Bence Szabados Switches Verbal Commitment from Northwestern to Michigan

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Bence Szabados, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American from Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Illinois, has changed his verbal commitment from Northwestern to the University of Michigan for 2020-21. He is the son of Bela Szabados who swam for USC and competed for Hungary in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

“I couldn’t be more excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and swimming careers at the University of Michigan! I’d like to thank my family and coaches for their support throughout this process, and I can’t wait to be a Wolverine! Go Blue!”

Szabados swims year-round with Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club. He had a strong meet at Winter Juniors West where he improved his lifetime bests in all his top events (100/200 fly and 50/100/200 free). Szabados was runner-up to Gianluca Urlando in the 200 fly, dropping 5.5 seconds between his prelims and finals swims. He finished 4th in the 50 free, taking 7/10 off his previous PB and cracking the 20-second barrier for the first time. He was 4th in the 100 fly, improving his seed time by 2.3 seconds. He was also 6th in the 100 free (PB by 9/10).

This past long course season, Szabados competed at NCSA Summer Championship and notched PBs in the LCM 50 free (23.42), 100 free (51.50), 200 free (1:53.20), and 50 fly (25.08), 100 fly (54.90), 200 fly (2:01.94).

While he did not compete at the 2019 IHSA state meet, last February he came in 4th in the 100 free and 9th in the 200 free as a sophomore at the 2018 Illinois boys’ championship.

Szabados would have scored at 2019 B1G Championships in the B final of the 200 fly and the C final of the 100 fly. His 50/100/200 free times are knocking at the C-final door, too. He will join verbal commits Alexander Capizzo, Jake Mitchell, Wyatt Davis, and Yugo Tsukikawa in the Wolverines’ class of 2024.

Top SCY times:

  • 200 fly – 1:44.84
  • 100 fly – 47.35
  • 50 free – 19.97
  • 100 free – 44.39
  • 200 free – 1:37.46

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#GoBlue
5 years ago

Another stud for that class! Go Blue!

Really75
5 years ago

Little skeptical about swimmers switching commitments

B1Guy!
Reply to  Really75
5 years ago

Don’t blame the kid blame the coaches. They’re putting so much pressure on kids to commit early and throwing out offers with a deadline. Swimming is shooting themselves in the foot trying to recruit like football and basketball. So much more money for visits an usually bringing in more kids that realistically won’t attend your school, but you don’t know that yet cause you’ve talked to them twice haha I miss the no phone contact till July 1 before Senior yr such a better model

Texas A&M Swim Fan
Reply to  B1Guy!
5 years ago

Totally agree. Having witnessed the pressure placed upon a relative of mine to commit early ( which occurred), I don’t blame any swimmer from switching their commitment (which also occurred in our case). If you don’t have all of the facts about why the switch occurred (like reducing the scholarship offer, better scholarship offer, wanting to stay closer to home, etc.), it’s better to just wish the young woman or young man luck & hope it works out for him/her (which is what I’m doing in this instance).

meh
5 years ago

I believe this is michigan’s 3rd recruit for the next 2 seasons that is a 19 in the 50. If Mike can get back to developing sprinters then we could see a deadly michigan team in 2021 and 2022

Oldskool
Reply to  meh
5 years ago

James Jones was 19 second 50 freestyler out of high school…

Divided42
Reply to  meh
5 years ago

Who are the 3 sub 20 guys? What years? Times?

SwaM
5 years ago

Go Blue!!!

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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