TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology senior Matt Smith (Bryan, Texas) became the third
athlete and first swimmer in school history to win a national
championship with his efforts in the 100-yard breaststroke at the
2003 NCAA Division III Men�s Swimming and Diving National
Championships this weekend.
Smith followed up his championship with a swimming program school-record fourth career All-American award by finishing fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:04.73. The fifth-place time was a personal-best for Smith and another Rose-Hulman school record.
With his weekend efforts, Smith also became just the fourth four-time All-American in Rose-Hulman school history. He joins track and field standouts Tony Allen, Phil Reksel and Ryan Loftus as a four-time All-American at Rose-Hulman.
Smith, who qualified second in the 100-yard breaststroke preliminaries with a time of 56.85 seconds, improved his time to a career-best 56.20 seconds to win the national title. He joined Loftus and Trapp as the school�s third individual national champion.
"This is very exciting and overwhelming. It hasn't sunk in yet for either of us. This was the best swim that Matt has had in his life. This was one of the best swims I have ever seen and without a doubt the best swim in Rose-Hulman history, said Rose-Hulman head coach Mike Caruso.
Smith previously earned a pair of honors at the 2002 National Championships with a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke and a seventh-place in the 200-yard breaststroke. He was named the 2002 SCAC Tri-Swimmer of the Year and earned the first Academic All-American honor in school history last fall.
Smith is the second swimmer in Rose-Hulman school history to earn an All-American award. Pendleton native Sean Valentine earned a pair of All-American honors at the 1999 Division III championships.
His championship time qualified Matt for the Senior Nationals in two weeks at IUPUI and set school and conference records.