Audrey Tirrell has announced her decision to transfer from the University of New Hampshire to Fordham University beginning in the fall of 2020.
“I am very excited to announce my commitment to swim for Fordham University! I chose Fordham because of the amazing academic opportunities and welcoming coaching staff. Can’t wait for the next 3 years. Go Rams!”
Tirrell spent her freshman year of college at the University of New Hampshire where she was one of the team’s top middle-distance swimmers. In November, she competed at Boston University’s Terrier Invitational. Tirrell swam the 50, 100, 200, and 500 free, as well as the 400 free relay. She made it back in the 200 and 500 free by placing 13th and 21st, respectively. In the finals heats of the 200 free, Tirrell dropped 1.07 seconds from prelims to win the B-final with a time of 1:51.49. She went on to drop 8.5 seconds in the C-final of the 500 free (4:55.91). She took the top spot in the C-final, touching 1.6 seconds ahead of teammate Jamy Lum. Both finals swims earned her new personal best times.
At the American East Conference Championships, Tirrell earned in a spot in the A-final in 2 events and the B-final in 1. She earned the bronze medal in the 500 free, after having placed 4th in prelims. She was able to hold off UMBC’s Vanessa Esposito, who tried to out-touch Tirrell in the last 50 but came up short. Teammates Anna Metzler and Lum took home the silver and gold. Tirrell was runner-up in the 200 free behind Binghamton’s Katie Smolar. Her time of 1:51.93 was a half-second off the gold medal and her best time.
Below is a table that shows Tirrell’s times entering her freshman year at New Hampshire versus her sophomore year at Fordham:
| Event | September 2019 | June 2020 |
| 500 free | 5:00.34 | 4:55.91 |
| 200 free | 1:52.10 | 1:51.49 |
| 100 free | 52.33 | 52.33 |
When she joins Fordham University’s women’s team in the fall, Tirrell will be the team’s second-fastest 500 freestyler behind Clare Culver. Culver placed 5th in the 500 free at the 2020 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships. Tirrell’s time would have earned her the final spot in the 500 free at the 2020 meet. Her 200 free time would have put her in the B-final at the meet. She will likely be on the Fordham’s 800 free relay, as she holds the second-fastest time behind Culver. Tirrell will be joining Fordham’s class of 2023 which includes Culver, Bridget Bowen, Courtney Cail, Eva Kaplan, Alison Lin, Elizabeth Long, and Amanda Pyle.
