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Joe Hancock of Urbandale, Iowa, has verbally committed to the University of Denver in the fall of 2022. With his best times, he will provide an immediate impact for the Pioneers in mid-distance and distance freestyle events. He will be joining his twin Tommy Hancock as a Pioneer.
I am excited to verbally announce that I will be studying and swimming at the University of Denver. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me achieve this goal of swimming in college. Go Pios!
Hancock competes for Dowling Catholic High School and the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. He is an excellent distance freestyle swimmer who provides immediate “A” finals scoring potential for the Pioneers.
Top SCY Times
- 200 Freestyle: 1:41.31
- 500 Freestyle: 4:26.81
- 1000 Freestyle: 9:19.15
- 1650 Freestyle: 15:28.00
His best times in the 500 and 1650 freestyle would have won golds at the 2021 Summit League Championships. His 200 freestyle time would have also placed in the “A” finals.
Hancock set his personal best times in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle at the 2021 Speedo Sectionals in Des Moines earlier in March. This summer, he also competed in the Futures Championship meet at West Fargo, North Dakota, in the 200 (2:01.44) and 400 freestyle (4:16.45).
“I chose Denver,” Hancock added, “because of the amazing coaches and academics.”
Hancock will train under head coach Alicia Hicken-Franklin, who is in her third year at the university. Despite having only 11 men at the end of the 2020-2021 season, they still placed third overall at the Summit League Championships. Previously, the men dominated the conference and had won seven conference titles in a row.
The University of Denver is a private university located in Denver, Colorado. Before last year’s third-place finish, the Pioneer men had won seven conference championships in a row. In 2020, they ran away with the conference title by over 350 points.
Hancock will arrive in Denver next fall as a member of the class of 2026. He will be joined by his brother Tommy Hancock, Dylan Mes, Noah Laird, and Liam Simmons, all of whom can make an impact as a Pioneer. Mes’ best times would have claimed “A” final finishes in the 200 and 500 freestyle, 200 backstroke, and 200 butterfly. Laird’s top times would have scored in the “A” finals for the 100 and 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and breaststroke, as well as the 200 and 400 IM. Simmons also provides “A” finals scoring capability in the 100 and 200 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, and 200 and 400 IM.
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