H2Okie men head to NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

Fiala and Owen look to repeat as All-Americans heading into their final appearances at NCAAs

March 21, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Coming off their eighth-consecutive top four finish at the ACC Championships, the Virginia Tech men’s swimmers and divers head to Indianapolis this week to compete in the 2017 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Fans can find streaming and live results info can be found on the championship page under “Extras”.

Last season at the national meet, the H₂Okies placed 19th in the country, the second-highest finish in program history. Senior Brandon Fiala became the first Virginia Tech men’s swimmer to earn All-America honors three times in a meet and in a career after placing in the top eight in the 200 breast, 100 breast and 200 IM. Classmate Robert Owen earned Honorable Mention All-America honors twice in the 200 back and 400 IM.

The H₂Okies will bring the following swimmers and divers to Indianapolis:

Brandon Fiala
Class – Senior
Country – United States
Event – Breaststroke and IM

Senior captain Brandon Fiala returns to put the exclamation point on an already historic career with the H₂Okies. The three-time All-American posted school and conference records in the men’s 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the 2017 ACC Championships while also earning up two ACC titles in the process. Brandon looks to solidify his place as one of the best ACC swimmers in history in Indianapolis.

NCAA Events:
200 IM
100 Breaststroke
200 Breaststroke

Top Times:
50 Freestyle – 19.98
100 Breaststroke – 51.50
200 Breaststroke – 1:52.39
200 IM – 1:41.95

Robert Owen
Class – Senior
Country – United States
Event – Backstroke and IM

Robert Owen, a 2016 U.S. National Team member, has carried his momentum from this summer’s Olympic Trials into this season. The senior captain successfully defended his 400 IM title at the 2017 ACC Championships for the third year in a row, making him the first in program history and one of only six swimmers in ACC history to win the event three times. After earning honorable mention All-American honors last year, Owen looks to finish his NCAA career by picking up his first All-American nod.

NCAA Events:
200 IM
400 IM
200 BK

Top Times:
200 IM – 1:44.30
400 IM - 3:38.43
100 Backstroke – 47.01
200 Backstroke – 1:40.29

Norbert Szabo
Class - Sophomore
Country - Hungary
Event – Butterfly and IM

Szabo, a 2016 Olympian for Hungary, has been a major player for the Hokies in a myriad of events. The 2017 NCAA Championships will be Szabo’s second time at the national competition and he will look to continue building off of his experience from last season.

NCAA Events:
200 IM
200 Freestyle
200 Butterfly

Top Times:
200 IM – 1:44.34
200 Freestyle – 1:34.53
100 Butterfly – 46.80
200 Butterfly – 1:43.37

Sean Workman
Class - Sophomore
Country - United States
Event – Backstroke

Workman, a 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, has emerged as a key contributor for the H₂Okies this season. The sophomore will be competing in his first NCAA Championship and has the talent to join Robert Owen as one of the backstrokers in the history of the program.

NCAA Events:
200 IM
100 Backstroke
200 Backstroke

Top Times:
200 IM – 1:46.46
100 Backstroke – 47.49
200 Backstroke – 1:41.74

NCAA Relay Men’s Qualifiers
Adam Stacklin – Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay
Harrison Pierce – Men’s 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay
Ian Ho – Men’s 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay (U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier)
Jake Lamparella – Men’s 200 Medley Relay (U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier)

Mauro Castro Silva
Class – Junior
Country – Mexico
Event – Diver

Mauro is a multi-time ACC finalist, an ACC bronze medalist and has represented Mexico in multiple junior international competitions. He scored a 689.45 to place second in the platform finals at Zones and turned in a 685.85 in the three meter.

NCAA events:
1 Meter Springboard
3 Meter Springboard
Platform

Eduardo Castro Silva
Class – Sophomore
Country – Mexico
Event – Diver

Eduardo is Mauro’s younger brother and is a multi-time ACC finalist and Mexican Junior National Champion in his own right. This will be his second trip to NCAAs after qualifying in all three events at Zones.

NCAA events
1 Meter Springboard
3 Meter Springboard
Platform

Thomas Shinholser
Class – Redshirt Junior
Country – United States
Event – Diver

Shinholser is a multi-time ACC finalist, bronze medalist and a 2014 honorable mention All-American on platform. He has accelerated into the championship segment of the season by winning the Zone A Championships on platform in convincing fashion to qualify for the NCAAs.

NCAA events:
1 Meter Springboard
Platform

Ben Schiesl
Class – Sophomore
Country – United States
Event – Diver

Schiesl has made some incredible strides between his freshman and sophomore campaigns. He is a two-time finalist at ACCs and was second in the one meter event at Zones to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

NCAA events:
1 Meter Springboard
3 Meter Springboard
Platform

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