University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 26
West Lafayette, Ind.
9:00 AM/4:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Big Ten Championships
Players Mentioned
Breaststroke/Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Backstroke
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Photo by: Dave Wegiel
McHugh Sweeps B1G Breaststroke Titles For Second Straight Year
2/26/2022 8:35:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota senior Max McHugh completed the breaststroke sweep for the second year in a row as competition wrapped up Saturday at the 2022 Big Ten Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in West Lafayette, Ind.
After winning the 100 breast on Friday for the third straight year, McHugh followed it up by repeating as champion in the 200 breast on Saturday. After finishing with the top time in prelims, the Sturgeon Bay, Wis., native blew away the field with a time of 1:49.45. That was 1.2 seconds ahead of second place and the fastest in the country this year. It also broke the Big Ten record of 1:50.30 set by Indiana's Ian Finnerty in 2019.
With his victories, McHugh becomes the seventh swimmer in Big Ten history to win both breaststroke events in consecutive seasons. In Minnesota history, McHugh becomes the third swimmer to win multiple individual events in consecutive seasons. Steve Jackman won the 50 and 100 free from 1961-63, while Michael Richards did the same in both 2010 and 2011.
For his efforts, McHugh was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team. With five individual Big Ten titles in his career, McHugh is tied with Terry Silkaitis, who won the 50 free once, 100 free twice and 200 free twice, for second most in program history. Only Jackman has more with his three 50 free titles and three 100 free titles.
As a team, Minnesota finished in seventh place with 637 points. It's the program's best finish since taking fifth in 2019. Indiana won the team title with 1499.5 points, while Ohio State (1406.5) was second and Michigan (1056.5) took third.
"I am very happy with how this team fought back these last few sessions, and we put some outstanding performances on the board," Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer said. "We needed to take a step forward here, and we did. Of the 637 points we put on the board, 615 return next year.
"I'm thankful for this outstanding group of student-athletes and our staff that is committed to helping them grow in and out of the pool."
In addition to McHugh, Minnesota also got a podium performance from freshman Bar Soloveychik, who set a personal record in the 1650 free at 15:00.14. That was good for eighth place.
Program history was made in the 200 back prelims as junior Desmon Sachtjen broke the school record. His time of 1:42.10 broke the mark of 1:42.41 set by David Plummer at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Sachtjen went on to a 12th-place finish in the finals with a time of 1:43.74.
Up next, the Minnesota divers prepare travel to Madison, Wis., for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships, March 7-9. The program will then wait to find out who will be representing it at the NCAA Championships, March 23-26, in Atlanta.
After winning the 100 breast on Friday for the third straight year, McHugh followed it up by repeating as champion in the 200 breast on Saturday. After finishing with the top time in prelims, the Sturgeon Bay, Wis., native blew away the field with a time of 1:49.45. That was 1.2 seconds ahead of second place and the fastest in the country this year. It also broke the Big Ten record of 1:50.30 set by Indiana's Ian Finnerty in 2019.
With his victories, McHugh becomes the seventh swimmer in Big Ten history to win both breaststroke events in consecutive seasons. In Minnesota history, McHugh becomes the third swimmer to win multiple individual events in consecutive seasons. Steve Jackman won the 50 and 100 free from 1961-63, while Michael Richards did the same in both 2010 and 2011.
For his efforts, McHugh was also named to the All-Big Ten First Team. With five individual Big Ten titles in his career, McHugh is tied with Terry Silkaitis, who won the 50 free once, 100 free twice and 200 free twice, for second most in program history. Only Jackman has more with his three 50 free titles and three 100 free titles.
As a team, Minnesota finished in seventh place with 637 points. It's the program's best finish since taking fifth in 2019. Indiana won the team title with 1499.5 points, while Ohio State (1406.5) was second and Michigan (1056.5) took third.
"I am very happy with how this team fought back these last few sessions, and we put some outstanding performances on the board," Minnesota head coach Kelly Kremer said. "We needed to take a step forward here, and we did. Of the 637 points we put on the board, 615 return next year.
"I'm thankful for this outstanding group of student-athletes and our staff that is committed to helping them grow in and out of the pool."
In addition to McHugh, Minnesota also got a podium performance from freshman Bar Soloveychik, who set a personal record in the 1650 free at 15:00.14. That was good for eighth place.
Program history was made in the 200 back prelims as junior Desmon Sachtjen broke the school record. His time of 1:42.10 broke the mark of 1:42.41 set by David Plummer at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Sachtjen went on to a 12th-place finish in the finals with a time of 1:43.74.
Up next, the Minnesota divers prepare travel to Madison, Wis., for the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships, March 7-9. The program will then wait to find out who will be representing it at the NCAA Championships, March 23-26, in Atlanta.
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