March 26, 2011

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

MINNEAPOLIS – South Carolina sophomore Michael Flach concluded his second trip to the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships on Saturday with a 31st-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Flach posted a time of 1:47.41, which was his fifth-fastest swim in the event this season. His fastest time this year came at the Nike Cup Invitational in November when he posted a 1:45.36, the third-best in Carolina history. It took a 1:44.44 to reach the consolation final and a 1:43.41 to earn a berth in the championship final. The top qualifier was Stanford’s Bobby Bollier with a pool-record time of 1:41.63.

The Gamecocks, courtesy of Flach’s 15th-place finish in the 500 freestyle on Thursday, scored two points at this year’s championships. Their final placement will be determined after Saturday’s finals; the team was in 31st place following Friday’s finals. Flach became South Carolina’s 42nd different men’s swimmer to be named an All-American with his showing in the 500 free.

Carolina’s swimmers & divers will now begin focusing on practice and training for the long-course season. Several Gamecock swimmers have already posted qualifying times for next year’s Olympic Trials, and all will be looking to better their position over the next few months.