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Toni Dragoja, a Croatian native, recently announced his decision to transfer to the University of Alabama beginning this fall (2024). After spending his freshman year at St Francis College Brooklyn in New York, a D1 program in the Northeast Conference (NEC), Dragoja transferred to George Washington University for his sophomore year, which leaves him with 2 years of remaining eligibility.
Dragoja is a Croatian National Team Member, and represented the nation at both the 2021 and 2022 European Junior Championships. His highest placing was at the 2022 championships, where he placed 23rd in the 100 back with a 57.27 and 27th in both the 50 free (23.54) and 50 back (26.59).
Best time progression:
| At St Francis College Brooklyn (New York) | At George Washington University (GWU) | |
| 50 free | 20.42 | 19.70 |
| 100 free | 44.42 | 42.67 |
| 200 free | 1:36.72 | 1:33.25 |
| 100 back | 49.18 | 49.18 |
| 200 back | 1:53.61 | 1:53.61 |
During his freshman campaign at St Francis College, Dragoja was a 2x NEC Champion in the 50 (20.42) and 200 free (1:36.77). He additionally placed 4th in the 100 back (49.35) and 9th in the 200 back (1:53.61). At the same NEC championships, Dragoja also led off St Francis’ 400 medley relay in a 49.18, 800 free relay in a 1:36.72, and 400 free relay in 44.42, all of which were personal bests. Following Dragoja’s freshman season, however, St. Francis eliminated its entire Division 1 athletic program, which was made up of 19 athletic teams.
After transferring to GWU the next year, Dragoja went on to make huge strides to further improve his personal bests across his 3 primary events. At the Atlantic 10 Championships, Dragoja was a 2-time champion, taking 1st place in both the 100 (42.71) and 200 free (1:33.25) while placing 4th in the 50 free (19.70).
GWU ultimately won the Atlantic 10 Championship for the 5th time in 6 years, sweeping both men’s and women’s conference titles. Despite the program’s successes, at the end of this past season, head coach Brian Thomas announced his departure from the program. Furthermore, in February, the university announced plans to build a basketball facility over their Smith Center natatorium before declaring in late April that the plans would not go through for the foreseeable future due to issues concerning renovation plans.
Dragoja has the potential to make an immediate impact for Alabama this coming season—he would have ranked 3rd, 4th, and 3rd in the 50/100/200 frees, respectively, on the team’s roster this past year. At the 2024 Men’s NCAA championships, Alabama placed 19th overall, while at SECs, the team finished 7th out of 10 teams. To qualify for a second swim at SECs, it took a 42.92 in the 100 free and a 1:35.40 in the 200.
This fall, the Crimson Tide will welcome class of 2024 recruits Jeremy Rosen, Noah Saylor, Leyton Roe, Jarret Payne, Adam Varga, Sebastian Wenger, Cole Witmer, and Jake Kennedy. In addition to Dragoja, Alabama looks to add transfer Lance Johnson, a breaststroker who spent his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. He holds best times of 53.95/1:56.69 in the 100/200 breast.
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“Drago! Drago!” ~ Rocky
Excited to see him go 1:34 next year!
Imagine multiple high school athletes that have bigger upside and faster times in some events that you don’t bother to recruit.
I may be off but I believe 3 high school kids swam faster than 1:33.2 in the 200 free this year, Thomas heilman, Kai winkler and max Williamson. So yes I guess you’re right multiple have faster times. Though I’m very confident that Alabama tried to recruit those 3, but lost out to the schools they picked (just like every other school in the country besides the schools they picked)
I highly doubt Bama even tried to recruit them. That would require picking up the phone. From what I’ve heard from coaches in that part of the country, the staff does not communicate too well.
Are you mad they didn’t recruit your son?
Agreed that he’s transferred both times for good reason, but I don’t think that needs to be in the title. Let the readers find out why in the opening graph.
ClIcKbAiT
Sounds like Alabama’s gonna drop their men’s program next year
I highly doubt that as well. Although with the current NIL stuff, many teams may be dropping all at once…
Why was the 2 back even included?
Bama is doing their best to hold on to what they once were… News Flash – their AD hired a Non-Coach as its Head Coach a few years ago. Since then, they have dropped in both performance/rankings at D1 level. Apparently, she is more concerned with everyone singing “Kumbaya”. Getting rid of both Ozzie and Barber are now catching up…
Swimmers: “Coach was mean to me”
Also swimmers: “Coach was too nice to me”
Based on the stuff I’ve seen out of the Alabama program over the last few years, I think any good coach would be focused on Kumbaya first and foremost. It’s called “culture building.”
Bless the haters. Alabama is where Legends are made! Auburn is low rent with has no money.
You do realize Auburn kicked our ass this year right? They are definitely going to do it again this season.
Auburn is recruiting really good swimmers. Our coaches can’t recruit, let alone turn in a scratch sheet at SEC champs this year.
These are all just the facts and something we deal with as parents on the team.
Super hard to recruit when the literal parents of your current athletes are actively and negatively recruiting against you, both on the internet and IRL.
I know y’all think you’re helping in some way, but to the rest of us it’s very obvious that you’re intentionally crushing the team.
Your an Auburn parent jealous of your big brother!
Wocho was a much better hire, point blank. He proved his capabilities at Houston and moved up. Margo was thrown a great team she didn’t deserve and we get worse every season. I’d rather see Chuck Horton doing nothing on the pool deck, again, instead of this.
And publicly tossing the coaching staff (and the coaches of your own swimmer)under the bus will help how …… ?
Calling some a good coach as the team slides down the rankings year after year is a bit of a stretch, especially when that’s your entire coaching resume.
“Bama is doing their best to hold on to what they once were”
Are they supposed to try and get worse?
Let the haters hate! Welcome to Alabama no drama like Auburn!
Alabama and drama look like they would rhyme but they don’t unless you have a certain kind of accent.
If you call call coaching up SMU with only 6 swimmers.