Hannah Moore is returning home to her native North Carolina after a year in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. The all-Big Ten backstroker/distance freestyler/IMer is transferring from Michigan to North Carolina State University and will join the Wolfpack Women’s Swimming and Diving Team in January 2016. In the meantime, she’s already in Raleigh and is training with the Wolfpack Elite club team based in the NC State pool.
“I’m extremely grateful for the lifelong friendships I made at Michigan.” Moore told SwimSwam. “I am so positive about the future as part of the Wolfpack because I have never met a coaching staff more energetic and innovative. The team puts in incredible work every single day. This group is truly home.”
Moore was one of the top recruits in the country two years ago when she committed to Michigan. She had a stellar senior year of high school as a member of TAC Titans, culminating in a selection to the U.S. Team for the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. There she led the American efforts with two gold medals, in the 400m free and 200m back.
Last fall, the freshman class at Michigan contained some of the nation’s best backstrokers from the class of 2014, including Clara Smiddy, Moore, and Gabby DeLoof. While that makes for an excellent training group, it can also get crowded, and Moore was called upon more and more for her distance freestyle prowess. She went a lifetime-best 4:40.90 in the 500y free at 2014 Winter Nationals, but the rest of her times never improved while at Michigan.
| SCY Event | Lifetime Best | 2014-15 Season |
| 200 free | 1:47.34 (2/14) | 1:48.04 (12/14) |
| 500 free | 4:40.90 (12/14) | 4:40.90 (12/14) |
| 1000 free | 9:42.56 (2/14) | 9:43.98 (10/14) |
| 50 back | 26.00 (2/12) | — |
| 100 back | 53.91 (12/12) | — |
| 200 back | 1:54.46 (12/12) | 1:54.50 (12/14) |
| 200 fly | 1:59.68 (2/14) | — |
| 200 IM | 1:59.20 (2/14) | — |
| 400 IM | 4:10.95 (2/14) | 4:11.45 (12/14) |
| LCM Event | Lifetime Best | 2014-15 Season |
| 200 free | 2:02.58 (7/14) | 2:04.40 (5/15) |
| 400 free | 4:11.05 (8/14) | 4:14.07 (6/15) |
| 800 free | 8:41.64 (7/15) | 8:41.64 (7/15) |
| 100 back | 1:03.25 (6/12) | 1:04.08 (7/15) |
| 200 back | 2:10.18 (7/14) | 2:12.89 (7/15) |
| 200 fly | 2:17.78 (7/14) | — |
| 200 IM | 2:18.02 (8/14) | — |
| 400 IM | 4:47.08 (5/14) | 4:50.19 (6/15) |
Moore is qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in the 400 free, 800 free, 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM.
Moore capped her freshman year at Michigan with a three-event program at NCAAs; she competed in the 500 free (25th), 400 IM (27th), and 200 back (39th). Had she been swimming under the Wolfpack banner last year she would have been the top NC State woman finisher in each of those events.
Moore will make an immediate difference to the Wolfpack’s campaign when she suits up in January. NC State came in fifth at ACCs with only 1 finalist in the 500 free, 2 in the 400 IM, and 3 in the 200 back. This is a team on the rise, as evidenced by their strong and very deep freshman class. There are only three sophomores on the roster, though, versus ten seniors, so it takes a little pressure off to have someone of Moore’s caliber on board for the next three years.
NC State doesn’t compare academically to Michigan for most undergrad programs. Let’s best real here.
Yay! As a Wolfpack fan, this is awesome to hear.
Peckpeck 🙁
Wow, wonder what happened at Michigan?? She gave up a top academic school.
I have no idea if this factored into her decision, but those long Michigan winters can be tough on someone from the south. While I agree Michigan is a great academic school, if you aren’t happy there, it’s not worth sticking it out. I would argue that you can get a great education from almost any state university if you engage and challenge yourself academically. I wish Hannah all the best!
Winters are tough, and a degree from NC State is a very valuable nowadays, it’s a great university. As far as swimming I think that the successes seen across the board from the NC State coaching staff and their clear enthusiasm for the sport is influence enough for so many talents from the state of North Carolina to stay within the borders and choose State over many other amazing institutions. I hope Hannah has the time of her life here!
Last I checked NC State is a very well respected school academically!
It’s great to have you with the Wolfpack! You’re with family now! Go Pack!
Welcome home Hannah! Love seeing NC talent swims at home!