Thomas Dillinger Commits to Penn; Quakers Can Expect Wide-Reaching Immediate Impact

Thomas Dillinger, 17, a member of the Greenwich YWCA Dolphins Swim Team and Greenwich High School has committed to the University of Pennsylvania for his college choice.

Dillinger, coming off a pair of strong December weekends at the ATT USA National Swimming Championships and the Speedo Tom Dolan Invitational, pushed to the top of the 2015 rankings in Connecticut.

At the Senior National Meet in Greensboro earlier this month, Dillinger posted career best efforts in reaching the B finals of the 200 and 400-IM with respective times of 1:48.65 and 3:53.77. He also posted a time of 56.92 in the 100-Breastsroke; 45.67 in the 100-Free; 51.13 in the 100-Back and 20.65 in the 50-Free. In the meet’s long course time trials he dropped his 50-Free to 26.64, closing in on the Olympic Trial Cut.

At the Tom Dolan Invitational in Maryland, Dillinger posted best times of 20.54 in the 50-yard Free; 51.03 in the 100-Back and 1:48.92 and 2:01.43 respectively in the 200-Back and 200-Breatstroke events.

Last season as a junior he helped GHS to a State title winning the 200-IM (1:49.64) and the 500-Free (4:36.50) and swam legs of 20.31 and 45.32 on the schools 200 and 400-yard Relays.

Speaking of Dillinger, Dolphins Coach Nick Cavataro noted, “Thomas has elevated his weight room work and continues to work on his underwater and strokes. He has an exceptional ability to train, and enjoys the challenge of a wide range of events. Ultimately, I do think he will end up as an IM swimmer at Penn, but his breast, back and sprint free continue to improve.”

Dillinger, who is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All American, National Honor Society Member, Connecticut Scholar Athlete is also a five time NICSA/Speedo All0American.

Dillinger also was a “C” finalist two times at the USA Junior National Championships (summer and winter).

Among the most versatile swimmers in Connecticut Swimming and equally adept at Short and Long Course, Dillinger’s best times are:

50Y- Free – 20.54
100Y -Free – 45.44
200Y -Free – 1:39.94
500Y – Free – 4:32.42
1000Y- Free – 9:27.97
1650Y-Free – 15:58.70
100Y-Back- 51.03
200Y-Back – 1:48.92
100Y-Brst – 56.92
200Y-Brst – 2:01.43
200Y IM – 1:48.65
400Y-IM – 3:53.77

50M- Free – 23.64
100M -Free – 51.61
200M -Free – 1:55.93
400M- Free – 4:06.73
200M IM – 2:06.56
400Y-IM – 4:33.67

Above is a press release submitted to SwimSwam.