Though Eric Hansen’s first season in Tucson was largely successful, especially in terms of the men’s team and swimmers hitting best times, apparently not every member of the team was 100% happy. But this is normal whenever a coaching change is made; every swimmer doesn’t fit well with every coach, which is why the recruiting process exists in the first place.
That’s why three swimmers were granted their releases from Arizona this week – Aubrey Peacock, Hallie Stupp, and Lindsay Seemann.
Off the three, the most significant loss is undoubtedly Peacock, who was an NCAA qualifier and anchored the Wildcats’ 200 free relay with a 22.03. Overall, however, her sophomore year at Tucson didn’t finish as successfully as her freshman year, where most of her best times were done. That includes a 22.79 flat-start in the 50 free.
As a sophomore, she moved away from the sprint freestyles a bit and more toward the backstrokes and butterflies. In the 100 back, she tied her best time in 53.23, and in the 100 fly she went a 53.77, though both were at the mid-season UT Invite.
She didn’t score any individual points at NCAA’s last year, however, despite finishing 10th in the 200 back as a freshman.
Stupp, also a sophomore, is best in the 100 fly, where she went a 54.67 to finish off her freshman season. She too wasn’t as good as a sophomore, peaking with a 55.36 (also at the UT Invite). Stupp did land on the Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention Team.
Seemann is a Canadian (also a sophomore, and also with quite a few academic honors to her name). Illness during her freshman season has impeded her overall progress after coming in as a Canadian Olympian, but she’s still been good (and most importantly, versatile) for the Wildcats. As a freshman, she still mustered bests of 1:49.5 in the 200 free and 55.49 in the 100 back.
As a sophomore, though, she did improve in her primary events – the 500 free and the 400 IM. Her best 500 time was 4:45.32, and her best 400 IM time was 4:45.32, both swum at the mid-season UT Invite. She was the team’s fastest 400 IM’er during the 2011-2012 season.
The losses may be somewhat mitigated if the Wildcats can land former LSU star Amanda Kendall. Arizona is reported to be one of the team’s in the running for her final season of college eligibility after she took a visit to campus two weeks ago.
This has generated as much drama as UT women’s Kim Brackin issues and Michael Andrews.
JC, Swimfan123 – I am not Eric- pretty sure he’s not a parent. SWIM- wrong again- not out late & drinking & typing- I don’t do that.This is becoming laughable now that many of you on here continue to write this fiction drama- entertaining in fact. 😀
Agree with swimnut. This site should do whatever it can to prevent criticism of coaches or swimmers. I mean, haven’t you ever watched how bigger sports like basketball and football are treated on ESPN? Nobody ever criticizes athletes and coaches there. That’s why those sports are so popular, and their athletes make so much money, because it’s all warm-fuzzies.
(note: I don’t agree with swimnut at all).
Swimming will never be bigtime with attitdues like swimnut’s.
Although this website is really interesting and has much potential, the reporting of 3 swimmers transferring and/or a club coach’s dismissal as important news stories should be reconsidered. It opens the door for attacks on Eric (J.C., swimcoach and company )that can only be defended with negative comments about Kevin, Frank or perhaps the work ethics of the transfers. No one wants to go there. I can’t imagine that you will do this every time that a club coach is let go or when college swimmers transfer, are kicked off their team or quit.
lol to swimfan123 – I am not Johnno or a coach on deck there. I can’t speak for Tallswimmer as I don’t know who they are but that makes sense. I’ve been involved with swimming for over twenty years- johnno is much younger than I am,
Then hello Eric 🙂
I second that hello Eric.
Wasn’t Maggie the only National Champion Eric has ever coached? Also, Zonafan need to relax…2am posts? Someone’s been drinkin’ and typin’.
swim – no, she wasn’t. 🙂
Oh that’s right…Carly Piper.
Thank you Johnno (zonafan) and Maggie Meyer (tallswimmer) for your insightful comments 😉 It is nice to have information straight from the deck.
YOU’RE WELCOME SWIMFAN123 🙂 I do know the facts & I felt it was time to speak up.
Well, I know who tallswimmer is. It’s definitely not Maggie.
I agree with most of what you say Dave Rollins. I apologize for the ranting but I guess i reached my limit on hearing all this negative gossip from other parents & others on here, blogs & at the pool. It’s been going on since Kevin was fired & I was tired of hearing that the UA swim program & Ford are in trouble or going down the tubes. I shouldn’t have ranted but you’re not hearing what I am as you’re not here anymore. I don’t believe it’s fair for people to say all this negative stuff without knowing the facts. In my opinion, It seems to me & others, that some of these allies of Kevin’s (parents, friends… Read more »
J.C. , Did you swim for Eric? Do you know him personally?
Just curious.
I swam for him, and to this day credit him for helping me become the person I am today. He called me on my freshman bullsh*t, and developed me from a Junior National qualifier to a National Champion.
Not everyone gets along with him, sure, but if you were willing to be coachable, work hard, and and commit, he’s among the best.
Favorite thing Eric said to me (not sure where it originated) was that there are 3 components to a Student Athlete’s life. School, Athletics, and Partying. You can only be good at 2 of the 3, so choose wisely.
Thanks for the positive comments about Hansen. This is what I’ve heard from many of his post grad as well as UA swimmers who all swam for Busch prior to his arrival.