Spencer Carl, who hails from Holland, Michigan and attended West Ottawa High School, will transfer to Michigan in the fall along with Dylan Boyd (from Arizona State) and Leo Zabudkin (from Wingate). He will have three years of eligibility remaining when he arrives in Ann Arbor.
Carl spent his freshman year of college at University of Louisville where he specialized in fly and free. He swam in four dual meets for the Cardinals and at Winter Nationals in December. The year before, he had won both the 200 free (1:37.08) and 500 free (4:26.89) at the 2017 MHSAA Division I State Championships. He also anchored West Ottawa’s 200 free relay (20.70) to 3rd place and led off their 4th-place 400 free relay (45.93).
Representing Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics at last summer’s Speedo Junior Nationals, he placed 17th in the 200 free (1:52.91) and 21st in the 200 back (2:05.11). In 2016 he had been 6th in the 100 fly and 7th in the 200 fly.
Top SCY times:
- 200 free – 1:36.31
- 500 free – 4:26.89
- 100 fly – 47.61
- 200 fly – 1:44.10
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What’s not talked about is the number of college swimmers who actually quit. That would be interesting to know as well. The demand of college swimming is just that, it’s demanding and you have to want it and love it.
Agree. Would like to have even a rough “estimate” of percent that quit the sport in college due to whatever reason.
So many transferring, why might that be?
Not knowing enough about the program and the school and the coach before going to the school? Would more time during recruiting trip help make different decisions?
My questions have nothing to do with this article but the number of transfers in general.
What’s the total number of collegiate swimmers in the country? I have no idea, but I have a hunch that the supposedly high number of transfers is a very small percentage — and not worth the hand wringing. Does anyone have firm numbers?
No “firm” number but approximately 194 D1 universities have swimming program. Average number of swimmers per team is approximately 30 (counting both men & women). That multiplication comes to about 5,820. Not as many as I originally thought!
Less than 80 entries in the SS list. Round up to 100 and transfers are still account for less than 2%. I don’t think that’s a “hair on fire” number.
NCAA data shows that the number of transfers in college swimming is actually declining as a big-picture trend.
It is because there are articles almost every time a transfer happens now. Just a few yearsago someone would wonder where a swimmer went and post in the comments section and then people would start searching and respond back that way.
Simple now because SwimSwam makes our life easier.
Why is there a view that transferring is an issue? If someone takes a new job or moves to a new city, it’s usually accompanied with “congratulations!”
Why is this different?
Because the whole premise of collegiate athletic fandom revolves around ‘loyalty’ and ‘hey that guy liked the same school as I liked, so we must be the same!’
It’s the same reason why paying college athletes is a dangerous game.
I’m not saying it’s right, but there’s a reason why college athletics are a billion dollar business in the US and nowhere else on earth.
Welcome back to MI Spencer. Go Blue!
Next stop, Indiana or Arizona State?
Why would he go backwards?
The swimswam transfer tracker is SICK!
Say “swimswam transfer tracker” 5 times fast..
Looks like he wanted to be close to home & MI is a great team.