NCAA DIVISION II SWIM CHAMPIONSHIPS : Northridge Men Fall From Grace to 4th

The Cal State Northridge men’s swimming and diving team, once the most dominant in the NCAA Division II, no longer is even the best wearing black and gray CSUN swim caps.

That distinction goes to the school’s women’s team, which Saturday put the final touches on its second consecutive national championship.

The men’s team, which won nine national titles from 1975-85, was fourth, 163.5 behind Cal State Bakersfield. It was Bakersfield’s third championship in a row.

The pendulum of power has taken a decided swing to the north. And better make that northeast, as well.

Oakland (Mich.) was second for the second consecutive year and Clarion (Pa.) was third, 30.5 points ahead of Northridge.

All three schools pour significantly more money into their swimming and diving programs than Northridge, which dices its solitary scholarship like a Cuisinart.

Even so, CSUN Coach Pete Accardy is not convinced this fall from grace is anything more than a temporary situation.

There were, he said, extenuating circumstances to consider.

John Morrison and Kurt White, two of Northridge’s best swimmers, did not even make the trip to the State University of New York, Buffalo, natatorium. Morrison, last year’s champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle, was redshirted because Accardy did not like his training habits. White, one of the nation’s best in the individual medley, was ineligible.

“They each probably would have placed in three individual events,” Accardy said. “That’s a lot of points.”

Northridge also missed out on diving points for the first time in recent history. CSUN had only one diver competing, freshman Ted Everett, who did not score. Five Clarion divers finished in the top 11 of Saturday’s 3-meter event, including two in the top three. Total points: 36.

In the 1-meter event Wednesday, Clarion picked up 43 points.

“If we had three or four divers and those two kids, we would have been right there for first place,” Accardy said.

Certainly Ted Hollahan, a sophomore, is a good swimmer around whom to build a team. He set his second national record of the meet Saturday, winning the 100-yard freestyle in 44.65.