Sam Senczyszyn, a former Wisconsin high school state champ and big-time Arizona Wildcats commit, has joined the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in a game-changing pickup for the Division III Blugolds.
Senczyszyn was a multi-time state champion in Wisconsin’s high school Division 2, and was notably the first verbal commitment for head coach Rick DeMont at big-time Division I program Arizona.
But somewhere along the line, Senczyszyn elected to stay closer to home, and UW-Eau Claire coach Annie Ryder confirmed that Senczyszyn would be part of the Blugolds’ freshman class this season.
“[Senczyszyn] is a great addition to our program and joins a talented hard working group of women,” Ryder said. “She along with many others on the team are building on UW-Eau Claire’s success in the last few years and positioning the team to be even better.”
“We have big goals and she will have a big part of that. Sam has been wonderful to work with, very coachable and a wonderful teammate.”
Senczyszyn is a gigantic pickup for Eau Claire, which competes in the NCAA’s Division III and the WIAC at the conference level. She comes in with best times faster than the Blugold school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM, and should be the favorite for the WIAC title in basically any of those events, depending on where Ryder chooses to plug her in.
Senczyszyn’s Top Times
- 50 free: 22.91
- 100 free: 50.56
- 100 breast: 1:00.76
- 200 breast: 2:15.07
- 200 IM: 2:03.76
- 400 IM: 4:26.28
On top of that, Senczyszyn could turn out to be a threat for Division III NCAA titles as a freshman, if she can repeat or improve those times, particularly in the 50 free and both breaststrokes.
Senczyszyn is a terrific NCAA prospect in terms of size as well – we noted in our coverage of her Arizona commitment last year that Senczyszyn stands 6-foot-1 with a long frame that should offer great potential for strength gains as her career continues.
UW – Eau Claire was 4th at WIACs last year and 28th at NCAAs.
Wisconsin weather is too good to leave. Love coming out of practice in january when its -10 deg and having your hair freeze into a block of ice. Could never swim in warm weather, especially outdoors in non-chlorinated air!
Spaay
Two elite Wisconsin breastrokers that originally choose Arizona have stayed in Wisconsin to swim D3. Amy Spayy swam for Arizona than went back to Swim at U-W whitewater.
Go Blugolds!!!!!!!!!
Eau Claire is the best
She’s really close to D3 records in the breaststroke.