David Schlicht, an Australian and former Arizona Wildcat, has transferred to Arizona State University. Schlicht is currently listed on ASU’s 2021-2022 Men’s Swimming and Diving Roster and has been training with Arizona State this summer.
Schlicht used two years of eligibility at Arizona in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. He redshirted the 2019-2020 season, which was the original season leading into the Olympic year. That makes him a redshirt junior, though the Arizona State roster lists him as a redshirt sophomore. Arizona State coaches confirmed that they expect him to have 3 seasons of eligibility remaining, including the extra year granted by the NCAA to all athletes who competed in the 2020-2021 season (because of COVID-19 complications).
Schlicht had originally entered the NCAA transfer portal in June after spending two seasons with the University of Arizona. Schlicht’s NCAA career thus far has been highlighted by 4th and 6th-place finishes in the 400 and 200 IM, respectively, at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
He earned NCAA All-American status for his efforts in both the IM events.
His best times (SCY) include:
- 100 breast – 53.53
- 200 breast – 1:52.33
- 200 IM – 1:41.82
- 400 IM – 3:39.59
At the 2021 NCAA Championships, Schlicht helped Arizona to a 12th-place finish, which is their highest finish since 2014. In 2014, Arizona’s roster was highlighted by Kevin Cordes, who shattered the American Record in the 100-yard (50.04) and 200-yard (1:48.66) breaststroke events.
ASU hasn’t made an appearance at the NCAA Championships since 2019. ASU redshirted its entire roster for the 2020-2021 NCAA Season, and the 2020 NCAA Championships were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the 2020 PAC-12 Championships, ASU placed 4th, only 6.5 points behind Stanford (3rd) and 11 points behind Arizona (2nd).
Schlicht will bring international experience to Tempe. He’s been a member of both the Junior and Senior National Teams for Australia. His team experienced was highlighted in 2018, when he represented Australia at the Short Course World Championships, placing 29th out of prelims in the 200 breaststroke (2:09.12).
Notably, Schlicht was originally recruited by ASU, but eventually chose Arizona because “(He) believed it is the best place for me to improve my swimming.”
The PAC-12 Conference recently eliminated their intraconference transfer rule, which previously required that all undergraduate transfers within the Conference serve one academic year in residence at their new institution before being permitted to compete. This decision is effective immediately for all transfers entering their second Conference institution in the fall of 2021 and only applies the first time an undergraduate student-athlete decides to transfer. This means that Schlicht will be eligible to compete for ASU immediately upon his arrival to campus.
With both David Schlicht and new freshman Leon Marchand who was a finalist in the Olympics as well as holding the French National record at only 19, I would expect ASU to be very strong in IM events for both the PAC 12 and the NCAAs this year.
Will ASU finally swim at NCs this year? Worst decision ever was sitting out their entire team.
ASU and NCST will be really really good this year!
Good news for ASU? No wonder the comment section is so small
A bit unrelated but Ahmad Hafnaoui just committed to IU.
i heard his jump shot is broke, but great post moves in the paint… great addition to the team, has received comparisons to Doncic and shaq
After watching his highlight reel I definitely agree from where you are coming from. Maybe if he learns to shoot the rock he’ll evolve into something like Draymond Green
Is there supposed to be humor in there somewhere?
Schlicht and Leon Marchand will make a deadly IM duo…and Bob’s favorites haha
I would not be surprised to see a certain volunteer assistant, whose initials are MP, giving both of them some pointers.
Between playing golf with an ASU alum whose initials are JR!