Jason O’Brien from North Coast Aquatics Commits to USC

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 4

September 27th, 2013 College, News, Pac-12

2012 Olympic Trials qualifier Jason O’Brien has verbally committed to USC, his North Coast Aquatics coach Jeff Pease confirmed to us today.

O’Brien is primarily a middle-distance freestyler, though his long course times thus far have exceeded his short course times.

In yards, he’s been 1:40.61 in the 200 free and 4:24.29 in the 500 free. That 500 free is the only time he has that meets the U.S. Open qualifying standard in yards.

In long course, though, he’s shown a great versatility. In the 200-1500 meter freestyles, he’s been 1:54.57, 3:57.64, 8:14.97, and 16:08.51, and those times all came during his sophomore season when he was only 15 years old. His summer of 2012 was a bit rough, but in 2013 he was just about back to those same times again.

North Coast Aquatics has been a bit of a pipeline to USC in the last half-a-decade. According to the team’s website, they’ve sent 9 swimmers there all-time (second behind only UCSB and Cal all-time, with a much higher concentration as of late). That includes current freshman Kelsey Kafka and multiple-time freshman All-American last year Kendyl Stewart, among others.

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Lynn
10 years ago

Congratulations Jason!!

Sue Parnes
10 years ago

Congratulations Jason!! Fight On!

Phil Ladman
10 years ago

Much congratulations to Jason. Not only a talented swimmer but a great person as well.

Sizzie2012
10 years ago

Congratulations to USC and Jason. While the times may not reflect this, Jason is incredibly talented. He will blossom with Salo’s middle distance group after years of heavy yardage at NCA!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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