Georgia Tech freshman Deniz Ertan has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, though she says she’s not necessarily transferring. The Turkish national record holder says that she is “looking for possible options” for next season.
Ertan qualified for the NCAA Championships in her first season in the USA. There, she finished 39th in the 500 free (4:44.04) and 15th in the 1650 free (16:02.75) – both of which were short of her season bests.
She was Georgia Tech’s only swimmer at the NCAA Championships, and her two points tied the Yellow Jackets for 39th place. Diver Anna Bradescu also qualified, placing 28th on platform.
Ertan was part of a wave of Turkish National Teamers who have come to the US to train over the last year-or-two. At least one other, Ece Tanriverdi of Pitt, has also entered the portal.
Ertan’s Best Times in Yards:
- 200 free – 1:49.88 (dual meet) // 1:45.97 relay split (ACCs)
- 500 free – 4:38.04 (ACCs)
- 1650 free – 15:55.77 (ACCs)
- 200 fly – 2:00.75 (dual meet)
- 400 IM – 4:09.68 (Mid-season Invite)
Ertan is the Turkish National Record holder in the 200 fly in long course (2:09.34), though that wasn’t one of her primary events this season at Georgia Tech.
Ertan’s Best Times in Long Course Meters:
- 200 free – 2:00.68
- 400 free – 4:08.04
- 800 free – 8:24.94
- 1500 free – 16:13.22
- 100 fly – 1:00.26
- 200 fly – 2:09.34
- 200 IM – 2:14.15
- 400 IM – 4:40.45
Entering the NCAA Transfer Portal does not require an athlete to transfer; rather, it gives athletes the opportunity to discuss the possibility of a transfer with other programs.
I’d like to hear from those who have at the least 2nd hand experience with experiences with current coaches when an athlete goes into the portal. What’s typical, what’re the extremes. Do athletes mar their relationships by going in the portal?
Some coaches can be incredibly supporting and understanding. Others pull scholarship right away and bar athletes from using athletics facilities. Most fall somewhere in the middle.
That’s what I would say I hear as well. Similar breakdown as you’d get in, say, recruiting.
The middle group is why they’ve removed coaches from the process. I’ve got lots of stories of coaches blocking athletes from transferring out of their own selfish petty interest. One of my favorites is the coach who told an athlete he would block every good school if SwimSwam reported on him leaving the program…and then after SwimSwam didn’t report on him leaving the program (this was before the Transfer Portal, so until someone told us, we didn’t know), blocked them anyway.
That kind of nonsense is why the Transfer Portal exists as it does, and needs to exist as it does.
When I asked to transfer after my freshman year, my coach at the time more or less ignored me. The coach and athletic department were quite rude when I asked, they didn’t stop me from leaving and didn’t bar me from anything, but their attitude just reaffirmed my decision. I improved a lot while there and loved the team but that coach in particular was not respectful to me as an athlete.
In other news:
Swimming Canada announced today its selection criteria for the 2024 Worlds in Doha.
Pool swimming will take place 11 to 18 February, which is the same week as SECs and ACCs.
@Braden Keith, did you ask/hear anything from USA Swimming about their selection criteria for 2024 Worlds ?
Not yet. We’ve got the open water criteria but not pool.
Georgia Tech – a great place if you want to hate swimming
Why are you saying this? Curious what you know or have heard
They have a terrible retention rate. Not many kids go there and swim the full 4 years
Is any of that for academic reasons?
Do you have a source for the retention rate? In swimcloud, it looks no different than most ACC programs? Asking because I know someone considering GT….
No source, but i do know over 10 people who’ve gone there to swim and have quit.
Lets come together and pray that she finds a place to reach her full potential like Valparaiso University.
She would be a great addition to the men’s team