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Texas Boys Continue Eddie Reese’s U.S. Relay Legacy in 200 Free Final

2016 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS

Eddie Reese is one of America’s greatest coaches of all time, and the results of the 200 free final reflect the success his swimmers have had at the last four Olympics in terms of relay appearances.

Across prelims and finals swimmers, he’s had at least three swimmers on U.S. relays at the Games in 2000, 2004, and 2008, and that was the case for multiple relays in 2000 and 2004.

  • 2000 Sydney: Three Longhorns on the 400 medley relay, four on the 800 free relay
    • 400 Medley: Ian Crocker, Gary Hall Jr., Neil Walker, Tommy Hannan
    • 800 Free: Jamie Rauch, Josh Davis, Scott Goldblatt, Nate Dusing
  • 2004 Athens: Four Longhorns on 400 free relay, four on the 400 medley relay
    • 400 Medley: Ian Crocker, Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol, Neil Walker
    • 400 Free: Ian Crocker, Neil Walker, Nate Dusing, Gary Hall Jr.
  • 2008 Beijing: Four Longhorns on the 400 medley relay
    • 400 Medley: Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker, Garrett Weber-Gale

Reese has also coached at least one swimmer to every 800 free relay American team at the Olympics since 1988.

Now in 2016, this should be the fourth time in the last five Olympics that Reese has put at least three of his swimmers on a USA relay.

Townley Haas, who just finished his freshman year with Texas, won the 200 free with a very strong 1:45.66. He earned an individual berth, and third place finisher Jack Conger dropped a 1:45.77 which will get him on the relay as well. Clark Smith was sixth in 1:47.53– he’s not guaranteed a spot on the relay, but considering that Michael Phelps scratched the 200 free altogether, it doesn’t seem likely that they’d bring in anyone besides Smith for prelims, unless they had to limit the roster and only decided to take four or five for this relay.

Things aren’t set in stone yet, but it looks as though Haas, Conger, and Smith will be part of the six swimmers that’ll be on the American 800 relay in Rio. That means Reese has had at least three of his UT swimmers on an American Olympic relay in four of the last five Olympics; the facts speak for themselves.

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PatcRoberson
8 years ago

Went to school with brother Randy. He is amazing coach.

Charles Allen
8 years ago

I’ve know Eddie since we were boys. Went all the way through school together. He was a great YOUNG MAN and he is a GREAT OLDER MAN…AND COACH!
Congratulations to him and I wish him health, happiness, and much fun and joy in retirement!

correction
8 years ago

2012 UT Olympic relay participants:
Brendan Hansen
Jimmy Feigen
Ricky Berens

Enchanted rock
8 years ago

I’m an admitted Eddie homer so you can discount everything I say but I’ll say it anyway.

I’m so proud of that man. Four to five years ago on boards like this people were impugning Eddie’s coaching and his program. Other coaches were trashing him to recruits. Don’t tell me that’s not true.

Four years later, he’s got two consecutive dominant ass kicking, no one is even close NCAA titles, and he will be the coach of multiple Olympians and have more than double the Olympic Trials finalists of any other men’s team.

And it’s not just him working with the studs: who on the planet would have predicted that John Shebat and Jon Roberts would make… Read more »

Luckenbach
Reply to  Enchanted rock
8 years ago

Preach on brother!

Henrik
8 years ago

Jack conger is the most overrated swimmer in the history of the United States. He will finish dead last in the 200 fly final, too much pressure. I question Michaels chances as well, he is too old especially for the 200 fly (Perhaps he can sprint). Pace Clark and Tom Shields will represent USA in this event..

Markster
Reply to  Henrik
8 years ago

You either know nothing about the sport and haven’t been keeping up with how well Phelps and Conger have been doing OR this is a troll post. I’m leaning towards the second one.

Henrik
Reply to  Markster
8 years ago

Have you seen his ncaa performances, he chokes whenever something major is on the line.

Captain Awesome
Reply to  Henrik
8 years ago

You mean choking by going the second fasted time that anyone has ever gone in yards? Only to be beaten by someone who got a bronze medal at the world champs (although in the 100) the summer before. Yeah, he really screwed that one up…

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Henrik
8 years ago

Wrong answer again ….u keep trolling like a beginner ….u will go far in life

swimdoc
Reply to  Henrik
8 years ago

You apparently weren’t paying attention to Conger on the NCAA relays. Nothing more “major” than having 3 other guys and an entire team counting on you to help bring home a team championship.

You also apparently have not seen the piano suspended from the Jumbotron that seems to move from lane to lane depending on what lane Shields is in.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Henrik
8 years ago

Henrik , it seems u have been down on Conger already few times here …what are the reasons for that ? have u got a grudge or a resentment towards Jack ? why is that ? what do u gain from such comments ?

Enchanted rock
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
8 years ago

You mean choking to swim a 40.9 to win the 400 medley relay Nc’s. Or you must be thinking of his 1:31 lead off in the 800.

Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Who is Eddies greatest swimmer?

Henrik
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Tripp cooper

Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Who was Eddie’s greatest swimmer ever?

Marge
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Eddie would rather pick his best ultimate frisbee team.

Dru
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Right now, I would say Aaron peirsol

EdMosesLivesOn
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Peirsol, hands down.

Pvdh
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Pretty easily Aaron Piersol

Joel Lin
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Definitely Piersol.

After that, Rick Carey perhaps?

Henrik
Reply to  Tiger Christian
8 years ago

Joe schooling hands down

Steve Nolan
8 years ago

I thought he was done in 2012, Texas was starting to drop off.

Not so much.

Townley #1 Fan
Reply to  Steve Nolan
8 years ago

It was, 2013-2014 collegiate was the beginning of change for the better

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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