NCAA qualifier Jocelyn Fisher is among the latest NCAA invitees to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Fisher swam for four years at Alabama and qualified for her first NCAA Championship meet in 2023 as a senior.
In February, she finished 7th at the SEC Championships in the 200 breaststroke in 2:09.36, which secured her first NCAA Championship invite and was her best-ever individual finish at SECs. At NCAAs, she was about half-a-second slower in that race, finishing 27th in 2:09.82.
She also finished 32nd in the 100 breaststroke in 59.96.
Fisher is part of a class of swimmers who were recruited by Dennis Pursley, began their collegiate careers under Coley Stickels, and finished their careers under Margo Geer.
Fisher’s Best Times:
| HS Best | Best at Alabama | |
| 50 free | 24.46 |
23.30 – 2023 SECs
|
| 100 breast | 1:02.77 |
59.61 – 2023 SECs
|
| 200 breast | 2:16.33 |
2:09.36 – 2023 SECs
|
Fisher came out of high school on Long Island in a plateau. Her best times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke stalled during her sophomore year of high school.
But a steady drop throughout her collegiate career took her from 35th and 30th at the SEC Championships in the 100 and 200 breast, respectively, as a freshman, to an NCAA qualifier as a senior. She wasn’t on Alabama’s SEC Championship roster as a junior.
Fisher is now exploring options for a 5th year elsewhere.
Alabama had a deep breaststroke crew this season, with 5 swimmers under a minute in the 100 breast.
Alabama 2023 Rankings:
100 breast:
- Avery Wiseman, sophomore, 58.69
- Cat Wright, 5th year, 59.23
- Diana Petkova, junior, 59.49
- Jocelyn Fisher, senior, 59.61
- Kasia Norman, sophomore, 59.95
200 breast:
- Avery Wiseman, sophomore, 2:05.85
- Cat Wright, 5th year, 2:08.10
- Jocelyn Fisher, senior, 2:09.36
Alabama swimming is a mess. Seniors – point earners – packed up and left during the night just months away from graduation (they will finish their degrees elsewhere). The environment is toxic. DEI gone horribly wrong in selecting a head coach with no experience. Margo’s cutting swimmers, firing coaches (long-time coach of NCAA point-earners fired today). She points the finger at everyone else. SMH
Linus Kahl is the next in the portal for bama
As a current teammate of Jocelyn, she has done nothing wrong. May not fit the team culture that is in t-town right now – kids with minors in possessions, smoking, and failing classes. I can tell you she is upset leaving her friends and coach, but there is a program out there that is waiting for the impact she will make in the water and in the classroom.
Yes, all very great points. Any program will be lucky to have her. Any truth to allegations of verbal abuse and harrassment? Heard there were ongoing investigations too. Such a shame: from the glory days of the Denny Pursley era to what this program has become under one year of Coley and two years of Margo.
The mental health of the athletes is what’s at stake here and no one at Alabama is doing anything to protect them
How many Tar Heels are in the portal?
as of morning of 4/12
2 men
2 women graduate transfers
There’s also a job posting for assistant at UNC
the coley stickels domino effect
This wont be the only transfer coming out of T town this year…. unhappy swimmers, bad environment, and a coach who has no idea what they’re doing
How in the world would you know? Is there a crystal ball sitting on your desk? Get off it for everyone’s sake.
I mean, the head coach got a job that would usually require a minimum of what, 5-10 years of high end experience? Objectively you can’t really argue with that part, I’ve known coaches that have been coaching for 5-10 years and they still didn’t really know what they were doing haha. Margo was a great swimmer, great swimmer does not equal great coach, and it was a stupid gamble to make when there are great coaches to choose from. If I was the interim head and didn’t get the job I would have been livid, I’m impressed he stayed
Your comments are spot on. Margo lacks most of the qualities necessary to be a successful coach. Zero leadership and pitiful as a communicator. By the way, Ozzie is gone; headed to SMU. Look for Alabama to drop swimming in the next few years.
I do indeed have a crystal ball
I think supporting a program that is continuously hurting our kids isn’t a good look.
Anyone else think commenters have been blowing these grad-year transfers out of proportion?
Maybe (insert school) doesn’t offer the coursework she is interested in. Maybe (insert school) will not offer a 5th year any scholarship. There are so many possibilities past “oh no what’s going on at (insert school)…trouble in paradise?”
Be realistic.
Yes, 100%. The overwhelming probability is that these transfers are about more than just swimming.
yeah, most of the things here seem to be out proportion, these are people who have complicated needs, not all coaches are monsters, some are.
Yep, it’s very normal not to do post grad degree at the same university you did your undergrad at.
I largely agree, although her statement comes across as a bit ambiguous. She could have made it clear that entering the portal was in no way a reflection of dissatisfaction with the Alabama team, but she didn’t.
Also, I’m assuming she will be graduating from Alabama with an undergraduate degree, but the article does not confirm that.
She didn’t say she was graduating with an Alabama degree, but transferring after four years at a school academically without a degree would be lunacy in a broader sense. I think in that case, we’d see the athlete either take a semester or a year off before transferring.
She is graduating with 2 separate degrees and a minor.