Image via Arizona State University
Retired sprinter Nick Brunelli has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Arizona State University. His career, which spanned the 2000-2004 seasons, saw him achieve All-American status fifteen times.
He splashed onto the scene in 2001, earning a first-team All-American selection as part of the 400 yard freestyle relay and an honorable mention in the 200 yard freestyle relay. In his sophomore season, Brunelli was part of a relay that set the 400 medley relay record at Arizona State.
Brunelli was primarily a freestyle swimmer, and holds several of the top ten times in ASU history in multiple events including the freestyle, 100 freestyle, the 200 freestyle, and the 100 backstroke. He won the men’s 200 freestyle during his senior year at the 2004 Pac-10 championships with an NCAA A cut qualifying time of 1:35.26.
After graduation Mr. Brunelli continued his swimming career, being selected to the 2005 World Championship team in the 50 freestyle. He would continue swimming as a part of U.S. Masters swimming for the North Carolina Masters Swimming program. In 2011 he set the U.S. Masters short course meters record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.98. After two attempts at making the U.S. Olympic team in 2004 and 2008, Brunelli swam his last meet as an elite athlete at the 2012 U.S. Open.
Post-swimming, Brunelli focused on his career in the field of business. He and his wife Jennifer had their first child in 2013. He still coaches a high school swim team in his spare time.
AB
Nick is an awesome guy! He has a motivating presence at meets and was inspirational to me back when I swam in college. Respect to you for what you earned and congratulations!
Biggest stud to never make an Olympic team
Congratulations, Nick! I’m proud to say I taught Mr. Brunelli how to swim, encouraged him to try competitive swimming and was the Head Ciach of his first team at the Hockomock YMCA in Massachusetts. In his very first race he broke a team record which had been set by the athlete who won the New England YMCA Championship in that event only a year before. I never met a swimmer with a better feel for the water or such easy speed! I wish him the best of luck in the future and thank him for all the excitement he gave me, watching the start of his career as a young boy. Nick, if you read this, please tell your Mom… Read more »
Dan! What a great surprise to read this comment! Thank you for starting my long career in this wonderful sport! My swimming probably would have never happened if it wasn’t for your phone call to my parents asking them to let me join the swim team at the Y. That was when I was 7 years old and little did I know, that phone call would change my life forever. Dan, I sencerly thank you for taking the time to encourage me and many others to swim!!!
I’ll for sure let me parents know you said hello!
Nick Brunelli
Nick, You made my day with your reply! I’ve often wondered whether you blamed me because, if I hadn’t called your parents that day, you might have become a rich professional baseball player! LOL! I’m glad to know you’re well and encouraging a new generation of swimmers yourself!