By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

On SwimSwam Podcast, we’re giving you an in-depth listen at all things swimming. Host Coleman Hodges welcomes guests and guest co-hosts alike to get perspective on our ever-changing swimming universe and break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with Ross Dant, the distance swimmer who turned heads after swimming a full 1,650 backstroke at a meet. Dant admits that was actually his current coach, Mark Bernadino, who suggested swimming it backstroke, as this was when Ross was still in high school. Now that Dant has made his way to NC State, he’s experienced some killer distance workouts that he was kind enough to share with us today.

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify
• Click here to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Click here to listen and subscribe on Podbean
• Click here to listen and subscribe on Google
• Click here to listen and subscribe on YouTube

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

RECENT EPISODES

Read the full story on SwimSwam: SwimSwam Podcast: Ross Dant Takes Us Through Epic NC State Distance Sets

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

CHIBA PREFECTURAL MEET

• 8/9 Agosto 2020
• Chiba International Swimming Center, Narashino, Chiba, Japan
• 50m (LCM)
• Risultati in Giapponese
• Report in inglese di Retta Race

In Giappone, si sta svolgendo il Campionato Juniores con lo stesso schema adottato qui in Italia. Come vi abbiamo riportato qualche settimana fa, la 43a National Junior Olympic Cup, si sarebbe svolta in 47 prefetture, a causa delle restrizioni dovete alle misure di prevenzione per il coronavirus.

La manifestazione che si è svolta a Chiba l’8 ed il 9 Agosto rappresenta uno di questi concentramenti.

Katsuhiro Matsumoto medaglia d’argento ai Campionati del Mondo del 2019 nei 200 stile libero maschili, ha partecipato il primo giorno ai 100 metri stile libero. Nella finale, il 23enne ha nuotato il tempo di 48,94, realizzando l’unico sub 51. I sui passaggi sono stati di 23.32/25.62.

Il personal best di Matsumoto in questa distanza è rappresentato dal 48.52 nuotato al Japan Swim del 2019, dove conquistò la qualificazione per Gwangju.

Nel 2020, il giapponese ha già fatto segnare in una prova a tempo dello scorso Maggio, il crono di 1:45.44.

In un’intervista esclusiva rilasciata il mese scorso alla collega Retta Race, Matsumoto dichiarò che i suoi obiettivi sono i 100 e i 200 metri stile libero. Queste gare le preparerà in vista del Japan Swim del 2021. L’incontro rappresenterà per i Giapponesi l’unica opportunità di qualificazione per le Olimpiadi di Tokyo.

• Leggi qui l’intervista esclusiva

CAMPIONATI DI CATEGORIA GIAPPONE

Le varie manifestazioni regionali si svolgeranno a partire da sabato 18 Luglio 2020. Dureranno fino a mercoledì 30 Settembre 2020.

Come in passato, i nuotatori sono suddivisi in fasce d’età.

• 10 anni in su
• 11-12
• 13-14
• 15-16
• “campionato”, con età stabilita a partire dal 22 agosto di quest’anno.

Una volta che tutte le gare saranno concluse, i tempi raccolti nelle 47 prefetture saranno classificati virtualmente. I tempi nuotati saranno comunque validi come tempi di qualificazione per ulteriori incontri nazionali.

• I protocolli relativi al documento precedentemente pubblicato dalla JASF sullo svolgimento di competizioni nazionali possono essere trovati qui.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Katsuhiro Matsumoto, Argento Nei 200 A Gwangju, Sub 49 Nei 100 Stile

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

Addison Smith has announced her decision to transfer from Princeton University to the University of North Carolina. She will have 3 seasons of eligibility remaining.

The Tennessee native, who attended the Baylor School in Chattanooga in high school, spent 1 season at Princeton, but says that the advent of the coronavirus pandemic has led her to change programs going forward.

“I had no intention of leaving Princeton at the end of my freshman year and I have the utmost respect for the PWSD legacy and my teammates,” Smith said of her decision. “However, with Princeton’s response to the pandemic, I felt like I needed to explore my options in order to best fit my needs and goals. UNC’s balance of athletic and academic excellence led me to this decision. Whatever comes out of this year, I’m ecstatic to be a Tar Heel!”

Smith’s announcement comes on the same day as Princeton announced that it had changed its plans and would make the entire fall semester remote. That decision follows one by the Ivy League last month, where the conference announced that it was cancelling all sports for the fall semester, including the first half of the swimming & diving season.

In her freshman season at Princeton, Smith was the Ivy League runner-up in the 400 IM, finishing in a 4:14.28. She was beaten by another freshman, Harvard’s Felicia Pasadyn, who won in 4:08.47.

That 400 IM is where Smith saw her biggest drop at Princeton, cutting more than 5 seconds off her best time coming into her college career

Smith also finished 4th in the 500 free (4:46.00) and 8th in the 200 fly (1:59.47). That gave her 75 individual points as part of Princeton’s title-winning effort. She also swam the anchor leg of the team’s 2nd-place 800 free relay – a relay that was made up of 4 freshmen.

Smith’s Lifetime Bests:

At UNC, she will bolster a middle distance group that was a weakness for the Tar Heels last season. The team scored just 21 points in both the 500 free and 400 IM at last year’s ACC Championships. What’s more, their top finisher in the 400 IM (Bryanna Cameron – 13th) and their top 2 finishers in the 500 free (Cameron, again, in 13th, and Roby Dryer in 18th) were seniors.

Her best times in both races, as well as the 200 free, would have placed her in the B final at the ACC Championships last season. The Tar Heels finished 4th at last year’s ACC Championships in their first season under new head coach Mark Gangloff.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Princeton’s Coronavirus Response Leads Addison Smith to Transfer to UNC

By Giusy Cisale on SwimSwam

In Scozia la riapertura degli impianti sembra ancora lontana.

A fine Giugno, la Federazione Scozzese annunciò che gli atleti d’elite del calibro di Duncan Scott, Ross Murdoch e Aimee Willmott sarebbero tornati ad allenarsi presso la National Swimming Academy, a Stirling.

Tuttavia, a parte i nuotatori di livello internazionale, la maggior parte degli atleti scozzesi non tornerà in acqua fino a metà settembre.

Secondo il governo scozzese

 “le piscine (al chiuso) possono riaprire a partire dal 14 settembre”

Come reazione a questa dichiarazione, Scottish Swimmingha pubblicato la seguente risposta ufficiale:

Come settore, siamo delusi dal fatto che i tempi indicativi per il ritorno allo sport non siano stati anticipati. Abbiamo presentato prove di mitigazione di qualsiasi rischio per la salute pubblica. Chiediamo chiarimenti su quali informazioni più convincenti siano necessarie per garantire che i nostri sport possano tornare all’attività e alla competizione entro le date indicative indicate.

Tuttavia, lavoreremo con il governo scozzese e con la Scozia per capire il livello di prove che dobbiamo fornire in modo da poter soddisfare tutti i requisiti per il rientro in sicurezza dello sport indoor alla fine di agosto. Come sempre, reagiremo positivamente a qualsiasi incoraggiamento da parte del governo scozzese a rivedere le date.

Scottish Swimming si dichiara inoltre pronta a collaborare con il governo per far si che tutti gli utenti possano tornare presto a praticare sport. Nel comunicato si elencano i motivi per i quali lo sport in Scozia, non è solo sport:

Secondo l’associazione lo sport contribuisce a migliorare:

• La salute e il benessere della nazione scozzese
• L’uguaglianza e l’inclusione
• Creare studenti attenti e concentrati
• Sviluppa salute mentale e benessere
• Contrasta l’obesità
• Inclusione sociale

Per il comunicato integrale clicca qui

Read the full story on SwimSwam: In Scozia Piscine Ancora Chiuse, L’Appello Di Scottish Swimming

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Haughey has swum under the national and Asian Records in the 200 meter freestyle, though neither swim is likely to count.

Racing at a time trial event in her home country on Friday, Haughey swam a 1:54.44 in the 200 meter free in long course. That breaks both her own Hong Kong Record of 1:54.98, set at last summer’s World Championships en route to a 4th-place finish; as well as the Asian Record of 1:41.85 that was set in 2018 by Japan’s Rikako Ikee.

Comparative Splits:

Haughey’s time is also the fastest in the world this season, eclipsing the 1:54.59 that was swum by American Katie Ledecky at the Des Moines Pro Swim Series in early March. The time would have been good for a silver medal at last year’s World Championships, and would have earned a medal at every swim meet in history.

That is significant because Hong Kong has never won an Olympic medal in swimming. In fact, they’ve only won 3 Olympic medals in history across all sports: a gold in sailing in 1996, a silver in table tennis in 2004, and a bronze in cycling in 2012.

The 22-year old Haughey completed her collegiate career at the University of Michigan in the spring of 2019 and has continued to train there as part of a post-graduate group since. She, like many other international swimmers training in the United States, returned home to train in Hong Kong amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

She is expected to return to American later this month along with other Hong Kong nationals based out of the University of Michigan like Jamie Yeung and Katii Tang.

Other Results from the Time Trial:

• Jamie Yeung swam 1:10.34 in the women’s 100 breaststroke and 2:20.37 in the 200 IM.
• National Record holder Ian Ho swam 22.72 in the 50 free.

Race Video

Haughey Swims 1:44.44 in the 200 free

Ian Ho Swims 22.72 in the 50 free

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Siobhan Haughey Swims Under Asian Record in 200 Free in Hong Kong Time Trial

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Elmbrook Swim Club’s Sydney Stoll has verbally committed to the University of Illinois for fall 2021. Stoll is a rising senior at Arrowhead High School.

She’s the younger sister of Taylor Stoll, who just wrapped her senior year with the University of Denver’s swim team, and Holly Stoll, a rising junior at the University of Wisconsin.

I’m so excited to finally announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swim career at the University of Illinois! A big thank you to my family, friends, and coaches for all their support along the way! #FightingIllini

TOP TIMES

• 100 free – 51.92
• 200 free – 1:49.96
• 500 free – 4:54.85
• 100 back – 57.57
• 200 back – 2:04.48
• 200 IM – 2:06.00

At the 2019 Wisconsin Division I high school state championships, Stoll won the state title in the 500 free and finished third in the 200 free, registering lifetime bests in both events. She also set a personal best leading off Arrowhead’s third-place 400 free relay (51.92) and split a 24.05 on their third-place 200 free relay.

Stoll is a significant pickup for Illinois, and her lifetime bests put her right at the top of the Illinois mid-distance freestyle group. Rising junior Abby Cabush was the top 200 freestyler on the team last season (1:49.06) and the only sub-1:50 swimmer on the roster, while rising sophomore Hannah Aegerter (4:54.05) and Cabush (4:56.80) were the only swimmers under five minutes in the 500 free last year. Cabush and Aegerter are both Wisconsin natives, and Cabush is also an Arrowhead alumna.

Stoll joins breaststroker/IMer Jane Umhofer in Illinois’s class of 2025.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Wisconsin HS Division I Champion Sydney Stoll Verbals to Illinois

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has become the first FBS conference to cancel the fall sports season according to Stadium’s Brett McMurphy. The conference has not yet formally announced the decision, but the news is already sending shockwaves throughout college sports as another big ‘first’ is cleared.

The FBS, formerly known as 1-A, is the top level of college football. In non-football sports, FBS schools compete as part of the broader Division I of the NCAA.

The MAC was joined by the Big Sky Conference this week in canceling fall football, with the Big Sky officially postponing football competition until spring. While the Big Sky Conference does not sponsor swimming, 3 of its member institutions do. So far, winter sports have not been directly impacted by that conference’s decision, but if they are, swimming programs will follow the guidelines of the WAC, where all 3 Big Sky schools that sponsor women’s swimming participate.

Of the 10 FBS conferences (the so-called ‘Power 5’ and the ‘Group of 5’), the MAC is the first to make such a drastic move. The Ivy League, which like the Big Sky competes in the FCS, has also canceled all competition in the fall semester, including winter sports like swimming & diving. UConn, which is a Division I ‘independent’ competing in the FBS, has also canceled its fall football season.

Throughout the week, with a Saturday morning vote looming, reports have circulated that MAC power Northern Illinois and its president Lisa Freeman were pushing to cancel the season, with Freeman suggesting that her school couldn’t compete even if the MAC did build a schedule. NIU has won 4 of the last 10 MAC conference titles.

The MAC sponsors 7 of the 8 fall sports in Division I of the NCAA: men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s field hockey, football, and women’s volleyball. The conference does not sponsor water polo.

While Olympic sports, which often depend on revenue generated by football for their budgets, are concerned, much of the MAC’s football revenue was already lost when the Big Ten canceled its non-conference football schedules last month. The MAC had 11 games scheduled against Big Ten opponents and were scheduled to receive almost $11 million in payouts from those games along.

Other similar cancelations left the conference with just 5 total ‘money games,’ where power programs pay smaller schools to come play in their stadiums, remaining.

A clock has been set on the entire Division I of NCAA athletics to make a decision about whether to hold fall season sports in 2020. The NCAA last week said that the divisions have until August 21 to decide if fall 2020 championships would happen, with both Division II and Division III quickly making the decision to cancel.

In swimming, we’ve already seen one noteworthy swimmer, Addison Smith, leave Princeton of the Ivy League because of uncertainty over the season. If there continues to be differences between conferences within a division about whether to cancel or not, we could see a flood of transfers of top athletes.

The MAC sponsors both a men’s and women’s swimming & diving championship. Among other cost-cutting moves, the conference early in the pandemic announced that they would reduce next season’s swimming & diving championship from 4 days to 3.

With 5 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams in the conference, the reduction of 1 day of travel would be around 140 nights in a hotel room (for double occupancy) or around 70 nights (for quadruple occupancy) across all member schools.

Men’s swimming & diving programs:

• Miami (OH)
• Ball State
• Evansville
• Southern Illinois
• Missouri State

Women’s swimming and diving programs:

• Akron
• Ball State
• Bowling Green
• Buffalo
• Eastern Michigan
• Miami (OH)
• Ohio
• Toledo

The Akron women won last year’s MAC Conference Championship meet ahead of Buffalo, while Missouri State slid past Miami on the men’s side. The conference didn’t have any swimmers or divers qualified for the NCAA Championships this season, which were eventually cancelled, though 14 divers earned All-America honors. The conference is located in Zone C of the NCAA zone diving qualifying system; as the only zone that didn’t complete qualifying, the CSCAA awarded all remaining competitors in that zone All-America awards.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: MAC Becomes First FBS Conference to Cancel Fall Sports

By Tomas Rodriguez ES on SwimSwam

• Primero reportado en inglés por Loretta Race.

Además de la noticia de que el destacado universitario de North Carolina State, Nyls Korstanje, dejará su casa universitaria para ir al Centro Nacional de Entrenamiento de Eindhoven, ayer llegó otra gran noticia desde los Países Bajos.

Sharon van Rouwendaal, medallista de oro olímpica en los 10 kilómetros de aguas abiertas en Río, ha terminado su contrato vajo las órdenes de Philippe Lucas. Tras siete años exitosos juntos, Van Rouwendaal ha decidido hacer las maletas y mudarse a Magdeburg, Alemania, para entrenarse bajo las directivas del alemán Bernd Berkhahn, quien ya tiene a Florian Wellbrock en su grupo de entrenamiento.

Wellbrock hizo historia en el Campeonato Mundial FINA de 2019 al llevarse el oro tanto los 1.500 libre en piscina masculinos como en la carrera de aguas abiertas de los 10 kilómetros.

Van Rouwendaal dice sobre su cambio de entrenador apenas un año después de los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio: “El año pasado comencé a dudar con demasiada frecuencia y con demasiada fuerza sobre la colaboración con Philippe. Me he convertido en campeona olímpica bajo su liderazgo y le estoy muy agradecida, pero estoy lista para un borrón y cuenta nueva.”

“La temporada pasada completé varios entrenamientos con el grupo de Bernd Berkhahn, que también es el entrenador de la selección alemana, y me gustó mucho. Ahora he dado el paso y estoy muy feliz de poder formar parte del equipo de Bernd. Ahora puedo prepararme sin preocupaciones y con total convicción para los Juegos exitosos en Tokio el próximo año.”

El director deportivo superior Andre Cats declaró sobre el cambio: “Los entrenadores de la federación holandesa (KNZB), Thijs Hagelstein y Marcel Wouda, han tenido un contacto intensivo con Sharon en el último período y apoyan plenamente su elección de ir al programa de éxito alemán de Bernd Berkhahn.

“El KNZB ayuda a Sharon a hacer posible emtrema,ientos en altura, que son una parte importante del programa de entrenamiento. Durante las competiciones, Sharon cuenta con el apoyo del equipo de soporte holandés. En ese sentido, poco cambiará para Sharon y nuestros entrenadores construirán una gran red con el nuevo entrenador de Sharon.”

Sharon actualmente reside en Montpelier y se está preparando para mudarse. Alrededor del 17 de agosto, inicia el programa de entrenamiento en Magdeburgo, continuando la preparación para los Juegos Olímpicos, para los que ya está clasificada.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Sharon Van Rouwendaal, Oro En Río 2016, Cambia De Entrenador A Un Año De Tokio

By Tomas Rodriguez ES on SwimSwam

• Primero reportado en inglés por Braden Keith.

El club de natación South Shore Sails tiene su sede en League City, Texas. Aproximadamente a 6 millas del Control de Misión de la NASA en automóvil (ese viaje podría reducirse a aproximadamente 2 millas si uno nadara a través de Clear Lake), los Sails tienen varias familias entre sus filas asociadas tanto con la NASA como con la ESA (Agencia Europea del Espacio).

Eso brindó a los Sails la oportunidad de ver un gorro del equipo llevado al espacio, que bien podría ser el primer gorro de natación que se lleva al mismo.

El comandante de la NASADoug Hurley acaba de regresar en el SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo 2 después de pasar 2 meses en la Estación Espacial Internacional. Dentro de la comunidad científica, la misión marcó un hito en el sentido de que Hurley, junto con su compañero astronauta Bob Behnken, fueron el primer regreso tripulado al océano desde el espacio en 45 años, desde 1975. La misión Demo-2 de la que formaron parte fue la primera misión tripulada para la compañía espacial de Elon Musk, SpaceX, que espera revolucionar los vuelos espaciales privatizándolos y desarrollando naves espaciales reutilizables que se espera que reduzcan drásticamente el coste de los viajes espaciales.

La misión fue el primer lanzamiento de un vuelo espacial orbital tripulado desde suelo estadounidense desde que finalizó el programa del Transbordador Espacial en 2011.

Jack, el hijo de Hurley, de 10 años, es nadador en categorías de edad de los Sails. Su esposa, Karen Nyberg, es una astronauta retirada que ha pasado 180 días en el espacio. Nyberg fue la mujer número 50 en el espacio.

Y así es cómo un gorro de South Shore Sails se ganó un lugar en el espacio. La fotografía de arriba fue tomada en la cúpula de la Estación Espacial Internacional la semana pasada.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: ¿Cómo Acabó Un Gorro De Natación En El Espacio?

By Jack McCormick on SwimSwam

2020 FLOOD AQUATICS TIME TRIAL

• Monday, August 3rd – Friday, August 8th
• King’s Academy Aquatic Center
• Short Course Yards (SCY) format
• Unsanctioned by USA Swimming

PREVIOUS DAY RECAPS

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4

Flood Aquatics hosted the fifth day of their intrasquad yesterday, August 7th. They are currently running a 5-day, prelims, semifinals, finals style meet.

While the meet is being filmed and electronically timed, Flood Aquatics has elected to not have officials on deck. While this helps to allow proper social distancing, it also means that the meet is unsanctioned by USA Swimming, making all times unofficial.

Flood Aquatics continued their unsanctioned intrasquad meet, hosting the 5th day on Friday, August 7th.

The meet was started off by Josh Zuchowski (16), who posted a near 2-second drop in the 200 back to finish in 1:43.66. Zuchowski is the 11-12 men’s age group record holder in the event. His performance yesterday, if the time were official, would move him into a tie for the 13th best time in the 15-16 age group, one spot above 2018 NCAA National Champion in the event Austin Katz.

Joining Zuchowski in the race was 14-year old Noah Smith who broke 2:00 for the first time. With a previous best of 2:06.80 in the event from January, Smith dropped almost 8-seconds to touch in 1:57.39.

Competing in the 1oo free mixed final, Pace Edwards continued dropping time in the freestyle events. After dipping below 1:40 in the 200 free on day two (1:38.51), he dropped nearly a second in the 100 free to go 45.65.

Other Notable Swims

• Madison Sipowski (15) dropped three seconds in her 200 breast to go 2:26.85.
• Just missing her time from prelims, Kiki Munna (13) finished first in the women’s 100 free finals (54.03).
• Bora Hurst (17) took second in the 200 IM with a new best time of 2:00.71.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Josh Zuchowski Swims 200 Back PR on Flood Aquatics Day 4

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

NCAA Division I Pepperdine University has named Ellie Monobe as the program’s new head women’s swimming & diving coach. She comes to the program after 4 seasons as an assistant coach at nearby UCSB, including a promotion last December to associate head coach.

Monobe replaces Jana Vincent, who spent the end of last season as interim head coach after Joe Spahn was pushed out mid-season. Vincent led the Waves to a 2nd-place finish at the PCSC Championships, just 43 points behind Cal State East Bay. That matched the best conference finish in school history. For that effort, Vincent was named the conference’s Coach of the Year, even as an interim head coach.

“I want to thank Jana for all of her hard work and dedication as our interim head coach,” Director of Athletics Steve Potts said. “She did a wonderful job caring for our student-athletes and helping them achieve many significant accomplishments in the pool this spring. The great work that she put in will help the swim and dive program move forward successfully under Ellie.”

At UCSB, Monobe was primarily responsible for the mid-distance, distance, stroke, and IM training groups. She also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

During her time with the program, the Gauchos won men’s conference titles in 2017 and 2018, while the women’s team were MPSF runners-up on 3 occasions. The program set 26 school records during her tenure, and sent two student-athletes to the 2018 NCAA Championships.

Prior to UCSB, she spent one season as an assistant at UNLV and one season as an assistant at UMass.

She spent the 2013-14 school year as head coach of the Sun Valley Swim Team in Lafayette, Calif., while also serving as a graduate assistant in compliance in San Jose State, where she earned her master’s degree in kinesiology. While at SJSU, she was also the team manager for the Spartan women’s swimming and diving team.

A native of Northern California, Monobe got her start in coaching at her alma mater, Cal, where she was an undergraduate assistant/volunteer assistant coach in 2011-12 while completing her degree in American studies.

She was a 4-year member of a Cal women’s team that won NCAA titles in 2009 and 2011, including serving as a captain as a senior.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Pepperdine Hires Ellie Monobe as New Head Swimming Coach

By SwimSwam Partner Content on SwimSwam

While meets are largely on hold worldwide right now due to the effects of COVID-19, and many teams are just getting back to practices, we still want to highlight and celebrate swim teams from around the country. This week’s Team of the Week is Saddleback El Toro (SET) Swimming of Lake Forest, California, a year-round USA club swimming team of roughly 225 members that trains out of El Toro High School.

Head coach Tim Teeter has been been with SET since 2015, and has roughly two decades of coaching experience across the club, high school, and college levels.  “I came to SET in 2015 and the club was about 30 swimmers.  With the help of JC Guzman, Barrett Tester and T Sorenson, we have been able to build a club of almost 225. (Pre-Covid). We are hopeful that as we are able to get back to full time training that with our deep rooted philosophy and strong coaches we will be able to again rise like the phoenix,” Teeter told us.

We asked Teeter to describe what his swimmers might consider to be SET’s iconic set.

SET Swimming is one of 3,000 swim clubs in the United States. How can we grow that number and promote the sport? 

ABOUT BSN SPORTS 

Founded in 1972 as a factory-direct equipment company, today BSN SPORTS is the largest distributor of team sports apparel and equipment in the United States, with over 3,000 employees across 80 regional offices. At BSN SPORTS we believe that sports have the power to change lives. At the heart of what makes sports happen are the coaches, teachers and mentors who work with young and old alike to build meaningful lifelong experiences. That’s why our mission is simple. The more time we save coaches with everything they do off the deck, the more time they can spend changing lives. And that’s the real final score.

Get your swimmers in custom team gear with your team’s logo. My Team shop provides a one-stop-shop solution to custom apparel, suits, footwear, equipment and accessories. It’s simple to setup and the My Team Shop platform can even serve as a fundraising solution to earn dollars for your program. To set one up today email us at swimming@bsnsports.comor call 1-877-217-9027.

To learn more about BSN sports visit us at www.bsnsports.com/ib/swimming.

BSN SPORTS SWIMMING ON Instagram – @bsn_swimming

Read the full story on SwimSwam: BSN Sports Swim Team of the Week: SET Swimming

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Raleigh, North Carolina’s Luke Fortner has announced his verbal commitment to Purdue University for 2021-22.

“I’m proud to announce my verbal commitment to Purdue University! Thank you to my coaches, teammates, and family for all their support throughout this process. I can’t wait to continue my academic and athletic careers as a Boilermaker. Boiler Up!”

Fortner is a rising senior at Enloe High School where he is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and the Sports Editor for the Eagle’s Eye. He swims breast and IM and placed 5th (57.63) and 13th (1:56.97) in the respective events at the 2020 NCHSAA 4A State Championships. That’s a big improvement from 2019 when he only qualified in the breaststroke and came away 22nd in prelims with a 1:00.45.

In club swimming, where he represents New Wave Swim Team, Fortner is a Summer Juniors qualifier in the 200 breast. He competed at 2019 Winter Juniors East in the 100/200 breaststrokes and placed 22nd in the 200. He earned lifetime bests by a significant margin in both distances. Entered with LCM times, he dropped 1.98 seconds from his previous PB in the 100 breast to go 56.48, and 2.87 in the 200 to go 2:02.50. He also dropped 5.6 seconds in the 200 IM and 10.1 in the 400 IM to notch PBs of 1:54.67 and 4:04.35 in Time Trials.

Fortner had a particularly strong showing at TYR ISCA Summer Senior Championships last August. He won the 200m breast and finished 3rd in the 100m breast and 50m breast, leaving the meet with PBs in the 50m free (26.03), 100 free (57.67), 50m breast (31.03), 100m breast (1:07.20), 200m breast (2:22.91), 200m IM (2:16.45), and 400m IM (4:56.44).

Top SCY times:

• 200 breast – 2:02.50
• 100 breast – 56.48
• 400 IM – 4:04.35
• 200 IM – 1:54.67

Fortner’s future class of 2025 teammates will include Brady Samuels, Idris Muhammad, and Lance Lesage. Although Trent Pellini will presumably have used up his eligibility by 2021, Fortner will join a Boilermakers breaststroke/IM training group comprised of Nick Sherman, Brett Riley, Michael Juengel, Liam Walker, Khadin Soto, Kal Findley, and Brady Robinson.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Winter Juniors Finalist Luke Fortner Gives Verbal Pledge to Purdue

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

Arizona native Katie McCoy has announced her transfer to the University of Indianapolis after two seasons at Boise State University, following the shuttering of Boise State’s swimming & diving program. She’ll have two years of eligibility left with UIndy.

The Boise State team was fantastic, and I loved my time there. The decision of the Boise State Athletic Department to cut the team came as a shock to everyone. However, I’m excited to announce my decision to transfer to the University of Indianapolis. I’m grateful both for the friends I have at Boise State and the ones I have in front of me at UIndy.

TOP TIMES (SCY)

• 100 free – 52.87
• 200 free – 1:50.94
• 50 back – 25.57
• 100 back – 54.43 (54.97 in HS)
• 200 back – 1:57.90 (1:59.72 in HS)
• 100 fly – 55.79
• 200 IM – 1:59.96 (2:03.07 in HS)
• 400 IM – 4:18.79 (4:27.67 in HS)

At Boise State, McCoy made huge improvements in IM and progressed in backstroke, too. She scored in all three of her individual events at the Mountain West Conference Championships in 2019 and 2020; this past season, as a sophomore, she made it to A-finals for the first time, touching fifth in the 200 IM and eighth in the 200 back. She also won the 400 IM B-final in February.

UIndy, which competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference in Division II, just graduated top backstroker Edda Skoric (54.4/1:56.5 last season). McCoy will come in as the team’s top backstroker immediately; Marizel Van Jaarsveld, a rising senior, led the Greyhounds in IM last year (1:59.9/4:15.7).

McCoy comes in with the speed to win individual conference crowns in both IMs and the 200 back, and she’s fast enough to be a major contributor at the D2 national level. The UIndy women are a national powerhouse in Division II; they were in fourth place following two days of the 2020 NCAA D2 Champs before the meet was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic. McCoy would’ve won the 200 IM at that meet and placed third in the 400 IM at that meet, so this is a major snag for the Greyhounds.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Katie McCoy Transfers from Boise State to UIndy with NCAA D2 Title-Worthy Times

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Katrina Mortenson, a rising senior at Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, has verbally committed to the application process* at Harvard University. She wrote on social media:

“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at Harvard University!! I am honored and blessed to be able to be joining the amazing Harvard Swim and Dive family and I’m so grateful for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to the challenge of achieving my academic and athletic goals. Thank you so much to my family, friends, and coaches who have been so supportive over the years. GO CRIMSON!!”

Mortenson swims year-round with Alpha Aquatics and specializes in sprint free and fly. As a freshman in high school, she placed 2nd (23.68) and 3rd (51.77) in the 50/100 free at the 2018 CIF-Southern Section Division 3 Championships before going on to the California State Meet. There, she finished 15th in the 100 free and tied for 17th in prelims of the 50. As a sophomore, she was runner-up in both events (23.30/50.16) at the Division 3 Championships and came in 15th (23.62) and 4th (49.98) at the State Meet. Mortenson competed at 2019 Winter Juniors West, swimming the 50/100/200 free and placing 22nd in the 100. Her best sprint free times come out of the 2019 high school season.

In long course, she had an outstanding meet at Mt. Hood Futures last summer. She was runner-up in the 50 free (26.22) and the 100 free (57.05) and 12th in the 100 fly (1:03.80); all three times were personal bests.

Top SCY times:

• 50 free – 23.30
• 100 free – 49.98
• 200 free – 1:51.02
• 100 fly – 56.98

Mortenson’s best times would have landed her in the A final of the 100 free (with junior Kennidy Quist and senior Mei Lynn Colby) and the B final of the 50 free (with freshmen Darlene Fung and Kate Hazlett) at the 2020 Ivy League Women’s Championships.

*Note: A verbal commitment between an Ivy League coach and a prospective student-athlete is not an offer of admission, as only the Admission Office has that authority. The coach can only commit his or her support in the admission process. Ivy League Admission Offices do not issue “Likely Letters” before October 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school. The Likely Letter, while issued after an initial read of the student’s application, is not an offer of admission to the university.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Sprinter Katrina Mortenson Verbally Commits to Harvard Class of 2025

By Karl Ortegon on SwimSwam

TAC TITANS INVITATIONAL MEET

• August 7-9, 2020
• Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary, North Carolina
• 25 yard (SCY) course
• Psych Sheets
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2020 TAC Titans Invitational Meet”

NAG record-holder Claire Curzan became the youngest woman ever under 50 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly this evening at a TAC Titans Invitational meet in North Carolina. Curzan, 16, clocked a 49.73 to knock off her 50.03 previous best from the TAC Titans’ last intrasquad in July.

SPLITS

• First 50 – 23.07
• Second 50 – 26.66
• Total – 49.73

Curzan entered the summer with the 15-16 NAG set at 50.35; at the end of July, USA Swimming clarified confusion around the legitimacy and official nature of July performances by ratifying her 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly NAG marks from the July intrasquad.

When Curzan went 50.03 in July, she raced in a heat with seven boys; tonight, she swam in a girls-only heat. Curzan’s 50.03 made her the fastest junior in yards history ahead of 17-18 NAG record-holder Olivia Bray (50.19), and she’s now almost half-a-second ahead of Bray in the 18 & under all-time rankings.

Tonight’s swim makes her the fifth-fastest performer in history in this event, and she’s the first woman to break 50 seconds as an 18 & under. A rising high school junior, Curzan would’ve placed third at the last NCAA Championships (in 2019) in the 100 fly behind only Louise Hansson and Maggie MacNeil, who are tied for the fastest performance in history at 49.26.

All-Time Top Performers, Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly

1. (TIE) Louise Hansson, 2019/Maggie MacNeil, 2019 – 49.26
2. –
3. Erika Brown, 2020 – 49.38
4. Kelsi Dahlia (Worrell), 2016 – 49.43
5. Claire Curzan, 2020 – 49.73 – 15-16 NAG record
6. Katie McLaughlin, 2019 – 49.97
7. Natalie Coughlin, 2002 – 50.01
8. Farida Osman, 2017 – 50.05
9. Rachel Komisarz, 2007 – 50.10
10. Olivia Bray, 2019 – 50.19 – 17-18 NAG record

Tonight, Curzan won the race by almost four full seconds; Marlins of Raleigh’s Abby Arens, an NC State commit, posted a 53.54 to take second.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Claire Curzan Becomes Youngest Woman Under 50 Seconds in 100 Butterfly

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

TAC TITANS INVITATIONAL MEET

• August 7-9, 2020
• Triangle Aquatic Center, Cary, North Carolina
• 25 yard (SCY) course
• Psych Sheets
• Results on Meet Mobile: “2020 TAC Titans Invitational Meet”

16-year old TAC Titans swimmer Claire Curzan blew through the 50 second barrier in the 100 yard fly as the highlight of the second night of competition in North Carolina on Saturday in a dual meet between the Titans and the Marlins of Raleigh.

Curzan swam 49.73 in the event, breaking her own National Age Group Record of 50.35 set in July. The swim also makes her the 5th-best performer in history, at any age, in that event.

• Read a full breakdown of Curzan’s record-setting swim here.

She also swam a 51.42 in the 100 backstroke on Saturday evening. That’s about three-tenths slower than she was at the team’s intrasquad meet in July.

Curzan isn’t the only TAC Titan who has been swimming lifetime best-after lifetime best this summer.

Lance Norris, like his teammate, continued his hot streak since returning to competition post-coronavirus quarantine. He swam a best time of 3:51.57 to win the 400 yard IM. That cut just over a second off his best time of 3:52.85 set in January of this year.

Norris, like Curzan, has been on a tear over the last month, setting several new lifetime bests. He also swam a best time of 4:23.80 in the 500 free on Friday. He’s scheduled to swim the 1650 free on Sunday.

Other Winners and Notable Results

• 16-year old Tate Bacon topped the boys’ 100 fly in a new best time of 48.68. That’s his first time under 50 seconds in that event, and is a new cut for the Winter Junior Championships, based on the 2019 standards. Mitchell Stroud also dipped under the Winter Juniors cut with a new best time of 49.48.
• Bacon later won the 100 backstroke at the end of the evening in 49.06. That was also a lifetime best, by nearly 2 seconds, and his first time under 50 seconds in that race as well.
• TAC 17-year old Caroline Pennington out-battled her 15-year old teammate Keelan Cotter in the 200 free. Both swimmers posted lifetime bests, with Pennington winning in 1:50.19 and Cotter finishing 2nd in 1:50.25. Cotter jumped out to a lead at the halfway mark, but Pennington, who very-nearly even-split her race with cuts of 54.79/55.40, fought back on the back-half of the race to win.
• Michael Cotter, an uncommitted rising high school junior, led the field in the 200 free with a 1:36.41, which is a new best time for him by half-a-second. He already had the best 200 free time in the class, and now extends that margin. This best time followed a best time on Friday in the 200 IM, where he swam 1:48.42.
• NC State commit Abby Arens won the girls’ 100 breaststroke in 1:00.20, running away from 16-year old US National Team member Charlotte Hook (1:02.14).
• 28-year old Colombian Olympian Jorge Murillo swam a best time of 53.10 in the 100 yard breaststroke.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Michael Cotter Swims Class of 2022’s Best 200 Yard Free on Saturday in NC

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Olivia Mendenhall from Springfield, Missouri has indicated her intention to swim for the University of Arkansas beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of Arkansas! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for the support! Can’t wait to be a razorback!

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Richardson, Texas native Harris Durham has announced his verbal commitment to the application process* at Harvard University and will join the Crimson in the 2021-22 school year.

“I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the application process to continue my academic and swimming career at Harvard University! I am so grateful for my family, coaches, teachers and friends for being my biggest supporters that have helped make this possible. I can’t wait to begin the next chapter of my life with this amazing team and incredible coaching staff. Go Crimson!”

Durham attends Richardson High School; he swims year-round for City of Richardson Swim Team. In his junior year high school season, he finaled in the 100 free (14th) and 200 free (12th) at the 2020 Texas UIL 6A Swimming and Diving State Championships. He also went 45.89 on the end of the Richardson 400 free relay at the UIL 6A Region 02 Championship.

A USA Swimming Futures qualifier in the 100 free and 200/400 IM, Durham has had significant drops throughout his high school career:

At the 2020 Ivy League Men’s Championships, Durham could have swum in the C finals of the 200 free and 400 IM but it took 20.87/45.62 in free 1:49.90 in the 200 IM and 56.08 in the 100 breast to score for the Crimson at conference.

View this post on Instagram

I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the application process to continue my academic and swimming career at Harvard University! I am so grateful for my family, coaches, teachers and friends for being my biggest supporters that have helped make this possible. I can’t wait to begin the next chapter of my life with this amazing team and incredible coaching staff. Go Crimson!

A post shared by Harris Durham (@harris1durham) on Jul 18, 2020 at 2:23pm PDT

*Note: A verbal commitment between an Ivy League coach and a prospective student-athlete is not an offer of admission, as only the Admission Office has that authority. The coach can only commit his or her support in the admission process. Ivy League Admission Offices do not issue “Likely Letters” before October 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school. The Likely Letter, while issued after an initial read of the student’s application, is not an offer of admission to the university.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Futures Qualifier Harris Durham Verbally Commits to Harvard

By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

16-year-old Ajete Eggers from Barrie, Ontario in Canada has announced her verbal commitment to Horizon League champions Oakland University for 2021-22.

“Super excited to announce my verbal commitment to Oakland University! I can’t wait to be a part of the Golden Grizzly family next year! I am so grateful for all of the help from my family throughout the recruiting process and so lucky to have met so many amazing coaches along the way. I can’t wait for the next years of my life with the Grizzlies! See you guys in 2021!! #OUpride”

Eggers attends St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Barrie and swims year-round for Barrie Trojans Swim Club. She was recently awarded the club’s Outstanding Achievement Award for the 2019-20 Season. At 2020 Winter Ontario Swimming Championships in March, she qualified for Canadian Trials in the 100 fly and 200 fly, turning in the #5 and #6 times, respectively, in Canada for 16-year-old girls. Her times of 1:02.99 and 2:20.75 were BTSC club records. In January she swam the 100/200/400 free, 200 back, and 100 fly at the Toronto Grand Prix and picked up a new PB in the 200m back (2:36.43)

Eggers will be an immediate-impact player for the Grizzlies when she arrives in Michigan next fall. Her converted 100/200 fly times would have scored in both A finals at 2020 Horizon League Championships. It took 2:06.29 in the 200 back, 2:08.30 in the 200 IM, and 1:54.18/5:06.12 in the 200/500 free to get second swims.

Top LCM times (converted to SCY):

• 200 fly – 2:20.75 (2:04.27)
• 100 fly – 1:02.99 (55.48)
• 50 fly (relay split) – 28.69 (25.21)
• 200 back – 2:36.43 (2:18.76)
• 200 IM – 2:36.10 (2:17.74)
• 200 free – 2:11.85 (1:55.90)
• 400 free – 4:34.81 (5:07.91)

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam partner.}

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Oakland Snags Verbal Commitment from Canadian Trials Qualifier Ajete Eggers