The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are the 5-time defending CCSA Conference Champions, and every year they seem to pick up at least one huge recruit. Now, the relatively new program, is starting to really build up the depth of their classes, but this year’s already has their focal point.
The Eagles have gotten a verbal commitment from British swimmer Katie Armitage from the Hatfield Swim Club.
“I’ve always wanted to come to the states and FGCU just felt like a great fir for me, and it’s an up and coming team that I’d love to be part of,” Armitage said of her decision.
She can fill a lot of roles for the Eagles, but the biggest will be a breaststroke role. They have some good young breaststrokers on the team, but none with Armitage’s range.
She’s been 32.6 in the 50, 1:10.1, and 2:33.2 in the 50-200 meter long course events at only 17 years old. Those times would have just missed putting her on the United States’ National Team (by tenths, not seconds) if she were an American.
That time in the 100 converts to a 1:01.38 in yards.
She, Kira Toussaint, and Emma Svensson will have one year of overlap before Svensson graduates, and that’s three legs to a killer medley (unless, of course, someone else develops and fights for those spots as well – a distinct possibility).
This international team has athletes from nearly a dozen different countries, and there are currently four British swimmers on the team as well.
Neal Studd is a great coach and recruiter. Everyone outside of FGCU must know. Neal is a real deal!