James Guest, one of the top breaststroke recruits out of Canada, gave his verbal commitment to swim for the University of Georgia Bulldogs starting next fall where he’ll fit in with their 2014-2015 freshman class which is full of breaststroke and IM swimmers.
Guest represented Canada this summer at the 2014 Jr Pan Pacs and came away with a fifth place finish in the 100 breast and a sixth place finish in the 200. Guest has had success in multiple Canadian competitions and is just beginning to head out into the international scene.
Prior to the Jr Pan Pacs, Guest earned himself four medals at the Canadian Age Group Championships taking gold in the 100 breast, silver in the 50 and 200, and a bronze in the 400 IM. Those performances backed up the silver he earned at the Canadian Senior Nationals just a little while beforehand where he finished second in the 200 breaststroke.
Guest boasts a 1:02.79 100m breaststroke in the long course pool as well as a 2:15.21 200. His 50 is also quick standing at 29.14. When converted, those times prove to be competitive college times as his 100 converts to a 54.76, his 200 a 1:58.20.
Based on times from last year it would take a 52-low and a 1:54-low in order to get a second swim at NCAAs.
Although those times wouldn’t score at the NCAA Championships, Guest has been on a fast track of improvement. Currently, the majority of his best times were set last season including best times in all three breaststroke disciplines.
With Georgia breaststroker Nic Fink gone after this season, Guest’s improvement will be crucial to identifying himself as one of the top breaststrokers in the program. It will be bulldog eat bulldog to grab the breaststroke position with lots of viable options, so Guest will need to be on his game if he wants a chance.
Heading into his collegiate career, Guest will be right in the mix in the Georgia training groups which will help him continue his overall improvement. Currently there are multiple swimmers there who swim both the breaststroke and IM events which will create a very competitive environment for Guest.
With all the success he’s already had, he’ll fit in well to the storied program at Georgia.
Guest’s Best Times
LCM SCM SCY CONVERSION
50 Br 29.14 28.79 25.03
100 Br 1:02.79 1:01.35 54.76
200 Br 2:15.21 2:11.31 1:58.20
400 IM 4:31.35 4:19.16 3:53.47
Ah.. James.such an exciting year lies ahead for you. About now, Georgia makes a lot of sense as a place to be 6 months of the year. We hope your aspirations will be met and that the university is good to you. You have worked hard for this opportunity and we are very impressed. We wish you lots of challenge and pleasure. To echo the Wrights,we can hear Pat and Doug boasting. love, Pat and Dick
Good for you Guest& good luck @ Georgia in the fall.Fun to hear what you are up to. Your grandparents would be very proud. Love from Bob & Joan.
Best of luck James. Do canada proud down there. Very excited for this fantastic opportunity, you’ve worked super hard so well done and good luck in the the next stage of your sporting career.
Lawrence & Marianne
Always a little worried when an athlete leaves Canada.
He’s a hell of a talent and is definitely in the mix as a future National Team member. Sometimes – not always – that progression gets sidetracked when a kid goes stateside.
Honestly, with the direction CIS swimming is going, I’d have to encourage anyone that is as quick as him to head to the states. Georgia trumps any Canadian school in terms of swimming by a miles. Even with the national training centers greatly helping certain schools.
Hoping he’ll give Richard Funk a run for his money for the 2016 Olympic spot.
Won’t disagree that, on aggregate, the programmes in the US are better. UBC and UofT hold their own against anybody but there is a precipitous drop from there… And the academic entrance requirements at both schools are very high.
There is a mismatch, though, in terms of timing with NCAA Champs often conflicting with selection meets here. It’s bit a few kids in the behind in the past.
Stud. Big get.
Welcome to UGA James!!! Such a great get!! Haas is next!!! GO DAWGS!!!