Diver Chris Canning of Loyola Academy has verbally committed to the University of Michigan Wolverines. He’s been named All-State and All-American in each of his three seasons at Loyola, and was the 2016 IHSA State runner-up on the 1-meter boards last season.
“I chose to commit to Michigan because I felt at home there. At Michigan, I know that I will be able to combine a world-class education with one of the top swimming and diving programs in the country. I want to thank Coach Hilde and Coach Bottom for the opportunity to do so. I look forward to growing as a student and adding to Michigan’s legacy of great divers. Go Blue!”
Canning dives for Loyola Academy just north of Chicago. He’s had, perhaps, the most aesthetically pleasing improvement curve at the IHSA State Championships throughout his high school career. As a freshman, he placed 4th, and then moved up to 3rd as a sophomore and 2nd as a junior. As the top returning diver in the state from last year, Canning could add a #1 finish to his collection at this season’s IHSA meet in February of 2017.
When he’s not diving for Loyola, Canning trains with Windy City Diving. At the 2016 USA Diving Championships, he finished 11th in the 16-18 Boys 3m event and was a semifinalist in the 16-18 platform and 1m events. He’s the reigning Zone D platform champion and senior men’s 3m champion, as well.
Michigan’s only diving points at the 2016 B1G Championships were courtesy of current sophomore Collin DeShaw, who placed in the 1 meter B final last year. In addition to DeShaw, Canning will join current freshman divers Steven Anderson and Jake Herremans on the Wolverine diving squad.
Canning, along with Luiz Gustavo Borges, make up Michigan’s class of 2021 thus far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].
I believe Michigan also has a distance swimmer from Annapolis, William Roberts, who has verballed.
500 Free has dropped from a 4:39 (Mar 2015) to a 4:29 (Mar 2016)
1650 has dropped from 16:50 (Mar 2014) to 15:28 (Dec 2015)
Will be interesting to see how he develops.