Men's Swimming & Diving

Hartwick's Phillips to Compete at NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships

ONEONTA, NY - A little over a week after his last race at the UNYSCSA/Empire 8 Championships, Hartwick College swimmer Michael Phillips (Austin, TX/James Bowie) received word his successful season will continue. The sophomore has been invited to participate in the 2010 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities University Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, MN from March 17-20.

Phillips is the first Hartwick athlete to swim at the NCAA Championships since 2006 when Dan Holmberg, Mark Phillips, and Kurt Cedo each competed to help the 'Wick men to a 30th place team finish.

"Michael is a very talented swimmer and this is a tremendous accomplishment for him," said Hartwick head coach Dale Rothenberger. "He had a strong year as a freshman but really began to fire on all cylinders this season. He took his training to a new level through a great deal of dedication and hard work."

Phillips earned qualification in four separate events including the 200 and 400-yard individual medley, the 200-yard freestyle, and the 200-yard breaststroke, but will swim only in the 200 IM, 200 free, and 200 breast events at the championships. Per NCAA rules, each qualifying student-athlete at the championships may only compete in a maximum of three events.

Phillips first swims on Wednesday, March 17 at 10 a.m. CST, racing in the 200 IM preliminaries. A top 16 finish in the race would qualify him for the finals at 6 p.m. He then swims in the 200 free prelims on Thursday and 200 breaststroke prelims on Saturday. Both preliminary races begin at 10 a.m., respectively, with finals to follow at 6 p.m.

Currently, Phillips ranks 13th nationally in the 200 breaststroke. His top time of 2:04.60 on Feb. 28th was an Empire 8 Championship Meet record as well as a Hartwick College record, topping Jay Kalbach's 13-year-old mark by close to four seconds.

He is also 18th in the nation in the 200 IM event, and 43rd in the 200 free (1:42.85). His best times in the 200 IM and 200 free this year both rank 2nd all-time at Hartwick.