Sydney Franzen from the Mission Viejo Nadadores has verbally committed to the Rice Owls, adding another piece to one of the best recruiting classes in program history.
“I chose (Rice) because I felt at home on campus and the team is full of great people,” Franzen said. “Rice has great academics and a great swim team. I feel like I will be able to grow during my four years there.”
Franzen is primarily a freestyler who can span the full spectrum of races, but is best through the middle distances. She’s also better in long course than she is in short course to this point of her career, including a Summer Juniors cut in the 1500 meter freestyle.
Franzen’s best times:
- 50 free: 24.54 yard/28.55 meter
- 100 free: 51.71 yard/59.14 meter
- 200 free: 1:49.84 yard/2:04.94 meter
- 500 free: 4:52.24 yard/4:19.45 meter
- 800 free: 8:53.72 meter
- 1000 free: 10:08.60 yard
- 1500 free: 17:18.55 meter
- 1650 free: 16:56.05 yard
While the Rice Owls are graduating one of their most successful classes in recent history, including two-time defending Conference USA Champion in the 1650 free Erin Flanigan and NCAA qualifier Casey Clark, but the class they’re bringing in will do nicely in replacing them. Franzen will join a training group with Hanna Huston, another distance swimmer (4:51.5/16:28.0) who was the 2014 NCSA Junior National Champion in the 800 meter freestyle.
Rice is becoming a bit of a mid-major hub for distance swimmers along the lines of a program, almost like a Towson of the south. While Franzen, coming from Mission Viejo, will fit that distance mold, if she can continue to improve in the shorter races, she might contribute to the Rice 400 and 800 free relays as well.
Congratulations Sydney. Very proud of you!