For the second time in a week, a swimmer from the Cypress-Fairbanks Swim Club in Northwest Houston (better known as FLEET) has verbally committed to the University of Arizona.
The first was Cameron McHugh, who committed to the women’s team, and the latest is Austin van Overdam, who committed to the Wildcats this week according to his coach Jack Madden.
Van Overdam is primarily an IM’er, with yards bests of 1:52.08 and 3:55.41. If he had to be assigned a primary stroke (and truly, at his best he’s just a very well-balanced swimmer with no real weakness) it would be a backstroker, where he’s gone 51.0 and 1:48.3, or a butterflier.
He has a chance to be very good for the Wildcats, though that chance is most obvious when looking at his long course times In meters, he’s been 2:04.2 in the 200 fly. 2:06.8 in the 200 IM, and 4:24.2 in the 400 IM. Those swims all convert to considerably better than his yards times are (especially the 200 IM, which puts him around a 1:50.0.
His yards times should really start to come down, though. When watching him on video, there’s no obvious problems with his walls (he could perhaps improve upon his breakouts a bit), but with very quick hands on his breaststroke, there’s no reason for him to not be an NCAA qualifier in the IM’s at the latest by the time he’s a sophomore.
Van Overdam swam in the B-Final at this summer’s Junior National Championships in the 400 IM, taking 14th place (though he added about three seconds between his morning and evening swims).
Austin will be sub 3:50 in the 400 IM, and sub 1:50 in the 200 IM, 200 fly and 200 back this season. Just wait and see
Way to go Austin – wishing you all the best – Go get ’em