Batur Ünlü, Berke Saka & Mert Kilavuz set to swim for Tech at upcoming championships.
THE FLATS – Three members of the Georgia Tech swim and dive team have been selected to compete at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Batur Ünlü, Berke Saka and Mert Kilavuz will travel to Minneapolis, MN. and compete from Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
The Turkish trio has been standouts for the Jackets throughout the season and led the men’s team to No. 21 national ranking.
Ünlü will be heading to the national meet for the third time since he arrived on the Flats. At the 2023 ACC Championships, the junior earned two silver medals for Tech in the men’s 500 and 200 free. He ranks 12th in the NCAA for the men’s 500 free (4:12.35) and 18th for the men’s 200 free (1:32.47). Ünlü also owns the Georgia Tech school records in both events.
For Saka, this is his second time qualifying for the NCAA Championships and will be competing in the men’s 100, 200 back events. He placed fourth in the 100 back and fifth overall in the 200 back at the 2023 ACC Championships. Saka currently ranks 17th in the nation for the men’s 200 back (1:40.02) and 27th for the men’s 100 back (45.60). The sophomore also holds the school record for the men’s 200 back.
Kilavuz will also be returning to the national championships for the second time in his collegiate career. He will be competing in the men’s 1650 free again after earning NCAA and CSCAA All-American honors for his performance in the event last season. At the 2023 ACC Championships, Kilavuz took home a silver medal in the event. The sophomore has dominated in the 1650 free, taking hold of the school record during his freshman season. Nationally, Kilavuz ranks seventh in the event with a time of 14:41.50.
These Jackets are three out of 235 swimmers selected to compete in the championships. The finalized list of qualifiers for the men’s national meet will be release following the conclusion of the Zone Diving Championships.
Watch & Live Stream Info: ESPN+ will provide live digital coverage for preliminary and finals sessions Wednesday through Saturday. Tape-delayed coverage of the men’s championships will be via ESPNU at 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 4.
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