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After Big Junior Year Drops, Will Koeppen Commits to Virginia Tech

Will Koeppen has announced his verbal commitment to Virginia Tech. He joins 10th-ranked AJ Pouch as men’s verbal commitments in the program’s first full recruiting cycle with Sergio Lopez as the program’s head coach.

Koeppen is primarily a sprint freestyler and backstroker from Machine Aquatics in Arlington, Virginia, he represents Langley High School scholastically.

Best Times (Yards):

  • 50 free – 21.58
  • 100 free – 47.25
  • 200 free – 1:45.17
  • 100 back – 51.41
  • 200 back – 1:52.15

Best Times (Meters):

  • 50 free – 24.55
  • 100 free – 53.32
  • 200 free – 2:00.31
  • 100 back – 59.33 (Winter Juniors cut)
  • 200 back – 2:09.97

After skipping most of the 2016 and 2017 long course seasons, Koeppen jumped back in in 2018 with lifetime bests in 9 events. That includes his first Winter Juniors cut, in the 100 back, at NCSA Junior Nationals.

That mirrors a yards trend, where he erupted as a junior. For example, he improved his 100 yard free time from a 52.3 as a sophomore to a 47.2 as a junior, and his 50 free from 24.1 to 21.5. He dropped 4 seconds in his 100 back, and 13 seconds in his 200 back. It’s those drops that make Koeppen an exciting prospect, in spite of times that wouldn’t rank among the top 100 in the ACC – this is a commitment that will be easier to evaluate after his senior season of high school or freshman season of college than at the present moment.

“I am super stoked to announce my verbal commitment to swim at Virginia Tech!” Koeppen said of his decision. “I am so excited to swim under Coach Sergio Miro Lopez and the rest of the amazing Hokie coaching staff next year. Thank you to my family, friends, and coaches for helping and supporting me along the way #GoHokies”

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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SwimCoachDad
6 years ago

VT is a great school and he will get a great education there, which really is the point. Hopefully he will have another huge year this year and drop some big time as his times are still well off what will score at their conference meet. I have a swimmer looking at VT and he was told, even with 2 Winter Juniors cuts, he isn’t fast enough to swim there.

Jmanswimfan
6 years ago

When did he last swim the 50 in meters crazy disparity

Anonymous
6 years ago

Puberty changes everything. Boys are often later as could be with this recruit (just a guess). If so, big shout out to parents, recruit and coaches that kept him in it! Your best is yet to come!!

IKnowHim
Reply to  Anonymous
6 years ago

He’s about 6’ 5”

capitalist
Reply to  IKnowHim
6 years ago

6’6″

Anonymous
Reply to  Anonymous
6 years ago

Great job staying with it. Much rest will pay off I think. My last 2 statements still hold. Best of luck to you!

capitalist
Reply to  Anonymous
6 years ago

get to practice kid

ExSwimmer
Reply to  Anonymous
5 years ago

Will – can you tell us more about your shoulder injury? Congrats on the huge time drops, kinda like letting the genie out of the bottle.

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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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