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Sarasota, Florida-native Xander Gardner has announced his verbal commitment to the application process* at Princeton University. He will suit up for the Tigers in the class of 2024, the first recruiting class for new head coach Matt Crispino.
“I’m super exited to announce my commitment to the application process at Princeton University! I’d like to thank all the amazing coaches, friends, and family members who have supported me along the way. Go tigers!”
Gardner is a senior at Riverview High School and does his club swimming with Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team. He contributed to Riverview’s tie for second place in the team standings at the 2019 Florida High School Class 4A Championships in November with appearances on all three relays. He anchored the 3rd-place 200 medley in 21.21 and the runner-up 400 free relay with 46.20 (he also led off the 200 free relay although it was subsequently DQd). Since the start of his senior year, he has gone best times in the 200 back, 100/200 fly, 400 IM, and 1650 free. It was his first-ever mile, according to USA Swimming’s database, and he swam a Summer Juniors standard of 15:23.22.
Gardner competed at Phillips 66 Nationals in the 400/800/1500 free and 400 IM. He improved his lifetime bests in the 200 free (1:53.41), 400 free (4:03.37) and 800 free (8:20.46) at the meet. Earlier in the spring he had notched PBs in the LCM 100 free (52.29), 1500 free (15:52.99), 200 IM (2:12.58), and 400 IM (4:32.97). During the spring, he won the 500 free at Florida Swimming’s LSC Senior SC Championships. He was also runner-up in the 1000 free and took 3rd in the 100/200 free. The meet produced PBs in the 50/100/200/500/1000 freestyles. His best SCY times would have scored 4th in the 1000 free and in the B finals of the 200 free and 500 free at 2019 Ivy League Men’s Championships.
Best times:
- 1650 free – 15:23.22
- 1000 free – 9:03.80
- 500 free – 4:24.46
- 200 free – 1:38.48
*IVY LEAGUE DISCLAIMER: A “verbal commitment” by a coach is not an offer of admission, as only the Admissions Office has that authority. An Ivy League coach can only commit his or her support in the admissions process. Moreover, an Ivy League Likely Letter is not an offer of admission to the university.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Awesome addition for the Tigers! Xander is a really bright young man who knows what he wants in life. His conviction to be great will lead him to some pretty exciting experiences, no doubt. Congrats, Xander!