Notre Dame has nabbed a 55-second breaststroker for their 2016 recruiting class, with Pennsylvania product Rex Riley giving his verbal commitment to the Fighting Irish.
Riley heads to Notre Dame from Erie, Pennsylvania, where he’s a multi-time finalist at the highly-competitive PIAA high school state championships. He’s also the 100 breaststroke record-holder for PIAA’s District 10.
“I chose Notre Dame because I felt that it could offer me the best in academics and in the pool,” Riley said. “When I visited Notre Dame in the spring, I instantly fell in love with the school. I am looking forward to swimming under Coaches Tallman and Lane in my college career, and I feel that Notre Dame will be a great fit for me.”
Riley’s Top Times
(All times in short course yards)
- 100 breast: 55.67
- 200 breast: 2:08.64
- 50 breast (relay split): 24.61
- 50 free (relay split): 20.80
Riley competes for Millcreek Swim Team and coach Dave Schultz, as well as Cathedral Prep School under coach Mike Doyle.
Riley would have been just on the edge of scoring at last year’s ACC Championships in the 100 breast, and will have a year of high school left to improve his times. Notre Dame took 5th overall in the ACC last year, its second season in the new conference.
He also has an obvious buterfly kick
I watched a video of him and I would have to disagree. I this he just has very high hip placement in the water. pretty impressive actually.
He makes his breaststroke kick as narrow as possible, eliminating resistance and pushing the water directly backward. It works for him and he has never been disqualified for an illegal kick at Nationals, Sectionals, HS. States, or any other meet.