The biggest recruit in the high school class of 2014, National High School Record holder Caeleb Dressel, has added one more school into the mix for his services next year: the University of Florida.
The Gators join a lineup that includes Florida State, Auburn, Texas, and Tennessee on his list of five official visits.
Gregg Troy’s program, though not usually thought of as a hot-bed for sprint freestylers, has a surprisingly impressive history of producing fast 50 and 100 freestylers. That includes names like Brad deBorde, who is the school record holder in the 50 and a senior this year, and the Fraser Brothers. DeBorde should compete for a top three spot at NCAA’s in the 50 this year.
There’s also Florida’s incredible history in the 200 free; they’re so good in that race that Ryan Lochte is only 4th on the school’s all-time list, and this year could get jumped by Pawel Werner and Sebastien Rousseau. Dressel has suddenly become the top 200 freestyle recruit in the country as well, to go with everything else he’s done well; the same goes for the butterflies, where Florida is arguably the best program in the country right now.
At this weekend’s Florida 2A High School State Championship meet, Dressel won four state titles and went lifetime bests in the 200 free (1:34.69), and the 50 free leading off a relay (19.29). The latter of those swims was a new USA Swimming National Age Group Record and National High School Record. He was also a 45.9 in the 100 fly and a 43.3 in the 100 free leading off the 400 free relay.
His sister swims at FSU and has swam well there.
Florida hasn’t had many male sprinters because the school doesn’t have a reputation as a sprint school, but they do pretty well with the sprinters they get to develop. DeBorde was actually the state champ in the 200 free in high school. Also, long course, for a program that doesn’t get many sprinters, between 2008-2012, UF developed 3 guys who were a 48 or better in the 100 free and four that were 1:47 or better in the 200 free, all of which came up through the college program. We all know one now as an eleven-time Olympic medalist, but of those 100 freestylers, one actually was recruited as an IM/flyer (and held the NCAA 200 fly record), and the… Read more »
Any school he chooses would caiter to his needs and makes sure he excels. I think they all can see he is the future of American swimming and know what they would be getting into…
If caeleb would exclusively like to focus on his 50/100 frees, I would say Auburn would probably be best. If he wanted to throw in a 200/100fly to his plate Texas has great history and training partners waiting to push him. But if he wants to take on an 8 event Olympic schedule Florida would develop him into the best all around swimmer.
I’m hurt he isn’t considering USC. For some reason I just have this hunch that Salos program is designed for swimmers… Read more »
I would hope he wouldn’t commit to a school (FSU) just because his girlfriend is going there. (Never a good decision) BUT, His sister is there also and has improved greatly in FSUs program so I would hope that it would be more for that connection and the fact that FSU is close to home and his family would be able to see him compete more often.
Don’t count out Florida State…his girlriend Meghan Haila committed there and they really have a good program and a nice facility. close to home…..he could be their top guy and really build their program up with a new wave of elite swimmers.
I actually think Tennessee is his best option. He would have a great sprint group to train with, including recent Australian rival Luke Percy. In the past year Matt Kredich has shown that he can get substantial improvements in both men’s and women’s teams. The Vols men are an upcoming program that are about to breakthrough in the next couple seasons. Just like the women did in the past two years.
It’s also know to be more of a quality not quantity program, which seems to be what Caeleb has excelled under.
It’s too bad caeleb seems committed to staying in the southeast. I think cal, USC, Michigan, or even Arizona could do wonders with his talent.
As it stands, I think his best options are auburn, or going pro and moving to MAC. I wouldn’t advise him to go pro yet, but sometimes you have to blaze your own trail.
He’s the future of American swimming and he’s about to make his college decision, what else is there to write about in mid-november?