After enduring an ankle injury and a bout with the H1N1 virus during his first college semester, MSU swimming freshman Jacob Jarzen didn’t flinch when it came to a long Big Ten season and the opportunity for postseason advancement.
Starting Friday, Jarzen will compete in one butterfly and two backstroke events at the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio, looking to use the experiences of a successful freshman season to put together a good showing as the first Spartan to qualify for the championships in five years.
“Breaking into the national championships is a big deal for us,” head coach Matt Gianiodis said.
“The most rewarding part is that the kid is getting rewarded and working hard.”
Jarzen can think back on his battle through a tough first semester to help propel him to a respectable finish this week.
A nonswimming related injury during the fall semester caused Jarzen’s ankle to swell and caused him to concentrate more on his kicking. Once fully healed, Jarzen’s performance took off, and he recorded three first-place finishes in the Spartans’ Jan. 9 loss against Purdue.
“The cool thing is that he never really got down,” Gianiodis said.
“Perhaps his best quality is his ability to listen. He’s really immensely talented and has adapted to college swimming really quickly.”
After being strong in the butterfly and backstroke events all season, Jarzen significantly cut his times in the Big Ten Championships, also held in Columbus. He set school records in the 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke events.
Jarzen’s time of 47.01 in the 100-yard butterfly qualified him for the NCAA Championships, but he also will compete in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke after meeting the established minimum time.
Jarzen’s game plan headed into this week is to build off his performance from a month ago at the conference meet.
“The coaches have worked on starts with me this season,” Jarzen said.
“As the season’s progressed, my times have gone noticeably faster.”
Jarzen said focusing on small technique issues such as his starts will help him succeed in this week’s three-day, 41-team event, which Gianiodis said is one of the fastest competitions in the world.
“If I can keep the underwater kicking to 15 meters off the wall and make the turns quicker than in Big Tens, that’ll help,” Jarzen said.
Jarzen was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, leading the Spartans to a ninth-place finish at Big Ten Championships. Jarzen credited his teammates for providing support and teaching him throughout the season that will carry on to the future.
“It’s a big experience and will help for the next years,” Jarzen said.
“It’ll definitely be a significant advantage for the next three years.”
Jarzen hopes to finish among the top 16 competitors this weekend, but regardless of how he performs, Gianiodis agreed with Jarzen that the experience will go a long way toward benefitting him and his team in coming seasons.
“It really was a team effort to get him here,” Gianiodis said.
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“For him, it’s do what you did a month ago, and you’ll be fine.”
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