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Marchand Wins 200 Breast, Helps Sun Devil Men’s Swim Land Highest Finish at NCAA Championships In 32 Years

Mar 26, 2022

ATLANTA – Léon Marchand's win in the 200 breast – already the second national title for the 19-year-old freshman – on Saturday helped the Sun Devil Men's Swim team clinch its best finish at the NCAA Championships since 1990.

Marchand's latest triumph in the 200 breast (1:48.20) is a new ASU record and also the second-fastest time in history behind Will Licon's 1:47.91 (2017), according to Swimming World Magazine. In three individual races this week, Marchand won both the 200 IM and 200 breast and placed second in the 400 IM.

TEAM STANDINGS
The Sun Devils were on another level in Atlanta since the jump. They'll round out NCAAs with their best showing in three-plus decades.

1. California                     487.5   
2. Texas                           436.5
3. Florida                          374   
4. NC State                       291  
5. Indiana                          265   
6. Arizona St                    236

7. Stanford                         231   
8. Georgia                          194
9. Ohio St                           165  
10. Virginia                       154.5

In the final race of the four-day meet, the Sun Devils were in the thick of a terrific 400 free relay before ultimately taking second behind Texas. House, Marchand, Carter Swift and Cody Bybee teamed up to go 2:46.40, the second-fastest time in school history.

House's leadoff split of 41.48 in the 400 free relay is the fastest 100 free in ASU history.

Alex Colson was the other Sun Devil who participated in a championship final on Day 4 at the McAuley Aquatic Center. The Silver Spring, Maryland, native placed seventh overall in the 200 fly with a time of 1:40.96, currently the fourth-fastest time in program history.

Of the dozen of Sun Devils who competed this week in Atlanta, Colson became the ninth to clinch All-American status.

CSCAA ALL-AMERICANS
Grant House, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 200 free relay, 200 free, 400 free relay
Jack Dolan, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay
John Heaphy, 200 medley relay
Cody Bybee, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay
Patrick Sammon, 800 free relay
Julian Hill, 800 free relay
Léon Marchand, 800 free relay, 200 free relay, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast, 400 free relay
Alex Colson, 200 fly
Carter Swift, 400 free relay

MORNING PRELIMINARIES
The Sun Devils had a combined 10 compete in three of the four preliminary sessions.

Grant House (11th), Carter Swift (18th), Cody Bybee (30th), Jack Dolan (40th) and Julian Hill (46th) raced in the 100 free. Marchand (3rd), David Schlicht (27th) and John Heaphy (46th) competed in the 200 breast and Colson (6th) and Andrew Gray (17th) rounded out the 200 fly.

House's time of 41.67 in the 100 free prelims is the fastest time in school history, but he'd go on to break that record in the evening final.

Marchand set a new school record in the 200 breast prelims at 1:50.38, before setting a new record hours later in the final.

Gordon Mason placed 28th overall in the 1650 free, touching the wall at 15:07.13.

Marchand and Colson were the only two to qualify for a championship final, as House clinched a spot in a consolation final.

SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Léon Marchand, 200 breast (2022)

Léon Marchand, 200 IM (2022)

Attila Czene, 200 IM (2000)
Francisco Sanchez, 50 free (1996)
Mikael Orn, 200 free (1983)
Andy Astbury, 500 free (1982)

SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES IN BOB BOWMAN ERA (PAC-12/NCAA)
2022: 3rd/6th
2021: Team redshirted entire season due to COVID
2020: 4th/no NCAA due to COVID-19
2019: 4th/21st
2018: 4th/20th
2017: 4th/14th
2016: 5th/44th(T)

SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING TOP-10 NCAA FINISHES
2022: 6th
2003: 10th
2002: 10th
2000: 10th
1998: 10th
1996: 9th
1991: 9th
1990: 5th
1987: 10th
1986: 9th
1984: 7th
1983: 7th
1982: 6th

FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up to date with the Sun Devils throughout the off-season via the team's Twitter account, @ASUSwimDive.