The University of Tampa will bring in a total of 20 new swimmers (7 women, 13 men) to begin the 2015- 2016 season. Ed Brennan begins his 37th year as the Spartans’ head coach, one in which the women will look to improve upon a 3rd place finish at the 2015 Sunshine State Conference and a 13th place finish at 2015 NCAA Championships and the men will hope to move up from their 3rd place SSC and 9th place NCAA final rankings, respectively, while also continuing the program’s excellent academic record.
Makayla Ayers (Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club/Tallahassee, FL) highlights the incoming women’s class, including current best times that would have earned her an invitation to the 2015 NCAA Championships.
Allison Hutchins (Duanesburg Electric Eels/Schenectady, NY) and Brittany Murphy (The Woodlands Swim Team/Spring, TX) will help with freestyle relay depth, while Victoria Horsman (Lakeside Swim Team/Louisville, KY) and Isabelle Spalding (Patriot Aquatics/Apopka, FL) help reload the butterfly events.
The depth of the women’s class shows itself at the conference level, as all seven incoming swimmers could score significant points both individually and via relays at the SSC Championships.
The men’s incoming class is led by backstrokers Christian Berg (Southern Connecticut University/Groton, CT) and Thomas Roberts (Nova Centurion Swimming Club/Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom), who are both already within striking distance of NCAA invite times.
Corbin Cooper (Highlander Aquatic Club/Orlando, FL) and Marc-Olivier Caron (Club Aquatique de l’Outaouais/Gatineau, Canada) look to help solidify Tampa’s already superb sprint program, while Forrest Lundy (Magnolia Aquatic Club/Magnolia, TX) looks to help add depth with great versatility across a range of events.
The University of Tampa will begin its 2015-2016 campaign on October 16th against rival SSC foe Florida Southern.
Women
Makayla Ayers (Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club/Tallahassee, FL) 500Fr (4:58.77), 1000Fr (10:13.73), 1650Fr (17:08.98)
Victoria Horsman (Lakeside Swim Team/Louisville, KY) 100Fly (57.02), 200Fly (2:05.04), 500Fr (5:09.40)
Allison Hutchins (Duanesburg Electric Eels/Schenectady, NY) 50Fr (24.17), 100Fr (53.51), 200Fr (1:57.89)
Ali Lombardi (Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club/Tallahassee, FL) 100Br (1:06.32), 200Br (2:24.18), 200Fr (1:55.15)
Brittany Murphy (The Woodlands Swim Team/Spring, TX) 200Fr (1:53.17), 200Bk (2:07.27), 100Fly (58.03)
Lisa Rigby (Helsingborg Swim Team/Landskrona, Sweden) 50Fr (24.51), 100Fly (59.38), 200Bk (2:08.48)
Isabelle Spalding (Patriot Aquatics/Apopka, FL) 100Fly (57.80), 200Fly (2:05.42), 50Fr (24.77)
Men
Dalton Baxter (Union College/Woodstock, GA) 500Fr (4:36.56), 1000Fr (9:40.10), 1650Fr (16:06.72)
Christian Berg (Southern Connecticut University/Groton, CT) 200Bk (1:47.48), 100Bk (50.14), 200Fr (1:42.02)
Mauricio Calderon (Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club/Tallahassee, FL) 500Fr (4:41.04), 1000Fr (9:40.90), 400IM (4:12.98)
Marc-Olivier Caron (Club Aquatique de l’Outaouais/Gatineau, Canada) 100Fly (55.67, LCM), 200Fr (1:51.14, SCM), 200IM (2:04.01, SCM)
Corbin Cooper (Highlander Aquatic Club/Orlando, FL) 50Fr (20.89), 100Fr (46.21), 200Fr (1:42.36)
Justin Hedlund (Rockville Montgomery Swim Club/Silver Spring, MD) 200Bk (1:54.58), 500Fr (4:46.56), 1000Fr (9:54.15)
Freddy Hoban (City of Bradford Swim Club/Leeds, United Kingdom) 200Fr (1:54.75, SCM), 400Fr (4:13.03, LCM), 200FL (2:08.08, LCM)
Forrest Lundy (Magnolia Aquatic Club/Magnolia, TX) 100Br (57.32), 200Br (2:05.06), 200IM (1:52.45)
William Malone (Indian River Aquatics/Stuart, FL) 100Fr (46.61), 50Fr (22.20), 200Fr (1:44.00)
Matti Myllyaho (Vaasan Uimaseura/Vaasa, Finland) 200Fr (1:53.14, SCM), 800Fr (8:25.58, SCM), 400IM (4:31.08, SCM)
Thomas Roberts (Nova Centurion Swimming Club/Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom) 100Bk (58.53, LCM), 200Bk (2:04.29, LCM), 400Fr (4:12.72, LCM)
Nick Tinucci (Colorado Athletic Club/Castle Rock, CO) 400IM (4:06.48), 200IM (1:55.26), 500Fr (4:39.18)
Taylor Whitesel (Mason Makos Swim Team/Springfield, VA) 100FL (52.78), 200IM (1:57.85), 200Fr (1:46.47)
Swimming news courtesy of University of Tampa Swimming & Diving.