2025 NCAA relay swimmer Daniel Eichel will transfer from Minnesota to Texas A&M. Eichel just finished his sophomore season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
The Israel native began his collegiate career in fall 2024 and scored 37 individual points as a freshman at the 2025 Big Ten Championships. There he was 12th in the 200 fly (1:43.72), 14th in the 200 free (1:34.86), and 17th in the 500 free (4:17.28). He also swam on Minnesota’s 800 free relay that was 5th.
He went on to swim at the 2025 NCAA Championships as a relay only swimmer. He led off Minnesota’s 800 free relay in a 1:34.21. That relay finished 24th.
He returned for his sophomore season and scored 31 points at the 2026 Big Ten Championships. He was 14th in the 500 free, 15th in the 200 fly, and 19th in the 200 free. He most notably swam a lifetime best 4:16.70 500 free during prelims.
Just two weeks after Big Tens, he swam another lifetime best in the 500 free with a 4:14.33 at the Minnesota Last Chance Meet. It took a 4:13.82 500 free to earn an individual invite to the 2026 NCAA Championships.
Eichel’s Best Times Are:
- 200 free: 1:34.00
- 500 free: 4:14.33
- 200 fly: 1:43.72
Eichel will transfer to Texas A&M, a team that finished 30th at the 2026 NCAA Championships, one spot ahead of 31st place Minnesota. Diver Emelio Trevino led the team at NCAAs with a win in the platform event.
Logan Brown led the team with a 1:34.50 200 free this past season while Bucky Gettys led the team with a 4:20.85 500 free, so Eichel is a huge addition to the mid-distance freestyle group.
No way A&M gave this kid money outside of a scholarship. Gotta be a move for the weather cause this is lateral at best. He’ll transfer again next year
Nothing wrong with moving for the weather. Minnesota weather is brutal.
I’ll acknowledge the elephant in the threads by saying I wouldn’t consider sending my Jewish kid to Minnesota and several others. SEC schools seem to have less antisemitism.
Imagine the year is 2012. You’re a young man with hope for the world. Someone time travels back from 2026 and says to you “the University of Minnesota is more antisemitic than the University of Alabama.”
You’re convinced they must be lying, because in 2015, you can’t wrap your head around the fact that someone would tell so many lies and twist so many ideas that a young man from the future would be convinced that this is somehow true.
2012, 2015, 2026, not sure what all that means but I met I am Jewish and met my Jewish spouse at UA many years ago when we were undergrads. Would never send our kids to schools that violate civil rights like many have.
Sorry, your post doesn’t really make sense to me. Failure to recognize the campus climate where athletes face discrimination is outrageous. Personally, I’ve always had positive experiences at UA as a Jew.
last one turn off the light
Time for something to change in Minnesota…
maybe it was too cold
Maybe Kelly couldn’t find the pool
interesting swap…