Maxwell McHugh, a high school junior from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, has announced his intention to swim for the University of Minnesota’s class of 2022. McHugh will take the baton from his brother, Conner McHugh, a rising senior and Minnesota school record-holder in the 100/200 breaststrokes. Conner will graduate next spring as Maxwell is finishing up high school.
“I am proud to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Minnesota. The combination of excellent academics and facilities, along with a great coaching staff will allow me to achieve my collegiate goals and aspirations. Go Gophers!”
McHugh attends Sevastopol High School but does not participate in the swim program. Like his brother before him, he focuses exclusively on club swimming at the Door County YMCA, where he is coached by his father. McHugh is the current YMCA national record-holder in the 100/200y breaststrokes; he set those records in April of 2016, and repeated as YMCA national champion in both events this past spring. He swam the 100m breast at U.S. Olympic Team Trials last summer before going on to win the 50/100/200m breaststrokes at YMCA Long Course Nationals.
McHugh will take over from his older brother, whose school records stand at 52.30 in the 100 breast and 1:53.61 in the 200 breast. So far. With one year left in his collegiate career, Conner may give his younger brother even harder targets when he first suits up for the Golden Gophers.
His best SCY times are:
- 50 breast – 24.58
- 100 breast – 52.46
- 200 breast – 1:55.38
- 200 IM – 1:49.41
- 50 free – 20.80
- 100 free – 45.49
- 100 fly – 50.61
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His LCM times are 1:03 and 2:18
Way to go Max! Minnesota has gained a CHAMPION! ??
Why such a crappy school like Minnesota with those great times? They’ve been getting worse and worse.
Jillian Tyler, Haley Spencer, and Kierra Smith seem like three solid examples of why Minnesota is a great place to be a breaststroker.
Lindsey Horejsi too. Minnesota’s had about as good a track record with breaststrokers as any school
And Jared Anderson. All-American status.
Fast times alone do not get you into good schools.
Swimming isn’t everything for some people. He may like the campus or what the school has to offer beyond the pool
How so? More NCAA appearances, school records, personal bests in this year alone than in the past 5 years or so ….His brother is a prime and thriving example. They may not have the BIG10 standings (yet), but the Gophers are on the rise
This may be true, but what place did they get at NCAA’s? I think they used to be competing for top 10? I hope you are right though. The womens team seems to have it going in the right direction, hopefully the mens team will as well.
I hope he has four great years at Minnesota, and becomes the first of many more top recruits. After he graduates, I hope becomes your boss.
Amazing young swimmer and great catch for the Gophers.
No junior has been faster in the 100 breast besides Michael Andrew…
I think the SCY season ended with the order being Reece, MA and then Max in the 100 breast. Reece is a junior.
Oh yeah, forgot about Whitley ?
Those are crazy good times. He will destroy it in college
I am not sure that is the case at Minnesota. Men have been getting worse for the last 4-5 years, unfortunately. I wish this young man all the best and I hope they turn it around for him!
his brother came in as a 53.47 breastroker, if Maxwell has the same time drops, by his junior year he will be a 51.29
If the goal is to score at NCAA’s then that is pretty good? Unfortunately, they haven’t swum too well at that meet. Or in general. Maybe one of the fastest breaststrokers ever to come out of high school would want to set his sights higher? But maybe not.
He could also set his sights on becoming a leader, and on being a significant reason why the program will experience more success in the future.
You do know a very good chunk of d1 swimmers are 6’4 or taller right? It’s kinda the norm not really headline worthy
But this guy is very legit. 52.4 as a junior is amazing
Yeah, I am more impressed with the 52 than his height!
This guy is fantastic. Awesome kid, awesome family