Originally published Jan 5, 2021
Freshman Brooke Zettel has entered the NCAA transfer portal after swimming two meets from the 2021-2022 season with the University of Florida. Zettel had originally committed to Florida as a high school junior in 2019, when she was ranked #8 in the Class of 2021, and is still listed on their team’s roster.
Zettel was ranked as the #13 recruit in the class when she arrived at Florida.
Entering the transfer portal doesn’t necessarily mean that an athlete has to transfer, but it does allow them the opportunity to talk with coaches at other colleges.
Zettel entered the portal on December 29.
Prior to Florida, Zettel trained year-round with the TAC Titans in North Carolina. At TAC, she qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials in the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM. She has also received several other accolades during her club swim career such as breaking a NAG relay record with her former teammate, now USA Olympian Claire Curzan.
This past summer, Zettel raced in several high-level meets, including the 2021 US Olympic Trials (Wave I), Speedo Sectionals, and Futures. She was able to achieve new best times in several events in long course, including the 200 free (2:03.75), 400 free (4:25.62), and the 200 fly (2:14.46).
Zettel entered her freshman season with times that would’ve scored points at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Based on her current best times, she would’ve placed 11th in the 200 IM at the 2021 NCAA Championships, with additional versatility and scoring potential across a number of disciplines.
Best Times in Yards:
- 500 free – 4:47.20
- 100 fly – 53.78
- 200 fly – 1:56.74
- 100 back – 54.40
- 200 back – 1:57.43
- 100 breast – 1:01.24
- 200 IM – 1:56.71
- 400 IM – 4:11.14
Zettel has only competed at two meets with the Florida Gators, which were the dual meet at FAU and the Georgia Tech Invite. While Zettel hasn’t hit any new best times at Florida, she did hit NCAA “B” qualifying standards in the 200 IM (1:59.90) at Georgia Tech.
When Zettel committed to Florida, she was recruited by Jeff Poppell, who is in his first year as the current head coach at South Carolina. The Gators then combined their men’s and women’s programs under Anthony Nesty, who was previously the head coach of just the men’s team. Florida’s women finished 17th and the men finished 3rd at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
Zettel is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
SwimSwam reached out to Zettel, but she did not respond.
so swimming has “covid classes” too, not enough visits, in person talks with coaches etc….
COME TO CAL!!!!!!!!!
No Way!!!! Guerra and I think she should head to the GOAT and swim at IU!!!!!!
Maybe she didn’t respond to you because she didn’t want you write an article…
Yeah, I was thinking that. It’s in some sort of weird gray area for me – the #8 recruit in a class actually transferring seems newsworthy enough, but just entering the portal is sorta on the cusp. (But then I started thinking, well, if it was a “household” NCAA swimming name, then maybe just entering the portal would be a story, so I sorta ended up landing on ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
She is not an NCAA qualifier at this point. I guess once you are a top 20 or best of the rest recruit its worthy of a footnote from the standpoint that its worth noting that Florida failed to develop a top 10 recruit into an NCAA qualifier. Yes I know there are tons of reason why this happens and many have nothing to do with the school and thats why I called it a footnote only.
Why did she go from #8 to #13 on the rankings?
Control the story or it controls you. Been clear for a couple years SwimSwam gets portal info somehow.
Which is kind of weird IMO. Athletes should be able to seek a transfer without swimswam broadcasting it to the world. If they directly tell swimswam then that’s a different situation.
Swimming journalists are gonna report news. A top 20 recruit entering the transfer portal is news. SwimSwam’s just doing its job. If we want the sport of swimming to be treated seriously, we’re going to benefit from legit sports journalism, which is what SwimSwam does
Here, here!
Why would someone want to transfer out of Florida? The team looks like it will only get better (many excellent recruits) plus the weather is good
Not everyone considers that “good weather”
Not to mention the fact that swimming is an indoor sport.
Depending on where you live, in Florida it is probably 99.9% outdoors although some more indoor pools would help.
Florida does have an indoor pool and an outdoor pool that they practice out of plus additional pools both on and off campus
How many swimmers are no longer on the Florida roster now since the merge?
Is there a problem with the merge? Is it a changing training or Coaches attentions being more split?
Or is this just the number of swimmers on the team don’t allow everyone to compete and she looking compete in more meets?
They have a HUGE roster. I think its well over 75. (or was at the start of the season)
Men and Women combined?
Wow, Hopefully she finds a comfortable new home.. There are a lot of transfers during these crazy times. Hoping for easy transition for these swimmers during these COVID times 😔
How do you all know EXACTLY when she entered the transfer portal? Your clearly didn’t get it from her as you reached out to her and she didn’t respond.
Who has access to the transfer portal?
The transfer portal lists the date anyone enters it.
Other coaches can see it
They can’t have real access but are clearly in a position to get information about the portal happenings. They’ve broken news about transfers since the portal has become a thing.
Big J journalism.
Bye bye bye
good decision.