Just as she did at Shawano Community High School, Mackenzie Buss is setting records.
The University of Louisville freshman swimmer set a record in the 100-yard backstroke at the Cardinals’ Last Chance meet March 1-2 at the University of Tennessee, finishing in 53.42 to qualify for the NCAA Championships beginning Thursday in Minneapolis.
Buss swam the event four times during the meet before breaking the record on her fifth attempt, a timed trial after the final. Her time topped Krissie Brandenburg’s 2013 record time of 53.52.
“It’s really exciting just to be able to go on the relays,” Buss said.
Buss says the NCAA meet will be unlike anything she has experienced in her swimming career.
“I’ve competed in Olympic trials, but college is a whole different scene,” she said. “Here, you have the best of the best. Not just U.S. swimmers, but foreign swimmers that are swimming here. So it’s almost more competitive.”
The Division 1 Cardinals are sending eight swimmers to the championships and qualified in all five relays. Buss might swim in one or two of the relays.
There will be 281 swimmers and 41 divers at the meet.
The Cardinals and Buss have had success all season, including an American Athletic Conference title.
“That was one of our goals, to win the AAC conference, which we did,” Buss said. “It was so exciting. We actually ended up blowing everyone out of the water, winning by like 300 points, both on the women’s and men’s side. That was so much fun.”
Buss, who holds SCHS records in the 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly and the 100 individual medley and was a two-time state champion in the 100 backstroke, said she could not be happier with her decision to attend Louisville.
“The most surprising thing to me was how well I fit in down there and how much it felt like I was at home,” she said. “I didn’t really expect that coming in. My team is seriously my family. … We’ve done some pretty awesome things this year and I’m really looking forward to what is yet to come.”
The immediate focus is on next week’s championships, though. As Buss skips spring break to train, she’s looking forward to seeing what she and her teammates can do.
“Our team has a couple of girls who could potentially win their events at NCAAs, which would be absolutely crazy to watch,” she said. “It’s going to be exciting.”
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