SwimMAC Carolina Gets Three More NCAA Stars for Its TeamElite

There is no longer a question as to where the busiest, at least, postgraduate training center in the United States is on the road to Rio in 2016.

SwimMAC Carolina’s Team Elite has already added Lauren Perdue and Kirsty Coventry to their impressive list of professional swimmers, they have recently come to agreements with three other NCAA stars: U.S. Open Record holder, and NCAA Champion, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, NCAA Champion Dax Hill, and Columbia first-team All-American Katie Meili.

Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace

Vanderpool-Wallace, who is from the Bahamas, is the fastest 100 yard freestyler in history from her time at Auburn. Having recently completed her degree in hotel management, ‘AVW’ was a finalist at the 2012 Olympics in the 50 free in long course, and was a 2010 World Short Course Championships bronze medalist in the 50 free. After the Olympics, she didn’t compete for a year, but continued training while completing school and swam at the World Championships.

“After my light year, I’m ready to get back into working hard and being surrounded by people with the same vision as myself,” Vanderpool-Wallace said of the change. “I appreciate the coaches that have gotten me to where I am now, but I am in need of a change of scenery and teammates who have similar professional goals.”

Vanderpool-Wallace will be focusing on swimming full-time, though she says that grad school is a possibility once she’s settled in.

“Arianna is an incredible competitor and dedicated professional,” said CEO David Marsh. “She is electric in the pool and will add another level of speed to our training program.  The exciting part about Arianna is her ability to inspire and connect with so many athletes – she is an incredible athlete and a great person, we can’t wait for her to land in Charlotte en-route to Rio.”   

Dax Hill

Dax Hill, a graduate of the University of Texas, was the 2012 NCAA Champion in the 200 yard freestyle. In long course, though, his progress has stalled somewhat over the last two years, and was unable to advance to a semi-final or an ‘A’ final at either the Olympic Trials in 2012 or the World Championship Trials in 2013 (though he wound up 13th in the 200 free in Indianapolis this year).

He was, however, a member of the 2011 World University Games team, so he has some international experience under his belt. He was called on to do a lot of breaststroking at Texas as a senior, and with the ability to fully focus on his personal swimming goals as a post-graduate, Hill has the opportunity to once again move toward the spotlight in American swimming.

He showed this in his last meet representing Longhorn Aquatics, where he was a 49.17 for 2nd at the U.S. Open. That’s the kind of potential that gives the 6’8″ Hill so much excitement.

“I’m really excited to make the move to SwimMAC this coming fall, Hill said. “I’ve always trusted Eddie and Kris and when they told me about the program at SwimMAC I knew they did so with my best interest at heart. After talking with Coach David Marsh about Team Elite I know that the situation there is fully capable of helping me take advantage of my talents in my pro career. The opportunity to train with a group of coaches and athletes that have similar goals, demands, and expectations is an exciting environment and one that I look forward to becoming a part of.”

SwimMAC called Hill’s training a “collaborative effort” between themselves and his former coaches at Texas – a flexibility afforded by the highly-individualized attention that SwimMAC athletes have shared with us in the past.

Katie Meili

And finally Meili, a graduate of Columbia, has been training and working in Charlotte already. She is the incarnation of what post-graduate swimming is about. She was good as a high school swimmer, but went to college and proved that she could be spectacular. She ended her career as one of the most decorated swimmers in Ivy League history, and placed 3rd in the 100 yard breaststroke as a senior at NCAA’s (59.14).

She was quoted in May in a university ‘student spotlight’ piece as saying “As you get older, you learn to push your body in different ways. You can push your limits and see how far you can go.” That is exactly the attitude needed to be a successful post-graduate athlete in a sport that is not too far removed from a time when 21 or 22 was a standard retirement age for even Olympians.

“I wasn’t ready to stop swimming after graduation,” Meili told us of her new training group. “Luckily, with my Columbia degree, I was able to secure a job in Charlotte at a shipping company. I’m also fortunate enough to be able to continue swimming and training with SwimMAC. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

This group will train under a vast group led by CEO/Director of coaching David Marsh, his Team Elite Assistant Peter Verhoef, and Director of High Performance Jeff Dugdale.

These three will join a club that, while having a constantly shifting roster, includes Micah Lawrence, Madison Kennedy, and Cullen Jones, in addition to Perdue and Coventry noted above.

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bobo gigi
10 years ago

And Megan Romano? Where does she train now after a few weeks with Bob Bowman before Barcelona?

Joel Lin
10 years ago

Eddie,
Berens (said he) retired again?

Where does McClean go in your estimation? Salo at USC, Ann Arbor? Ain’t going to be Hooville.

10 years ago

This will be an interesting time for Swimmac and Team Elite. David Marsh seems to have a really good program. Does anyone know if Josh Schneider and Nick Thoman are still with Swimmac?

don
Reply to  Manyi Eta-Okang
10 years ago

Thoman is still listed as MAC but Schnieder is listed as Swim Cincinnati.

Pure
10 years ago

Wonder if Brett is stomping his feet somewhere

WHOKNOWS
10 years ago

This gives postgrads an opportunity to develop a training group and nucleus of individuals of same age and mind set. It does make sense…

don
Reply to  WHOKNOWS
10 years ago

It looks like Michigan is becoming another place for post-grads(Clary,Klueh,Madwed).
I wonder if Berens will stay at UT or go back to USC.

Eddie (not that one)
Reply to  don
10 years ago

Berens really is going to retire this time. Really. Honestly, he is.

don
Reply to  Eddie (not that one)
10 years ago

He didn’t qualify for APA but it looks like he has a few endorsement deals like TYR;I wonder if they require him to compete.

weirdo
10 years ago

Although Frank Busch and many others don’t think there is a need for Centers of Excellence, there really is!!!

NC Swimming
Reply to  weirdo
10 years ago

You can’t expect USA Swimming Membership dues to contribute to a “center of excellence” program? USA Swimming already asks for enough money, clubs shouldn’t send money to “centers” that will not benefit their program.

weirdo
Reply to  NC Swimming
10 years ago

USA Swimming didn’t fund this the first time around…it was all USOC money. And they only funded seed money for the first 3 years. SwimMac hasn’t gotten money from USOC in 5 years. I still think there is a need for another one that is more mid-distance/im oriented,

Klorn8d
Reply to  weirdo
10 years ago

I could see NBAC as that kind of club, talent seems to be flocking there now and bowman is good with IM/mid-d people.

don
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

Who is at NBAC beside Dwyer, Agnel, and Schmidt? Kalisz is going back to school .

Eddie
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

Schmidt at NBAC? Really? Can anybody confirm?

weirdo
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

Schmitt is going back to UGA this fall and will be done in December then to NBAC. Right now it is only Dwyer and Agnel. Not a huge group…..that is why Bowman is advertising for more swimmers.

Eddie
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

“Advertising”. Gee hope he’s not recruiting. We all know that’s against the rules. Also I say 50-50 Allison is back at NBAC.

Joel Lin
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

And nearly a given that Matt McClean will go to NBAC given the mess in Charlottesville.

Eddie
Reply to  Klorn8d
10 years ago

Not if you know the Matt – Bob relationship. Little frosty.

NC Swimming
Reply to  weirdo
10 years ago

“The USOC post-graduate center concept, previously known as the Centers of Excellence, has drawn criticism from some corners of the U.S. swimming community regarding its funding sources. Originally funded by USA Swimming, the renamed USOC Post-Grad Centers, come under the funding budget of the USOC.” Swimming World

bobo gigi
Reply to  weirdo
10 years ago

And Megan Romano? I hope she stays at NBAC in the future.

WHOKNOWS
10 years ago

Do they pay professional fees for their training?

Pvk
10 years ago

Wow! Amazing group of athletes

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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