SHENANDOAH, Texas – Erik Klontz (Sr./Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) posted times of 19.86 in both the preliminary round and the finals to capture second place in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships. This is the second straight year that he earned All-America distinction, following his eighth-place result in 2012.
Last season Klontz became the ninth member of the Carleton men’s swimming and diving program to earn All-America status. He is now the seventh to do so on multiple occasions (SEE CHART BELOW).
Wyatt Ubellacker of MIT won the event tonight with a time of 19.81, narrowly edging Klontz. Curtis Ramsey of Kenyon College took third at 19.95. They are the only three Division III swimmers to turn in sub-20.0 times this season.
A two-time conference champion in the event, Klontz has now posted a time of 19.86 or better five times in his career. That is the highest total in recorded Division III history, one more than Zachary Turk (Kenyon), who established the national record and won the event at last year’s championships. Klontz owns five of the top-12 times in D-III annals, and he turned in all of those performances this season. (SEE CHART OF TOP DIV III TIMES BELOW)
This year’s NCAA Championships run through Saturday and are being held at the Conroe ISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas. Each day includes the preliminary round beginning at 10 a.m. (CDT). The finals get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT) and include the top 16 finishers from the prelims with spots 1-8 taking part in the championship final while slots 9-16 race in the consolation heat.
Klontz will be busy this week. In addition to competing in the 200-yard freestyle on Thursday and the 100-yard freestyle on Saturday, he will race with classmate Mamoru Kanazawa (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International) and rookies Stephen Grinich (McMinnville, Ore./McMinnville) and George McAneny (Santa Cruz, Calif./Santa Cruz) in the 200-, 400-, and 800-yard freestyle relays as well.
Live video of each session of the championships is available on NCAA.com. Live Results are posted on CollegeSwimming.com
Here is a list of dates/events with Carleton competitors:
WED., MARCH 20
Women’s 50-yard freestyle — Sophie Pilhofer – (23.28, 3rd place – All-America)
Men’s 50-yard freestyle — Erik Klontz – (19.86, 2nd place – All-America)
THU., MARCH 21
Men’s 200-yard freestyle relay — Erik Klontz, Mamoru Kanazawa, Stephen Grinich, George McAneny
Women’s 100-yard butterfly — Sophie Pilhofer
Men’s 200-yard freestyle — Mamoru Kanazawa & Erik Klontz
FRI., MARCH 22
Men’s 800-yard freestyle relay — Erik Klontz, Mamoru Kanazawa, Stephen Grinich, George McAneny
SAT., MARCH 23
Women’s 100-yard freestyle — Sophie Pilhofer
Men’s 100-yard freestyle — Erik Klontz
Men’s 800-yard freestyle relay — Erik Klontz, Mamoru Kanazawa, Stephen Grinich, George McAneny
CARLETON MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING ALL-AMERICANS:
| Year | Athlete(s) | |
| 1969 | -- | Dave Gisselquist (200 breast – 6th) |
| 1983 | -- | Ken Potts (1-meter diving – 9th, 3-meter diving – 9th) |
| 1988 | -- | Greg Sampson (200 breast – 2nd) |
| -- | Bob Crawford (100 free – 4th) | |
| 1989 | -- | Greg Sampson (100 breast – 2nd, 200 breast – 1st) |
| 1990 | -- | Greg Sampson (100 breast – 1st , 200 breast – 1st) |
| 1991 | -- | Greg Sampson (100 breast – 1st, 200 breast – 1st, 200 IM – 5th) |
| -- | Geoffrey Isaacman (200 fly – 7th) | |
| 1992 | -- | Geoffrey Isaacman (200 fly – 4th) |
| 1995 | -- | Max Harper (100 breast – 7th) |
| 1996 | -- | Max Harper (100 breast – 2nd, 200 breast – 5th, 200 IM – 8th) |
| 2003 | -- | Jason Brown (100 free – 7th, 200 free – 7th) |
| 2006 | -- | Ted Marschall (400 IM – 5th) |
| 2007 | -- | Ted Marschall (200 IM – 4th, 400 IM – 4th) |
| 2008 | -- | Ted Marschall (200 IM – 2nd, 400 IM – 2nd, 200 breast – 4th) |
| 2009 | -- | Ted Marschall (200 IM – 5th, 200 breast – 8th) |
| 2012 | -- | Erik Klontz (50 free – 8th) |
| 2013 | -- | Erik Klontz (50 free – 2nd) |
TOP 50-FREESTYLE TIMES IN DIVISION III HISTORY:
| Time | Student-Athlete | School | Date | Competition |
| 19.38 | Zachary Turk | Kenyon | March 21, 2012 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.51 | Wyatt Ubellacker | MIT | March 20, 2013 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.52 | Zachary Turk | Kenyon | March 21, 2012 | NCAA Championships - Finals |
| 19.66 | Erik Klontz | Carleton | Feb. 14, 2013 | MIAC Championships - Prelims |
| 19.75 | Zachary Turk | Kenyon | March 17, 2010 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.78 | David Somers | Kenyon | March 21, 2012 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.79 | David Somers | Kenyon | March 21, 2012 | NCAA Championships - Finals |
| 19.81 | Erik Klontz | Carleton | Feb. 14, 2013 | MIAC Championships - Finals (200 FR leadoff) |
| 19.51 | Wyatt Ubellacker | MIT | March 20, 2013 | NCAA Championships - Finals |
| 19.83 | Erik Klontz | Carleton | Feb. 14, 2013 | MIAC Championships - Finals |
| 19.85 | Alex Sweet | Wash. & Lee | March 20, 2008 | NCAA Championships |
| 19.86 | Zachary Turk | Kenyon | March 18, 2009 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.86 | Erik Klontz | Carleton | March 20, 2013 | NCAA Championships - Prelims |
| 19.86 | Erik Klontz | Carleton | March 20, 2013 | NCAA Championships - Finals |
