NCSA Junior National Champion Bowen Anderson Verbally Commits To Kentucky

Bowen Anderson, SwimSwam’s 15th ranked recruit from the class of 2015, has verbally committed to swim for the University of Kentucky. Anderson, a distance freestyle and butterfly specialist, is a great pick-up for head coach Lars Jorgensen. Bowen will join his older brother, Tanner, next fall in Lexington. Tanner is a sophomore breaststroker at Kentucky this season.

While training with the Michiana Stars over the summer, Bowen won his first NCSA Junior National championship in the 400 freestyle, earning his first 2016 Olympic Trial cut with a time of 3:58.12. With best times in yards of 4:25.01 in the 500 free, 1:46.39 in the 200 fly, 48.79 in the 100 fly, 1:38.55 in the 200 free, and 46.38 in the 100 free, he will be an immediate contributor for the team. His times from last season would have put him in the C-final of the 500 freestyle and the B-final of the 200 fly at the SEC Championships. With two years to improve his times before his first SEC Championship meet, he has the potential to be a big scorer for the team.

During the high school season, Bowen swims for Penn High School under the direction of head coach, Jess Preston. Last season he was the Indiana High School State Champion in the 500 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay. He also finished fourth in the 100 butterfly. During the rest of the year, he trains with the Michiana Stars under the direction of his dad and head coach, Mike Anderson. Mike Anderson used to coach collegiately at Nevada, Alabama, and Hawaii.

Bowen told us that he made his decision because he wants to be a part of an up-and-coming program and he likes the feel of the Kentucky Athletics program as a whole.