Maryland backstroker Jake Lamparella has verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin, and will join the Badgers starting in the fall of 2015.
Lamparella comes to Madison from Elliott City, Maryland, where he competes for the Eagle Swim Team. He enters college as a sub-50 second 100 backstroker, and should help Wisconsin reload after the graduation of former NCAA champ Drew teDuits.
Lamparella’s Top Times
- 100 back: 49.71
- 200 back: 1:48.05
- 200 free: 1:39.44
- 50 free: 21.19
- 100 free: 46.52
Backstroke is one area where Wisconsin has had some sustained success, most notably with teDuits, who was the Big Ten champ in the 200 this past season. TeDuits was an NCAA champ back in 2013, but graduates this spring, leaving a sizeable hole in the Badger lineup.
Wisconsin does return Austin Byrd, a rising senior who scored in both backstrokes at Big Tens this year. They’ll hope Lamparella follows Byrd’s strong improvement curve in becoming a conference-level scoring threat.
Lamparella’s coach Scott Ward said Lamparella’s high ceiling makes him a great fit with Wisconsin.
“Jake has had some very nice breakthroughs the last 12 months but quite honestly he’s still needs some polish and has lots of room to improve at the collegiate level,” Ward said. “I see him doing very well for Coach Hite next year.”
