NCAA Runner-Up Miranda Tucker Transferring to Michigan

Sophomore-to-be Miranda Tucker, who last season was part of the best breaststroke duo in the country (and one of the best breaststroke duos ever) at Indiana, will transfer to Big Ten rivals the University of Michigan in the fall.

Tucker was 3rd at NCAAs last year in the 100 breaststroke (58.10) and 2nd in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.27), in both cases finishing behind her teammate and NCAA Champion Lilly King.

“I’m very excited for what the future holds!” Tucker told SwimSwam of her move.

Tucker says that she is still working to determine whether she will be immediately eligible or not, given the intra-conference nature of the transfer.

What was most astonishing about the duo is that both were only freshmen last season, meaning that despite Tucker’s departure, the twos battles are far from over.

She joins a breaststroke group at Michigan that didn’t score any points at NCAAs, but is very young and had a big impact at Big Tens. That includes rising junior Emily Kopas, who was in A-finals at Big Tens in both the 100 and 200 yard breaststrokes.

Still, Tucker provides a big and immediate relay improvement, in the least at Michigan – as compared to Indiana, where she would’ve had to pull past the American Record holder King to ever get a shot at those relays. At NCAAs last year, Michigan got a 1:00.4 on their 400 medley and a 27.6 on their 200 medley at NCAAs, and they finished 17th and out of the points in both races. Tucker’s bests would push both relays into A-final range when joined by Tucker.

Tucker’s third event at NCAAs last season was the 200 IM, where she tied for 27th in 1:57.71.

Tucker left Indiana in May, at the end of the academic year, and has been training with Club Wolverine all summer. Her highest finish at the Olympic Trials was 8th, with a peak of 1:07.60 in the semi-finals.

Originally from Livonia, Michigan, Tucker is a former Junior National Team member. Livonia is only about a 30 minute drive from Ann Arbor: home to the University of Michigan.

 

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Go Blue
7 years ago

Anyone considering that the University of Michigan’s stellar academics and in state tuition are factors here?

Reagan L
Reply to  Go Blue
7 years ago

She had a full ride

Go Hoosiers
Reply to  Reagan L
7 years ago

It could be possible she didn’t meet the standards academically for the full ride.

Nostradamus
7 years ago

Ahh I see she is from Michigan, but people seem to think she may need that “top dog” status?

M Duncan Scott
7 years ago

Maybe her high school boyfriend went to Ann Arbor? All sorts of possible explanations that are nothing more than shots in the dark unless we hear from someone (Miranda?) actually in the know.

Dawgpaddle
Reply to  M Duncan Scott
7 years ago

Or maybe her high school girlfriend. Why is everyone so narrow minded. Some girls like girls.

bobo gigi
7 years ago

I think she didn’t have the meet she expected at trials.

Swedish Fish
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

She trained with Club Wolverine all summer leading up to Trials

Miswimfan
Reply to  Swedish Fish
7 years ago

She would have had to get a release from iu before training with cw so not all summer since we know releases take time… she did well considering she probably didn’t have training about 3 weeks to 5 weeks going into trials if she left in may that wouldn’t have been a lot of time to get released to train

KWKswimmer
7 years ago

wow. Mich. now is stacked with breastrokers. With the in comming class and the current roster. Thats nice pickings

Steve
7 years ago

I called it! When swimswam covered NCAA’s this past spring, I commented after the completion of the meet. I pointed out that being second to Lily King would be a burden to Miranda and that she might flirt with the idea of transferring; and I got blasted by everyone! And here we are talking about it! I wish her well, but this is actually no surprise for those that know her. Look at her club team experience. She has been on “numerous” club teams and is a puddle jumper for sure. Let’s see how she does in AA with Bottom. King vs Tucker 2017!!!

Blue racer fan
Reply to  Steve
7 years ago

Went from a y team with 7 swimmers to a Plymouth- canton team. Left that team to go to Livonia community, then off to college. Wow. Puddle jumping! Can’t really count the y team as they disbanded several years ago.

Coach C
Reply to  Blue racer fan
7 years ago

Tucker was on Plymouth-Canton Cruisers for 6 years before moving to Livonia Community. If the 7-member Y team doesnt count then is it really considered puddle jumping if she technically was on two teams over the course of eight years, not including college?

Swimteamx
Reply to  Steve
7 years ago

Steve, not a rivalry! they were probably close if they were roomies. I used to swim on her team. Tucker kinda just does her own thing and isn’t super competitive with teammates or focused on other people when she swims. She focuses on her and what she’s doing for herself. She doesn’t say mean things, get jealous, or any of it. I admire her sportsmanship and friendliness!

Swimmer
7 years ago

What everyone has to remember is that transferring (or a college decision in general) isn’t always just a swimming decision. Sure it probably played a part, but we don’t know the whole story. I wish her the best of luck, she’s always been a pleasure to see and chat with at meets.

swimmer
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

Well said!

Ervin
7 years ago

Weren’t her and King roommates as well?

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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