19-Point 50 Yard Freestyler James Misto (2023) Signs with Bryant University

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James Misto, a sprint freestyle and butterfly specialist from Lincoln, Rhode Island, has signed to swim and study at in-state Bryant University starting in the fall of 2023. Misto has already flat-started sub-20 seconds in the 50 yard freestyle; while sub-20 second high school swims are becoming more common (there have been about 25 of them so far this season), it’s still rare for those sub-20 second swimmers to commit to mid-major schools like Bryant, making this a huge home-state coup for the Bulldogs.

Among those who have committed outside the Power 5 teams, most have been at Ivy League schools, with one going to the US Naval Academy.

“It is with humility that I announce my verbal commitment to study and swim Division I at Bryant University! I’d like to thank my family, friends, coaches, and the Bryant staff for helping me make this choice. I’m super excited to see what the future holds. Go Bulldogs!”

Misto is in his senior year at Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, but competes year-round for Gators Swim Club over state lines in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Misto’s best events include the 50/100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. He has achieved his best times in these events all within the last year.

Misto had a great meet at the 2022 Speedo Winter Junior Championships East with personal best in the 50-yard free(20.31) and the 100-yard free (45.34), placing 18th and 36th respectively. Then, just a week later at the BGSC New England Senior Meet, Misto set another personal best in the 50-yard freestyle, winning with a time of 19.98 and breaking 20 seconds for the first time. Misto hit a best time in his 100-yard butterfly at the same meet back in 2021, touching at a 48.46 in finals, shaving almost a full two seconds from his prelim swim of 50.29. Misto had a good long-course season as well, hitting best times in his 100-meter freestyle (52.07) and 100-meter butterfly (55.18) at the 2022 Summer Junior Nationals in August.

Best times SCY:

  • 50 free –19.98
  • 100 free –45.34
  • 200 free — 1:44.90
  • 100 fly — 48.46

Misto’s best times are faster than any Bryant swimmer has been this season in the 50/100 yard freestyles and the 100 yard fly, and second to only junior Chase Konstantakos in the 200 free (1:41.50). 

His 19.98 50-yard free is good enough to beat the school record of 20.44 and would set the Northeast Conference Championship record, beating Long Island University’s Alejandro Pascual De Cid’s winning time of 20.30 from 2022.  Misto’s current 100-yard fly best time would have set another Northeast Conference Championship record, beating out Howard University’s Mark-Anthony Beckle’s winning time of 48.86 from 2022. He would have placed fourth in the 100-yard free (winning time 44.33). 

The Bryant University men, though, were only a part of the Northeast Conference for two seasons and claimed the conference title in both years. Beginning in 2023, they will compete in the America East. Generally a deeper conference, Misto’s best time in the 50 free still would have won the America East title last season (nobody was under 20 seconds), and his best times in the 100 free and 100 fly both would have qualified him for the top half of A finals in those events.

Bryant’s current best sprinters, Reese Stevenson and Chase Konstantakos will be seniors by fall 2023, and unless they take a fifth year, they will only overlap with Misto for his freshman season. 

Misto is the first commitment to Bryant University’s men’s team so far for the class of 2027 and will be joining the Bulldogs in fall 2023.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Bryant swim mom
1 year ago

How about the fact that Bryant isn’t even in the NEC anymore? They are now part of America East

Anona-tom
1 year ago

Congrats James! Go have fun with some old teammates. Great to see you improve as you moved away from previous clubs!

Dogz
1 year ago

Best local recruit (out of high school) at Bryant since Hall of Famer Casey Ostrander ‘13! Well done, Go Dogs!

HJones
Reply to  Dogz
1 year ago

With all due respect to Casey Ostrander, Mistro is probably the best recruit out of high school Bryant has ever had. Not sure how many other recruits they’ve had who were at the level of winning a B final at Summer Juniors.

Admin
Reply to  HJones
1 year ago

Casey had a fantastic career there (her official bio labels her “the greatest swimmer in program history”), and was a four-time NEC Swimmer of the Year (wild), but I think a lot of that development was at Bryant. She was only a 58.1 in the 100 back out of high school, in 2009 (the supersuit era). Got down to 54.9 at Bryant.

So she’s still the target James is chasing as far as “best Bulldog ever,” but I think he’s the better recruit out of high school.

A J
1 year ago

Chase konstantakos ncaa qualifier this year 100%

Drew Jalbert
1 year ago

What an absolute dog best ever recruit out of Rhody

Poppa Smith
Reply to  Drew Jalbert
1 year ago

James I am so very proud of you (as I am of all my grandchildren).
Poppa (BS ‘71, MBA 79)

Last edited 1 year ago by Poppa Smith
Brian
Reply to  Drew Jalbert
1 year ago

Actually, who is the best recruit ever from Rhode Island? Brooke Ziegler comes to mind
https://swimswam.com/bio/brooke-zeiger/

Swim Kim
Reply to  Brian
1 year ago

Elizabeth Beisel?

Brian
Reply to  Brian
1 year ago

Elizabeth Beisel!

Admin
Reply to  Brian
1 year ago

This is one of those “oops I forgot about that one” moments 😅

Penguin
Reply to  Brian
1 year ago

Max Miranda

was #2 behind phelps for 13-14 200 fly lcm (phelps nag still hasnt been broken)

https://swimswam.com/2014-swammy-awards-age-group-swimmer-year-13-14/

took time off then ended up at notre dame

NCAA>ISL
1 year ago

It was a 54.18 100m fly

PsychoDad
1 year ago

The main reason very fast kids end up at mid-majors is those colleges are first to contact a kid, who may not be that fast when they contacted him. Some kids appreciate that and if they also develop good relationship with coaches and like team chemistry, they end up there. Good luck to James.

Old Swim Coach
Reply to  PsychoDad
1 year ago

My son recently went through the recruiting process and Bryant was the only non D1 school to contact him on June 15th. It really stuck out to us that they were the only non D1 school. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take! Good for Bryant for getting after it!

olde coach
Reply to  Old Swim Coach
1 year ago

I believe Bryant is Div I??????

Admin
Reply to  olde coach
1 year ago

They are, that’s correct.

Slim Creeper
1 year ago

Campus is less than a mile from his house. He decided that’s what was best for him – good for him. Hope it works out, seems talented!