teagan was there. I don't know if she outscored Weinstein, but she was their biggest or their second biggest scorer.
Casey Stowe: mm -hmm
Desmon: I just think that that's hard to... Um. just replaced like that. In my opinion, Tennessee. I think Tennessee lost Camille Spink. um But if you look at Charlotte Crush.
Desmon: is right there. I think she's faster in the hunter back. than Camille was. Obviously, she's not the 50 -100 freestyler that Camille is, but she's 21 -8 coming out of high school.
Desmon: kind of a pure sprinter kind of vibes that Tennessee does really well with. um so Mackenzie Soroke had a phenomenal summer. where she ended up winning nationals in the 1500 breaststroke She's coming back. Could she you know strive for a win in the 100 breaststroke? I don't know.
Desmon: She was close last year. I just think Tennessee. is going to take another big step. And I think losing Camille hurts, but I think that Charlotte crush is going to kind of. cushion that fall.
Desmon: And then.
Casey Stowe: Yeah.
Desmon: Yeah, go ahead.
Casey Stowe: No, I... Really, when I look at the other names that you could. say you know that are that are getting uh you know, just left off the list or, you know, your NC States, your Michigan's Louisville.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: I think all of those. teams have the There's... theres I think NC State to me is the one that could probably break in there. I just.
Casey Stowe: I... I'm not, at this point, not sure. I like the pieces that are getting added to those, those you know, like you mentioned, in Tennessee.
Desmon: Mhm.
Casey Stowe: um and even in in indiana as an example too to... Yeah, to to to kind of close the door on those those ah those can other other contenders there
Desmon: yeah
Desmon: Yeah, I thought Indiana brought in more than Cal. and that's also why i had them above and they still like cal's gonna be great but I think Indiana bringing him. you know, the reigning hunter breaststroke champion.
Desmon: I think is pretty big for them. um lands him another relay piece it you know guarantees them points in two events That's kind of why I had them over Cal as well. but I think it's funny how we had the same five.
Casey Stowe: as I say all of that, I still... this year i'm gonna have to stay stick with it but anastasia gorbenko louisville she this is her year she's He's not going to let me down in the prediction contest.
Desmon: Your girl. Your girl, Gorbenko.
Casey Stowe: for e Let's do it. ah Oh, man. All right. Well, so we got our teams here. I think I think we'll get. To to kind of wrap up today, I think we just have.
Casey Stowe: some more individual names of people that we've we've seen or identified as uh kind of ones to to keep an eye on especially early on here of Hey, how well is this person kind of adjusting, adapting to college swimming?
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: And who are we looking to kind of take the next step? so Looking at, you know, our our favorite you know MVP favorite for the season. um breakout swimmer and and and a freshman who who are some of the names that you you're you're seeing and and why.
Desmon: Um... It's funny. Again, we have some similar names. For for best from the NCAA on the men's side, I have Rex Maurer. On the women's side, I have Claire Curzan. Uh... Rex is going into his final season at Texas.
Desmon: He had a solid so summer season. um But he was kind of. I wouldn't say underwhelming. But I think that some people were expecting more out of him in the 500 free.
Desmon: At. at ncl boys last year and he had a phenomenal ford im i think that he kind of steps up a little bit more this year. and and takes a really big swing, wins the 500, wins the 400 IM.
Desmon: um and just ends up being a really, really big piece for Texas. And I think we're going to see. kind of that standout season for him And then Claire Curzan kind of seems like a no -brainer for me. She was the best summer. Her and Tori Husk were the best summers last year, arguably.
Desmon: And no more Tory. she seems like a clear winner for the hundred back 200 back and 100 fly Um, Yeah. Bye you. to that category.
Casey Stowe: I think, I mean, Clara, again, I think has to be the the name for the women's side. I think how good she was last year. even if she matches i don't It would take a very big step from someone else to...
Desmon: I mean like...
Casey Stowe: I don't know. I mean, it's it's it's tough, but I think that she... Especially with... you know
Casey Stowe: I just don't see that. I think that program is such a good fit for for her.
Desmon: Mm -hmm.
Casey Stowe: her it's it's I think to me, I have to agree with you on that one. And then I'm going to take Modulin actually. I think he... um i ah kind of hinted at it a little bit earlier, but especially with you know, he was right in there with coach. I'm not trying to say that he was, you know, miles away from there, but I think now with, you know, kind of coach out of the picture.
Casey Stowe: and really his that you know backstroke kind of being. Completely open to him. I'm really interested to see you One. if he takes another step forward on the 100. And two. If. There is. you know.
Casey Stowe: the capacity for him to really explode in the 200 this year. that's that's where i'm That's where I'm looking, honestly, this year. So next, I think we have our breakout swimmer of the year, which i think is a tough one, to be honest, because...
Casey Stowe: It's... what does breakout mean it could it be i mean there's probably someone out there right now that we aren't a name that we're just like maybe have never heard of or not thinking of that may, you know, absolutely move straight into the NCAA scene.
Casey Stowe: There's also still something to be said for someone who even might be a top eight finisher at and NC's this year. But do they take the next step to go from, you know, top eight finisher? to answer that word champ.
Desmon: yes
Casey Stowe: So how did you how did you what direction did you go in?
Desmon: I was really kind of iffy on how I was going to do this. Um, you know, I want to shout out g Greg Enoch, who had ah had a phenomenal summer.
Desmon: um And, again, I kind of was looking at, like, who had a really good summer and will. they be able to do that. come short course season. But my main pick on the men's side is actually going to be Ryan Earsman.
Desmon: who we mentioned before he was um, Great summer last year, his freshman year. um But I think he's gonna kind of take that next step based off the summer he just had. And I think he's going to win a couple events. or get close to win a couple events.
Desmon: um at ncaa blaze this year i think that's whom my breakout summer is going to be on the men's side. And then the woman's side, I see you have the same, same summer. I'm actually choosing Ella Jansen.
Desmon: Um, Another. girl who had a phenomenal summer and kind of going to see if she can carry it over.
Casey Stowe: When I look at, you know, so yeah, like you so you already mentioned it, but. i have her as well as my as my um Pick for breakout. When I look at her results from NC's last year, I see...
Casey Stowe: you know For I am you know for double -o First out of prelims, then goes 359 at finals is fourth. to fly. um urinal goes from sixth to seventh at finals and then you know the five free second out of prelims 434 and then goes 432 at finals in this fourth She I think I think what what we probably the thought process so for me at least is
Casey Stowe: okay she's that one who's now going to take the next step and you know could she she's you know, within range to either be a top two.
Desmon: Mm hmm.
Casey Stowe: or a winner in all three of those events in my opinion and so that's to me where i would that's where I see her taking that next step being like, you know, from. you know Top 8 All -American 2A.
Casey Stowe: Uh... ah you know, multi event winner potential.
Desmon: Yeah, I would agree with you. i'm I'm pretty high in Tennessee, so that's kind of where I get mine from. Um. Moving it on to freshman we're most interested in.
Casey Stowe: Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Desmon: Oh, not done there.
Casey Stowe: I said my men's pick. I'm going to say Johnny.
Desmon: Oh, yeah, you got men's pick.
Casey Stowe: Thanks a lot.
Desmon: Yeah.
Casey Stowe: Josh Bae will be my my men's breakout swimmer of the year, I think. you You can also argue with him that he kind of broke out last year, which in a large way he did in the 4 IM. What is that, Faye?
Casey Stowe: What? uh coming off of his summer again at summer nationals i think he was Tool 6. till seven. And the two brass. Sound right?
Desmon: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. to seven you can lookish sure now i got a up
Casey Stowe: Yeah, to me, just another just continued all of the momentum from this freshman season.
Desmon: Seven.
Casey Stowe: So I think I actually could see him moving to... a podium. You know, maybe NCAA.
Casey Stowe: championship. territory.
Desmon: Hey. Hey, chat, let me know if you think a guy who finished second at NCAAs is... could be considered a breakout. the next to following year. Let me know, chat. Let me know.
Casey Stowe: Get out of here. It maybe is a little bit of a cop -out because, I mean... he kind of he did have He had some pretty breakouts with him, but hey.
Casey Stowe: I'll stick my neck out. he's he's it's gonna He's gonna, you know, keep... ah He's going to the moon this year.
Desmon: Alright, fair enough.
Casey Stowe: All right, last but not least, freshman. um I'm taking Mike Rice, Auburn freshman. it's not often that You. he's so He's a sprinter which can be challenging, but he's already 19 -2 in the 50.
Casey Stowe: And I actually see him as ah as a good fit down in that program. I think that'll... It's it's a place where he will... already kind of have a lot of um responsibility on you know relit i think that sets him up to already be.
Casey Stowe: uh a star for them in his freshman season just because they they kind of need the help and that's he's he's landing in the the perfect spot on an already talented roster that and just needs a little bit more sprint depth and and top end sprint
Desmon: who
Casey Stowe: Obviously, I mean like again, I think me out of it just probably the the cop -out answer here. I think it's probably who I'm really interested to see how well. and He's going to do it in season. We've already kind of had that conversation. um
Casey Stowe: and then on the women's side i think riley airsman i think it's interesting um i like the the transition that her brother made um so that makes me feel good about you know based on what they were their age group training style transferring over into cal system i feel good about that one probably translating equally as well for riley
Desmon: I would agree. Um,
Casey Stowe: Does love mud.
Desmon: I think those are good picks. My picks. Kind of going to go with... One sec, sorry. My computer just froze there for a second. I have Charlotte Crush and Baylor Stanton as my... my question i'm most interested in Charlie Crush, again, mentioned I'm pretty high on Tennessee.
Desmon: she just really, really fits. um kind of that Tennessee mold. Right. Matt Kredich has done a phenomenal job at Tennessee and she fits.
Desmon: the mold of what Matt Kredich does. to a sprinter in the distant summer. and just creates an absolute animal on the woman's side and i think that charlotte crush is going to be kind of his next experiment. She comes out of high school as a very highly talented recruit. She's been very good for a lot of years.
Desmon: um you know She has a brother who's very, very good at swimming. So I just feel like that she's going to have an awesome year at Tennessee. And I think it's kind of. start this year.
Desmon: As far as. Baylor Stanton goes. I think. that dave durden has kind of been looking for that piece Um, to to kind of Fill on his team and I think Baylor Stanton kind of fills that piece if you look at like some of the best summers I've caught a cow like
Casey Stowe: he fits that mold like perfectly of that like
Desmon: Dustin Lasko. Yeah, he he really does.
Casey Stowe: distance like Yeah.
Desmon: He sims everything. He's going to be awesome on the 800 free relays coming out as 134. You know, he's a 340, a 141, and a 139. The 4 IM, 2 IM, 2 are back.
Desmon: And he kind of reminds me of Destin Lasko who had a. awesome, phenomenal career there. And I think that he's going to be Dave Durden's next guy. uh Ciao.
Casey Stowe: Yeah, I think that's that's a that's a good it's a really good one just because I think you're exactly you're exactly right with like the style of swimmer that he is. I think he's panned out super well in that cal system. and so And they they need him to be kind of that.
Casey Stowe: you know do it all uh kind of guy like like a destined was for them they just I haven't... Haven't had that kind of all like, you know someone who has so many qualifiers and in you know a single event or they're they're really good here And there but they need that when When they were you know so dominant, I think they had more of that that talent that was a little bit, you know, good.
Desmon: Yeah. You look at someone like, you know, Lasko who ended up being. A really good sprint freestyler for the mainstream relay is you look at Andrew Salisgar, who... Swam everything under the moon that they needed and I think he's gonna be that next kind of Top talent.
Casey Stowe: Nope.
Casey Stowe: oh absolutely all right well i think that i think that uh just about does it for for our um for a little preview i'm i i don't know about you guys but i'm i'm very excited No promises.
Desmon: it's been fun
Casey Stowe: We're going to try to get some. We will be covering the CSL this year. It's a matter of if we can get that that preview done before it starts this week, which is ridiculous.
Desmon: start This week?
Casey Stowe: But I'm really excited for for that to to get kicked off. I'm really excited to see how the new format plays out. We didn't obviously talk about it today because we're really planning on honing in on it.
Casey Stowe: as with our coverage. so Please stay and stay tuned for for that to be to be rolling out. Dad, any closing thoughts that you would like to do?
Casey Stowe: to get off your chest.
Desmon: um I'm interested to see what teams who are not participating in CSL do. like do something interesting make it worth us covering because To be honest, CSL is kind of the... biggest thing going on like i want to see some other teams that aren't in that do something fun that we can talk about.
Casey Stowe: I love it. i love it All right, folks. Well, thanks thanks for thanks for tuning in to... Season 2, Episode 1 of the DFL Swimming Podcast. And we are going to catch you in the next one.
