Margarita Ryan of Rockville Montgomery Swim Club tweeted out the following earlier this week, declaring her intention to swim for Virginia Tech:
@swimswamnews Margarita Ryan commits to Virginia Tech pic.twitter.com/2edjubdjs1
— John B (@beegswim) October 7, 2015
Ryan competes for Sherwood High School and finished third at last year’s Metro Championships at the Germantown Indoor Aquatic Center in the 100 backstroke. She swims primarily bacsktroke and freestyle events:
- 100 Backstroke: 56.57
- 200 Backstroke: 2:03.33
- 100 Free: 52.36
- 200 Free: 1:52.57
Her times are trending in the right direction (she dropped a full second in the 100 back as a junior, and almost 4 in the 200 back), and she’s a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American already. She also comes from one of the Mid-Atlantic region’s top clubs, and one that the Hokies have dipped in many times before, including fellow 2016 commit Sydney Kirsch.
Ryan would not have scored at last year’s ACC Championship in either backstroke race, however. With the ACC expanding to 24 place scoring last year, it still took 55.18 and 2:01.74 to make the C-Final in 100 and 200 backstrokes, and Ryan is still short of those times (though she hasn’t shown a plateau yet).
She’ll have some work to do to climb up the depth chart in Blacksburg as well, as the Hokies had four scorers, none older than a junior, in the 100 backstroke last year. However, with their 2012 facility upgrade, Virginia Tech can afford to take some chances with a big roster and see whether Ryan can develop into a contributor for them.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected]
Blazing a new path while following her dad Dave ’83. How great for VT to maintain their connection with this wonderful family!!