Indiana has been snagging big names left and right this summer, making for a whirlwind of a recruiting boost spun up by head coach Ray Looze. They add Croatian sprinter Bruno Blaskovic to the mix, a very dangerous young sprinter who should be a significant addition to the IU program.
Blaskovic’s Top Times (LCM)
- 50 free 22.25
- 100 free 50.14
- 50 fly 23.98
Blaskovic has made huge strides in his 50 free, particularly. Swimming at the 2015 World Jr Championships in Singapore, Blaskovic finished 19th in the 50 free with a 23.26. Just one year later, and earlier this summer, Blaskovic competed at the 2016 European Jr Championships and rocketed to a 22.25 to win the silver medal in that same event. In addition, he led off Croatia’s 4×100 free relay in prelims at Euro Jrs with a 50.14, nearing the 50-second threshold.
Blaskovic is also a great sprint butterflier, having finished 5th at the 2015 World Jr Champs and the 2016 Euro Jr Champs in the 50 fly.
“I think Indiana is the best fit for me, they have really great academics and also they have very fast swimming. The coaches are really great, and I am friends at Indiana with Andrej Ivanovic. He helped me a lot with my decision and I’m really thankful for what he has done for me. The Indiana program will help me to make my dreams come true and be in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics and become faster than what I am now.”
Blaskovic notes that Croatian Andrej Ivanovic was a big part in getting him connected with the IU coaches. Ivanovic is a junior with the IU program, and specializes in distance freestyle.
In terms of what Blaskovic can do for IU, he could immediately contribute to several relays. Let’s not forget that this summer, IU has added Egyptian 23.0/49.6/1:50.0 LCM sprinter Mohamed Samy, 19.9/43.9 SCY sprinter Josh Romany from Tennessee, as well as 20.6/45.6 SCY sprinter Harold Duke from D3 Emory University. Those are three very solid additions, and while we can’t compare them all in yards yet, Blaskovic could be the most exciting. His 50 free converts to a 19.32, while his 50 fly is a 20.97 in yards.
Indiana returns Olympic sprinters Blake Pieroni, Ali Khalafalla, and Anze Tavcar to their lineup this upcoming season. Suddenly, between those three, the incoming talent, and other sprint names like Oliver Patrouch and Sam Lorentz, the Hoosiers are starting to look like one of the best sprint schools in the nation, and will be a serious force in the Big Ten.
What academic year does he start?
2017-2018
Looking forward to seeing the IU sprint revolution unfold.
Dennis Dale will do a great job coaching these sprinters!
They also added Marwan El Kamash (although having not seen his name lately and they’re adding all these others makes me wonder)
Marwan is 100% starting in the fall and should be a great addition.