NCAA Division III record holder Natalie Garre will transfer to Brown for the upcoming 2025-2026 season. Garre spent her freshman year this past season at Bowdoin.
Garre made huge strides in her first season with Bowdoin. In only her 3rd time swimming the 1650 freestyle, Garre crushed the Division III record in the 1650 freestyle swimming to a 16:17.84. In addition to winning the Division III title in the 1650 free, she also won the 500 freestyle in a 4:44.90. She also was the Division III NCAA runner-up in the 400 IM with a 4:16.59.
Not only did Garre go three for three in best times at NCAAs but she also improved greatly from her times at the NESCAC Championships. She swam to a 4:47.63 500 free, 16:35.38 1650 free, and a 4:21.03 400 IM just a month prior to NCAAs.
In addition to never swimming the 1650 free before December 2024, Garre dropped 28 seconds in the 500 free this past season. She dropped almost 29 seconds in the 400 IM as well.
Garre’s Best SCY Times Are:
| Freshman Year | High School | |
| 500 free | 4:44.90 | 5:12.59 |
| 1650 free | 16:17.84 | N/A |
| 400 IM | 4:16.59 | 4:45.80 |
The Brown women finished 4th out of seven teams at the 2025 Ivy League Championships. Crystal Yuen led the team with a 5th place finish in the 200 free (1:46.92). She also had 6th place finishes in the 500 free (4:47.50) and 1650 free (16:36.77).
Based on her best times, Garre has the potential to make a huge impact at the conference level. Her best time in the 1650 free would have been 4th, her 500 free would have been 3rd, and her 400 IM would have been 6th at the Ivy League Championships this past season.
In addition to making an impact at the conference level, Garre has the potential to make NCAAs if she continues her momentum. It took a 4:39.47 in the 500 free and a 16:09.37 in the 1650 free to earn an invite this past season. Brown had zero women at 2025 NCAAs.
Good luck Natalie! We’ll miss you!
Interestingly she had wanted to swim at Brown from the beginning but they said she wasn’t fast enough. It was a logical move for sure. Insane time drops will make a lot of doors open.
Then why trust Brown, if they did not see the potential.
It appears the Bowden coaches recognized potential.
Brown has a habit of recruiting NESCAC swimmers who break through their first year (see Klinginsmith). Always been the feeling it was Kovenock back door trying to help her alma mater.
Not shocked I was talking to someone the other day about Nathalie and they thought she wouldn’t leave “why change what’s working” but challenging that is simple just because you should doesn’t mean it’s always the right path so congrats on the decision.
Between her and Kenyon’s Caymaz transferring the two best D3 distance swimmers arguably ever are now gone.
Where did Caymaz transfer to?
VA Tech
To be fair, she went a 4:21 400 meter free and a 5:00 400 meter IM at Futures last summer before she ever stepped foot on campus. So her yards time drops were somewhat to be expected (although maybe not that big!) Not a knock on Bowdoin, just putting her improvements in perspective. All credit to her and Bowdoin for a great year and would love to see her at D1 nats next year.
Brown isn’t much better academically than Bowdin, so why the switch?
Brown is D1, so that’s a change.
It’s also a larger comprehensive university in a medium-sized city, while Bowdoin is a small liberal arts college in a small town. Bowdoin has a great reputation, but I can imagine academic or personal reasons (unrelated to prestige) why someone might prefer a different school.
Also, transfer applications are due pretty early. She probably considered transferring (and submitted the applications) before NCAAs.
Comparing brown and bowdin academically 😭 is that even a conversation
hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby ahh comparison
Not true. They are pretty comparable academically. Brown is just slightly more selective.
Selective on what. How many successful individuals never wanted to or even considered an Ivy school for admission.
Just off some straight Googling —
High School Class Rank:
Brown: 89% in Top 10%
Bowdoin: 89% in Top 10%
Admissions Rate:
Brown 5.6%
Bowdoin 6.8%
Middle 50% ACT:
Brown 34-35
Bowdoin 33-35
Financial Aid:
Both loan free (Bowdoin went loan free earlier)
Its been well known that the Ivy’s bend more than the NESCAC in athletics (source – coached at both, mother married an Ivy Head of Admissions) although I think thats changing these days as schools increasingly fill “slots” rather than look for all arounders.
you bring up a fair point, but I just feel like being an ivy brings another conversation to the table. Plus i think Brown rings more bells than Bowdoin for an employer
While both insanely good schools, I think Brown carries a bit more weight, especially if your major is specific.
Yes, exactly. Plus Brown has world-class graduate programs.
now this would make an interesting podcast! What was the change from NCAP to college?
bring Natalie on the pod!