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Crimson Aquatics Andover’s Sara Reppucci, who trains under Mike Spring, has verbally committed to swim for the University of Minnesota next fall.
I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic careers at the University of Minnesota!! When I first stepped on campus it felt like home! I want to thank my family, crimson teammates, coaches, and teachers for all of your help and support during this process. I would especially like to thank the coaching staff at Minnesota for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity!! GO GOPHERS
Reppucci had a breakout meet at the New England 15-18 Age Group Championships in late February, hitting PBs in the 50 free (24.27), 200 free (1:50.30), 100 back (55.92), 200 IM (2:04.31), and 400 IM (4:22.25). Her efforts earned her 2nd place finishes in the 200 free, 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back (2:01.43), along with a 3rd place finish in the 200 IM and a 4th place finish in the 500 free (5:01.05).
She carried that momentum into Speedo Sectionals in Ithaca, blasting 6 new personal bests and 6 top 10 finishes. She swam a 4:20.36 in her 400 IM to best her previous PB (4:22.25) by nearly 2 seconds in prelims before swimming a 4:23.97 in finals, but finishing 6th overall. Reppucci similarly hit PBs in prelims for her 200 free (1:49.36) and 500 free (4:50.18), but was unable to match those times in finals, posting a 1:50.54 and 4:50.92, respectively. Nonetheless, she claimed silver in the 500 free, her highest finish of the meet. Reppucci also swam a 2:05.36 in the 200 IM for 7th, 57.20 in the 100 back for 15th, and 1:59.53 in the 200 back for 11th. Additionally, Crimson Aquatics finished 10th in the 400 free relay with the help of Reppucci’s 52.34 lead off leg—another new PB.
Best times (SCY):
- 100 back – 55.92
- 200 back – 1:58.57
- 100 free – 52.34
- 200 free – 1:49.36
- 500 free – 4:50.18
- 200 IM – 2:04.31
- 400 IM – 4:20.36
The Gopher women were 6th at Big Tens last season, finishing with 592 points just behind newcomers USC. Vivi Del Angel, a diver, led the team in points, though Ava Yablonski, who specializes in the backstrokes and mid-distance freestyles as well, racked up several top 16 finishes to be the Gophers’ highest scoring swimmer. Reppucci will look to help Minnesota reload however, as Yablonski graduated this spring.
To score at Big Tens, it took times of 53.97/1:57.84 in the 100/200 back and 1:47.11/4:46.00 in the 200/500 frees; although Reppucci isn’t quite under those times, her progression shows promise—just last year, her PB in the 500 free was 4:57.63 and her 200 free best was a 1:53.18.
Joining Reppucci in Minnesota’s class of 2026 include Libbi McCarthy (sprint free), Emmy Meyer (back/free), Claire Conklin (sprint free/back), Faith Lamah (free/fly), Dana Fairbanks (back/IM). Fairbanks excels in similar disciplines as Reppucci, and with bests of 1:58.71 in the 200 back, 4:20.91 in the 400 IM, and 4:56.03 in the 500 free, looks to be a solid training partner.
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