Stephen Speck Commits to Florida State after 400 IM Breakout

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High school senior Stephen Speck has given a late boost to the incoming Florida State men’s recruiting class, committing to the Seminoles as a member of the high school class of 2020. Speck is a Florida native who attends Gulf Breeze High School and trains with the Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club in the Panhandle region.

I am very excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Florida State University! I would like to thank my family, friends, and coaches for helping me get to where I am today. I would also like to thank the coaches at FSU for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity. Go Noles!!!

Speck’s patience in waiting until the end of his senior year to make a college decision paid off big-time with huge time drops in several events, highlighted in the table below:

Best Time After Florida HS State Championship Meet in November Current Best Time
100 free 47.6 47.6
200 free 1:44.37 1:40.25*
500 free 4:48.61 4:47.27
1000 free 10:33.04 9:49.33
100 back 52.54 52.15
200 back 1:54.00 1:51.32
100 breast 58.84 56.77*
200 breast 2:11.69 2:11.18
100 fly 53.20 51.58
200 fly 2:04.95 1:52.60
200 IM 1:51.88 1:51.57
400 IM 4:17.36 3:58.25

* – These times were done as part of a time trial event after competitions began to close around the country due to the coronavirus outbreak. While they don’t officially go into the databases, videos of the swims were provided to verify their authenticity. Speck was scheduled to race at the NCSA Junior National Championships before they were cancelled.

While many of these events won’t wind up being primary races for him, his general improvements across-the-board are highlighted above by the 200 free (4.12-second improvement) 200 back (2.68-second improvement), 200 fly (12.35-second improvement), and 400 IM (19.11-second improvement). Three races that previously weren’t really on his radar are now among his best swims. It took 3:54-mid to score last season in the 400 IM at the ACC Championships, so Speck is already within 4 seconds of that time. For the sprint-heavy Seminoles, that 400 IM was their worst race at last year’s ACC Championship meet, scoring only 6 points, so any contribution Speck can make there will be welcome.

He joins a big incoming Florida State men’s class that includes David Quirie, Elvis Kotikovski, Mason Herbet, Rush Clark, Tommy Eaton, Yordan Yanchev, and Zach Smith.

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Christine Speck
4 years ago

Congratulations ‘TANKER’!!! All your hard work has paid off. We are so proud of you my son!!! We love you!!! From Mom and Dad.

Alex Earle
4 years ago

So proud of you! Go Noles!

Philip Kraus
4 years ago

Congrats Tanker!!!

Stephen Speck
Reply to  Philip Kraus
4 years ago

Thanks coach Phil!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

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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