Tennessee Adds Another for 2022: Austrian Butterflier Martin Espernberger

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Austrian national Martin Espernberger has verbally committed to Tennessee for fall 2022. Espernberger was stationed in Florida for part of 2020, racing with the Bolles School Sharks in late winter/early spring before the pandemic hit the United States.

I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of Tennessee!!! I chose Tennessee because of the many amazing opportunities and the incredible coaching staff. Thank you to my family, friends and coaches for their continued support. I can’t wait to be a part of the fam! GO VOLS!

TOP TIMES (LCM / SCY conv.)

  • 50 fly – 24.61 / 21.87
  • 100 fly – 54.58 / 48.02
  • 200 fly – 2:01.06 / 1:47.13
  • 200 IM – 2:09.47 / 1:52.06

Espernberger is almost exclusively a butterflier, and is strong at all three distances. At the 2019 European Youth Olympic Festival in Baku, Espernberger clocked a lifetime best of 54.58 in the 100 fly semifinals before finishing seventh in the final. He also competed in the 200 fly, finishing 10th overall with a 2:04.82.

A member of the Austrian Youth National Team, he is an Austrian Youth National Record holder in the 100 fly.

In the 50 fly and 200 fly, Espernberger went lifetime bests in July at a meet in Austria.

Tennessee had two men crack 46 seconds in the 100 fly last year, now-graduated Braga Verhage (45.9) and current senior Kayky Mota (45.6), while no other Vol was under 47 seconds in the event last season. Mota also posted a 1:42 in the 200 fly last year, as did Marc Hinawi, who has finished his eligibility.

It took a 47.2 and a 1:46.6 in the 100 fly and 200 fly, respectively, to make it back in C-finals at the 2020 SEC Championships; with his converted times, Espernberger isn’t far off of those standards.

Espernberger joins two others in Tennessee’s early rush of 2022 recruiting: Garret Green and Top 20 honorable mention Nick Simons.

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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bigswimming
3 years ago

Based off of his quote it’s another big commitment for Tennessee!

SwimFan
3 years ago

Awesome get for Auburn and UT!!!!

VFL
Reply to  SwimFan
3 years ago

Why auburn?

About Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon

Karl Ortegon studied sociology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in May of 2018. He began swimming on a club team in first grade and swam four years for Wesleyan.

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