What’s Left?

@Buck wrote:

Didn’t realize there was any confusion….

See, when you have this:
@lirpa wrote:

Also, how many people typically go in each event? Last year was 19 and 20 for men. Is that higher than usual? How does this year look? I feel like the distribution of fast relays between different schools dictates how many individuals get invited, but I don’t know how this year looks compared to others.

and this:
@facenorth wrote:

Unfortuantely for Calvin they will be taking a number of relay only swimmers and the NCAA doesn’t always love that.

You get confusion because people apparently don’t read things like this:
@N Dynamite et.al. in mulitple places wrote:

There’s a cap – they only take 225 athletes (140 individuals/22 divers/63 relay only – total 225). They start with the individual A cuts and then the fastest B cuts (filling in the individual events evenly). Once they run out of spots (140) they stop inviting people. After the 140 individuals they start inviting relays in the same way until they fill all 63 relay only spots. That usually means 18-20 individuals and 9-11 relays.

For those who want to see the actual guidelines go here

Sorry, lirpa, I don’t mean to dump on you, it’s just that this comes up numerous times at this time of year and people like Buck comment on how it’s not all that confusing. It’s very confusing, especially when people who post often make comments like “the NCAA doesn’t like it when a relay has four relay only guys on it.” They don’t care. They simply follow the guidelines. Hopefully what I listed above helps you understand how they do it. As you said, because we’re waiting on the NESCAC and NEWMAC and we really don’t have much of an idea of who is on what relay until next week it’s hard to guess where the lines will be drawn

@lirpa wrote:

Dynamite,

Thanks for the recap. I’m still a newbie to this so I appreciate the info. So, if anyone knows where any last chance meets are being held I’ll stay tuned to those results and just wait it out. Thanks all.

Most last chance meets were last weekend, one at the University of Chicago and another at Kenyon. The Kenyon results are on their website, with a link to the Chicago results being found in the MIAA forum.

If you are a current swimmer, or wondering about a specific swimmer, you can always post the name of the individual or relay and we can try to give you a rough estimate of the chances of getting in and who to watch for this coming weekend. “Bubble-watching” is one of my favorite things to do with d3swimming, it’s sad but true.

Lirpa and Silent,

There is a Last chance meet this weekend at the University of Minnesota. UWSP is looking at maybe sending a few guys, depending on how they feel.

If its MIAC guys maybe being on the bubble going into this weekend I would think that they might try and get into the meet also.

Anybody want to write a comprehensive, publishable “selection rules” guide to publish on the main pages of the website?

There is also a D-III last chance meet at Rose-Hulman (Terre Haute, IN)

I am sure there will b e a few kids there from the mid-west trying to get in!

@slipperywalls wrote:

There is also a D-III last chance meet at Rose-Hulman (Terre Haute, IN)

I am sure there will b e a few kids there from the mid-west trying to get in!

like the depauw 200 free relay?

Didn’t they already last chance? I thought you could only do it once and I thought it had to be the week after your conference meet. Maybe I’m thinking of a time trial they did during the meet.

It’s amazing to me that more swimmers don’t take a chance at a last chance meet. I know holding taper is hard but it’s one event and you get a few shots as well as plenty of rest leading up to it. And really if there was ever a year to do it this would be it! If I was DePauw I would try again the stars don’t lineup that often unless your a Kenyon or an Emory.

I agree I can remember in years past watching a guy go 52.5 in the 100 back and thinking it was a lock, and not going to the last chance meet that his other teammates were at, and sure enough no invite to the dance. If it is close and you are not sure you should at least take a shot at a last chance meet.

To attend a last chance meet it must be on your schedule and it must fall within the 19 week season length restriction- if you are out of weeks you cannot compete in a last chance meet.

isn’t there also a New York State Athletic Conference left?