Articles by Karl Ortegon

After Initial Verbal to Northwestern, Daniel Matheson Pivots with Verbal to USC

Notably, current USC head coach Jeremy Kipp was the head coach of Northwestern when Matheson first committed in March of 2020.

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Triple Transfer: Ryan Purdy, Evan Holt and Grace Reeder Leave Iowa for Arizona

The trio were all freshmen during the 2019-20 seasons, and all three scored individually at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.

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Missouri Keeps Backstroker Mara Manion In-State for Fall 2021

At the 2020 Missouri HS Class 2 State Championships, Manion was the 100 back runner-up (57.35), while she placed seventh in the 100 free (53.25). 

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Virginia HS 5A Runner-Up Sophia Knapp Sends Verbal to Virginia (2022)

Knapp was the 2020 Virginia HS 5A State runner-up in the 500 free (4:52.47), going 4:50.10 in prelims to hit a lifetime best.

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Wisconsin Keeps Sprinter Abby Wanezek In-State for Class of 2026

Wanezek was the Wisconsin HS Division I runner-up last season in both the 50 free (23.11) and 100 back (54.46).

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Bucknell Adds 1:49 200 IMer Andy Dorsel to Class of 2025

Dorsel would’ve made 2020 Patriot League A-finals in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly as well as B-finals in the 100 fly and both breaststrokes.

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Junior Nationals 100 Free Runner-Up Riley Francis Verbals to Michigan (2022)

During summer 2019, Francis was the 100m free runner-up at the Speedo Junior National Championships in long course, going 56.09.

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Wisconsin Lands #16 Blair Stoneburg to Kick Off 2026 Class

Last year, Stoneburg would’ve been Wisconsin’s top 500 freestyler by over two seconds as well as their top miler, and she would’ve made NCAAs in both races.

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Brecken Merkel De-Commits from Iowa, Chooses Mizzou for 2021

Merkel was a double A-finalist at the 2019 Minnesota AA HS State Championships, placing third in the 200 IM (2:04.26) and sixth in the 100 fly (56.19).

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Michigan Picks Up Massachusetts HS Record-Holder Malia Amuan for 2022

At the 2020 Big Ten Champs, Amuan would’ve scored in the 100 free C-final, just a few tenths outside of B-final scoring range. 

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Erica Sullivan, #2 Female Miler in SCY History, is Going to Texas

Sullivan, the second-fastest female miler in SCY history, originally committed to the USC Trojans for fall of 2018.

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15-Year-Old Keaton Jones Posts Fastest 100m Back Time in Country Since March

According to USA Swimming’s database, his 56.42 is the top time in the country since the pandemic shutdown began in the United States in mid-March. 

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Ohio HS State Finalist Audrey Conley Chooses Miami (OH) for Fall 2022

At the 2020 Ohio HS State Championships (Div. II), Conley made A-finals in the 200 free and 500 free, placing seventh in the former and fifth in the latter.

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How Tennessee Landed 18 Freshmen Boys in their Class of 2024

“We looked for athletes with more versatility, athletes that loved to work and compete and athletes that would look for any possible way to improve.”

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Andrew Couchon Transfers from Indiana to Texas, Joins 2020-21 Longhorn Roster

Couchon joins a Texas breaststroke group led by sophomore Caspar Corbeau and junior Charlie Scheinfeld, both NCAA qualifiers in 2020.

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