Quest Swimming’s Maddy Banic has made a verbal commitment to the Tennessee Vols for the 2015-16 season.
Banic is an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100m fly (1:00.59), but is a Winter Nationals –or faster– qualifier in all four strokes. Even better for Tennessee, she’s got great flat-start speed on the 50s so she should be a huge asset to the Vols’ medley relays.
Here are her best events in short course:
50y back: 24.76
100y back: 54.21
50y fly: 23.91
100y fly: 54.39
50y free: 23.21
100y free: 50.87
100y breast: 1:03.91
Banic won the 50 back, 50/100 fly, 100 free, and 100 breast at the 2014 NASA Junior National Championship Cup. That’s quite a range of events.
Banic has another year to develop before she suits up for the Vols, but already her 100 back would have scored at 2014 SEC Championships, and she’s not far off in the 100 free, fly, and breast. Banic is a great get for the Vols; she’ll be able to fit right into the lineup wherever they feel she is needed.
Times have changed. OT qualifier gets a scholarship but an Olympic finalist from 1972 does not. What? I’m happy for the new kids on the block though. I’m too old to be bitter, just sigh & enjoy my view of the lake. And swim on….