Former Auburn Tiger Zack Warner has decided to leave the team mid-season, in favor of swimming back with his home team until Olympic Trials and then transfer to NC State in the fall.
Warner, a breaststroke specialist, cited the reason for leaving Auburn in an email to us. “I chose to leave Auburn because I did not feel like I fit the training style well, and I don’t want to look back in 20 years and think, ‘what if’. I respect Auburn and wish them nothing but the best.”
Warner will train with coach Eric Horowitz for Somerset Valley YMCA until Olympic Trials. He trained with Horowitz last summer and feels it served him well.
Warner says he chose to transfer to NC State for many reasons, but cited the two main reasons being the attitude and atmosphere the team exudes, and their impressive improvement rate.
“The coaches and swimmers were probably the happiest and most excited team on the deck at NCAAs last year. Even before I was considering transferring that stuck in my head. If I’m going to spend hours a day training, I’m going to have to love what I’m doing. NC State loves what they are doing. The second reason is their improvement. To my knowledge, they have the best improvement rate of any D1 swimming school.”
Warner was in the midst of his sophomore year with Auburn when he decided to take a different path. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in his freshman year, placing 22nd in the 100 breast and 39th in the 200 breast. At the SEC Championships last year he swam personal bests in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke, going 52.55 in the 100 and 1:55.40 in the 200. His 100 ranked 5th all-time in Auburn history and the 200 is ranked 3rd in school history.
I do not think it is okay to use their names here, but three swimmers with the initials SF, ML, AG, and WA have quit swimming as well as those other three swimmers who have transferred. This has all happened within the last three semesters, so I’m sure if anyone is interested they would be able to go look up results and see their names mysteriously or not so mysteriously vanish from any and all meet results.
Four swimmers**
NC State is definitely not miles and miles behind Cal and Texas academically. Not as highly rated but really difficult engineering schools.
I watched Zack swim at SVY and high school in New Jersey and there is no question he is lightning fast. But I will bet that his fastest times are still ahead of him. He has tremendous dedication and work ethic. In addition, he is a young man of integrity and character. Great things are ahead for him and the NC team.
Hot damn!
The question is, would Ryan Hoffer come to NC State?? I think he should. DeSorbo is one of nation’s best sprint coaches (if not the best).
Outside the sprint area, Gary Taylor is definitely building the most underrated distance crew in the nation.
Kuddos to Holloway for putting together a great team (staff & swimmers)!
Not this year or next…but I have no doubt NC State will win NCAAs in the 2-3 year period after that. This program is on fire and nothing is going to stop them.
Doubt it. Still miles and miles behind a name like Texas or Cal both athletically and academically.
Geez, another person transferring from Auburn, what is going on there?
I have no way to confirm this, but Brett Hawke has really done a number on the program down there. Seems to forget he’s working with college kids, not pro athletes.
So PASWIM if you have no way to confirm why would you make such a statement. I have a child that swims for Brett Hawke. He only wants the best for and of his athletes. I have to believe any coach would want the same.
SWIMFAN, who else has left. I know of kids that have transferred there because their swim programs have been suspended. Or kids that transfer for a better fit. #WAR EAGLE
Brett Hawke wants the best for himself and his career, not his athletes. They just so happen to be the vessels that will bring him back to his glory days of swimming. PASWIM does have a reason to say that. The men and women’s team have had their WORST showing at NCAA champs last year within the last 20 years or something.
If I’m not mistaken, Warner is the SEVENTH swimmer to either have transferred out of Auburn or QUIT THE SPORT in the last 3 semesters. That is averaging over two swimmers per semester – that is ridiculous.
Cut the bias.
FAST you are completely mistaken. 2 swimmers transferred after their freshmen year and Zack transferred halfway through sophomore year. Those were the only 3 swimmers who have transferred or quit in the past 3 semesters
Geezzz their class of 2016 was already very good and now you add Warner to the party??? If breaststroke was their weakest area, it’s no more a problem for them with Hren, Swachzerbakayfjrowz, and Warner in the house…
Definitely a big get for the Wolfpack! We need NCAA breaststrokers badly, and now we potentially have three. Welcome, Warner!