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Ege Kocak from Istanbul, Turkey, has signed to swim at the University of Wisconsin beginning in the fall of 2026. Last month, he wrote on social media:
I’m beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I can’t wait to be a part of the Badgers! My endless thanks to my family, friends, and coaches for all of the support during this process. I would also like to thank @hazal_ozkan for all her help and support during this journey. Go BADGERS!!!
Kocak swims for the club team Fenerbahçe Sports Club. He’s a wide-ranging swimmer who specializes in the 100/200 freestyle, 200/400 IM, and the 100 butterfly.
Nearly all of his best times in both short course meters and long course meters were set over the past year, with the exception of his SCM 400 IM. He’s been as quick as 49.13 and 52.59 in the 100 free (SCM/LCM), 1:48.59 and 1:50.39 in the 200 free, 55.00 and 55.56 in the 100 fly, 2:01.89 and 2:02.20 in the 200 IM, and 4:22.74 and 4:27.56 in the 400 IM.
Most of Kocak’s lifetime bests came at local club meets, but he’s also competed on the international stage, representing Team Turkey at last July’s European Junior Championships, where he finished 15th in the 200 IM (2:04.07), 29th in the 400 IM (4:37.72), and 52nd in the 50 breast (29.86).
When converting his best times to short course yards, they come out to:
- 100 Freestyle: 49.13/52.59 (44.26/45.93)
- 200 Freestyle: 1:48.59/1:50.39 (1:37.82/1:36.56)
- 100 Butterfly: 55.00/55.56 (49.54/48.79)
- 200 IM: 2:01.89/2:02.20 (1:49.81/1:47.20)
- 400 IM: 4:22.74/4:27.56 (3:56.70/3:55.27)
It’s important to note that converted times are approximations and not 100% accurate, but they help provide perspective on how Kocak’s performances could translate to the shorter pool.
A Division I program in the Big Ten Conference, the Wisconsin men’s team is led by first-year head coach Dr. Jack Brown. The Badgers placed sixth out of nine teams at the Big Ten Championships in February and went on to finish 22nd at the NCAA Championships less than a month later.
The conference meet scores ‘A,’ ‘B,’ and ‘C’ finals, and it took times of 43.48/1:36.52 in the 100/200 free, 1:45.89/3:50.47 in the 200/400 IM, and 47.12 in the 100 fly to score last season. Based on his converted times, he is right on par with what it took to make the ‘C’ final in the 200 free.
Kocak joins a recruiting class that includes breaststroker Benjamin Cescon, distance freestyler Ashton Joswiak, backstroker Joshua Smith, and IM/middle-distance specialist Max Stewart.
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Turkiye. Not Turkey.