Smith's Historical Swim Named Top SCAC Men's Swimming & Diving Moment

SUWANEE, Ga. - Only five short years had passed since the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference conducted its first conference swimming championship in 1999. And although the sport had produced its share of all-American performances, no one from the conference had stood atop the national awards podium in any event. That all ended on March 21, 2003. 

At the 2003 NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving National Championships at Emory (Ga.) University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior Matt Smith became the first swimmer in school and conference history to win an individual national championship with his efforts in the 100-yard breaststroke. That historical performance is being recognized as the top men's swimming and diving moment in SCAC history. Top 20 Moments homepage

Smith, who took top honors in the event with a 56.20 finish, followed up his championship performance 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.

In the final 2003 NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving team standings, Rose-Hulman finishes 22nd while fellow SCAC members DePauw University and Trinity University finish 31st and 34th, respectively.

"This is very exciting and overwhelming," said then Rose-Hulman coach Mike Caruso immediately after Smith's history-making swim. "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."

Russell Kramer, the SCAC Director of Communications/New Media, had a chance to catch up Smith to reflect on that national title swim, his career at Rose-Hulman, and to find out what the former all-American has done since that fateful day in 2003. Click here to listen.

To view the complete list of SCAC Men's Swimming and Diving Top Moments, click here.

Throughout the 2010-2011 academic year, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference will celebrate its 20th anniversary. A special logo commemorating the occasion will be used and the league office will also be releasing the Top 20 moments for each sport the conference sponsors (excluding men's and women's lacrosse).