14-time NCAA All-American Maddy Schaefer is no longer swimming for Stanford, the program’s head coach confirmed to SwimSwam on Sunday afternoon.
Schaefer, who is in her final year of eligibility, has earned All-American honors individually in the 50 and 100 frees in each of the last three seasons, in addition to 8 relay honors.
Her last meet with the Cardinal will go down as the Art Adamson Invitational in November, where Schaefer swam very well. Her 21.93 in the 50 free and 48.25 in the 100 free, which ranked her 4th and 11th, respectively, in the country so far.
Some combination of Julia Ama and Lindsey Engel are the logical replacements for Schaefer in the Stanford free relays in what is probably the best-equipped team in the country to take this kind of a loss.
The sprint freestyle specialist has four times in her Stanford career finished in the top 8 at the NCAA Championships individually. She was as high as 4th in the 50 free in 2013, and 6th in 2014 as a junior; and to that added an 8th-place finish in the 100 free in 2012 in her freshman season and a 7th-place finish in 2014.
Her three NCAA event titles have all come in relays, and all came last season, where she was a part of the winning 200 and 400 free relays.
In her three-and-a-half seasons with the Cardinal, Schaefer proved as a vital bridge in the Stanford sprint group between the Betsy Webb, Sam Woodward era, and the current Janet Hu, Simone Manuel, Lia Neal era, that has seen Stanford sustain as one of the best women’s sprint groups in the NCAA.
Even without adding what projected to be more awards during her senior season, Schaefer’s list of honors will leave her with a point of distinction even among a long legacy with the Cardinal program.
Isn’t she also on the WUGs team this summer?
Swimfan – she is, scheduled to swim the 400 free relay.
Maddy – I love you, my birthday buddy, and hope everything is okay in your life.
“Friend” is clearly not a friend. Not true.
As someone close to the situation, please know that this was a case of a swimmer truly not enjoying the sport anymore. The timing is not ideal, but many of you know how hard it can be to swim for the wrong reasons or if your heart isn’t in it anymore.
Does she have a tough senior thesis going on?
Wouldn’t be surprised if she’s done with swimming – a lot of swimmers pick Stanford for the academics as much as sport. It helps them get recruits, but some can’t/won’t focus totally on swimming.
I really wish I could post a meme or gif here cause I know the perfect one. it can be summed up with someone yelling TELL ME WHY!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isn4CvyIKhI
you beautiful bass you… (that’s the family friendly version)
I’m sad to see that happen. Stanford freestyle relays are still great but will be much less dominant without Maddy Schaefer. And hopefully it will not stop the momentum the women’s Stanford team had. Especially its sprint group.
I’m still not a college specialist but I try to learn each year and about that kind of news, I always wonder why we almost never know the true reasons immediately. Why is there so much secret around college sports? There’s nothing written on the Stanford website so far.
Other story in the weekend. Women’s Cal team against Arizona. On Cal website, we can read that “Sophomore Celina Li was held out of meet for violating team rules , McKeever said”.… Read more »
From my college experience, “violating team rules” usually means partying during designated ‘dry’ times of the season. It could be other things though, and I have no knowledge about Li specifically.
Thanks.
And about that culture of secret in college sports? Perhaps I’m wrong but that’s the impression I have. If we quickly had the reasons then it would prevent people from speculating.
These are not pro athletes, they are young people in a transitional phase of their lives. Kids have stopped swimming for any number of reasons in the past. Just because someone does not feel obligated to share their reasons with the curious swim fans does not mean that it is a secret. Sites like Swimswam are great for up to date info for people that love the sport, but also seem to foster the belief that we should get to know anything and everything we want about someone just because they are or were a swimmer.
I didn’t talk specifically about Maddy Schaefer. She has her own reasons and you’re right, if she doesn’t want to share them, no problem.
But take the example of Bauerle/Kalisz case. It took much time to know the truth. And during that time some people talk, talk and talk.
Many if not most universities have rules/laws in place that do not allow them to talk about personnel matters. As far as they are concerned there is no story until whatever ruling body( ncaa, criminal court, etc.) comes down with a public decision.
But you are right about people talking. Despite this, SOMEONE must due their due diligence and get all of the facts wieghed before the true story is told. Unfortuneatly people do not want to wait that long.
Ps.
No malice towards you, Bobo or Swimswam just thought this an appropriate place to complain about the prevalent desire to know EVERYTHING, NOW.
Wow! What a surprise. Important to note, if her last meet was before the start of the new year, MSchaefer may still have a year of eligibility left so we may see her swim again in the NCAA… Perhaps finishing out her eligibility as a 5th year or a grad student. Hopefully, whatever prompted her decision will not preclude her from finishing up her academics and obtaining her degree from Stanford. This Stanford team will miss her; however, the Stanford relays are still likely to rule the relay portion of the NCAA meet in Greensboro, as they did in Minneapolis last NCAA’s, 2114.
I too hope she’s OK. Wishing her only the best!
I would think if she competed this season she would have used her 4th year of eligibility. In football if you play one play you burn your redshirt unless your season is ended due to injury and you played less than 20% of the season or something like that.