2008 All-Met Swimmer of the Year Eric Friedland is now at Texas. He will look to medal for a second straight year at Big 12s. (Photo by Katherine Frey, The Washington Post)
We got started in Part I with the Classes of 2005, ’06 and ’07 — and many of you have added some of your own names to let us know what schools former All-Mets are now attending and competing for. Might we also encourage you to look up times and post how they’ve done in competition. (This reporter’s eyes are going crazy after looking through so many meet sheets!)
Here at reachforthewall, we’ll be keeping our eyes on the conference championships and, of course, on NCAAs to watch what local talent is doing. But we rely on the comments too.
Also, keep an eye out for a recruiting chart which will highlight the commitments of the Class of 2010 and where they will be swimming next year. We’ll welcome your input there as well.
Now, on to Part II…
Eric Friedland, Walter Johnson – The All-Met Swimmer of the Year is now at Texas and has turned in top times of 1:41.75 in the 200 free, 49.41 in the 100 butterfly, 53.73 in the 100 backstroke. Also, All-American consideration times of 54.97 in the 100 breaststroke, 1:58.44 in the 200 breast and 1:48.81 in the 200 IM. Last year placed second in the 100 and 200 breast and sixth in the 200 IM at the Big 12 championships. Was recently named Academic All-Big 12.
Jonathan Christensen, Jefferson - Last season broke former Olympian Nelson Diebel’s 18-year Princeton record in the 200 breast; Christensen’s time of 1:56.42 earned him an individual Ivy League title and first-team All-Ivy honors. In recent dual vs. Columbia, won the 100 breast in 56.30 and 500 free in 4:35.70. Was also member of 200 medley relay that won with a time of 1:31.82.
Brock Park, Landon – Now at UNC, seeded 12th in the 50 freestyle for upcoming ACC championships with a time of 20.75. Also seeded fifth in the 200 freestyle with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:37.91 and fifth in the 100 free with a time of 44.97.
John Schnittker, Madison - Now at Indiana, where he has turned in best times of 21.82 in the 50 free, 46.49 in the 100 free, 1:39.77 in the 200 free, 4:34.12 in the 500 free, 9:43.19 in the 1000 free, 15:52.32 in the 1,650 free, 56.57 in the 100 back and 59.66 in the 100 fly.
Mark Meyer, Whitman – Named first-team All-Patriot League in 2009 at Navy, finished second to brother Adam Meyer in the 200 fly (1:46.74) and sixth in the 200 IM in 1:51.44. Also part of winning 400 medley relay (3:18.93) and 200 medley relay (1:31.38). Was also fourth in the 100 backstroke in 50.90 seconds.
Sean Stewart, Wootton - As a freshman at Maryland last year, set career bests at the ACC Championships in the 500 free (4:34.41), 100 fly (49.47), and 200 fly (1:46.72). This season is seeded first in the 200 butterfly at ACC championships with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:47.67. Also seeded 42nd in 50 free (21.29) and 18th in the 100 fly (49.85).
All-Met Swimmer of the Year Ashley Danner was the CAA Swimmer of the Year last year as a freshman at George Mason. (Photo by Joel Richardson for the Washington Post)
Ashley Danner, Lake Braddock - Last season earned CAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year honors after being crowned CAA champion in the 100 breaststroke (59.78), the 200 breaststroke (2:10.21) and the 200 individual medley (1:59.99), setting new George Mason, meet and CAA records in all three events and being selected as the Outstanding Swimmer of the CAA Championships. For this week’s championships at Mason, Danner is seeded first in 200 IM (2:01.58), 100 breast (1:01.52) and 200 breast (2:13.40).
Emily Ferguson, Fairfax - Now at Virginia Tech, at last week’s ACC Championships placed 12th in the 50 freestyle in 23.21 seconds, was part of 200 medley and 200 free relays that were eighth and seventh, respectively, was 37th in the 200 freestyle and 11th in the 100 freestyle with a ‘B’ standard time of 50.02. Also member of third-place 400 free relay with NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 3:17.97.
Molly Emery, Lake Braddock - As a freshman at William & Mary last year earned three All-CAA honors. This year leading into this week’s conference championships is seeded first in the 400 IM (4:21.98), third in the 200 freestyle (1:50.59) and seventh in the 100 backstroke (57.92). Was member of 800 free relay that set record last year and is seeded first this year. Is also seeded fourth in 1650 free (17:05.29), second in 200 backstroke (2:02.75), second in the 500 free (4:50.47) and was part of 400 free relay that set a CAA mark last year and is seeded first this year.
Caitlin Perks, Fauquier – Last season at Tennessee was a member of the fifth-place 800 free relay team at the Southeastern Conference Championships. This year was part of fifth-place 800 free relay (‘B’ standard 7:16.00), was 18th in the 50 free (23.17) and 200 free (1:49.72), part of fifth-place 200 free relay (‘B’ 1:30.36) and member of fourth-place 400 free relay (‘B’ 3:17.83).
Elena Spak, Walter Johnson - Last year set a freshman record in the 100 free (50.98) at the Big East Championships. This season finished 12th in 50 free (23.42), was member of fifth-place 200 free relay (‘B’ 1:32.70) and fifth-place 400 free relay (‘B’ 3:22.86). Was 33rd in 200 free (1:54.73) and 17th in the 100 freestyle (51.28).
Suzanne Schwee, Stone Bridge -As a freshman broke the Alabama school record in the 200 butterfly at the SEC Championships, touching the wall at 1:57.63. This season finished 15th in the 200 IM in 2:02.76 (went NCAA ‘B’ standard 2:01.64 in prelims), was 13th in 100 butterfly (NCAA ‘B’ 54.60) and was eighth in 200 fly (2:01.00) — though she went NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:58.71 in prelims and 1:57.55 in a swim-off.
Michael Flach, O’Connell - Recently named to All-SEC freshman team after being the league’s top freshman finisher in the 500-yard freestyle as he finished third at last week’s SEC Championships in a time of 4:19.37. Flach also took a 15th-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly (1:47.17). Top time in 200-yard freestyle listed at 1:39.93 — though he recently turned in a 1:36.62 leading off the 800 free relay at the SEC championships. Finished 23rd in 400 IM (3:59.80). Has nation’s fourth-fastest 500 freestyle time and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week four times during the season.
Sean Fletcher, Madison - Set a national high school record last year in the 100 fly and this season at Michigan has posted best-times of 21.39 in the 50 free, 46.50 in the 100 free, 48.38 in the 100 fly, 1:53.11 in 200 fly, 52.06 in 100 back and 1:55.96 in 200 IM.
Brady Fox, Virginia - A junior national champion now at UVA, Fox has suffered through a back injury all of his freshman season and has not been able to compete.
Michael Hallock, Oakton - Recently set season-best time for Virginia Tech in the 200 freestyle (1:40.31), and holds team’s second fastest time in the 100 backstroke at 50.18.
David Kiss, shown here swimming for Edison, has a chance to medal this week at CAAs. (Photo by Joel Richardson for the Washington Post)
David Kiss, Edison - Is having a standout freshman year and has an opportunity to medal in several events this week at the CAA championships. Is seeded third in the 200 IM with a time of 1:53.81. Also seeded third in the 100 fly (49.58) and fourth in the 200 fly (1:52.37).
Logan Shinholser, Paint Branch – Has posted second-highest diving score this season for the Hokies in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, 349.73 and 390.60, respectively. Has also posted the team’s highest platform score this year, 410.55, a school record. At NCAA championships last year, the platform score would have been good for a seventh-place finish.
Pat Sullivan, Gonzaga – After UC-Irvine dropped its swim program, Sullivan re-entered the recruiting process and committed to the University of Virginia, where he will swim beginning next fall.
Kevin Vallario, Good Counsel -Now at North Carolina State, Vallario is seeded 41st at the upcoming ACC championships in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.28. Is also seeded 29th in the 100 breaststroke (59.36) and 55th in the 100 freestyle (47.01).
Rachael Burnett, Annandale - Set the conference meet record for West Virginia in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:41.65, which would have put her in the ‘B’ final at NCAAs last year. Also finished second in the 400 IM in NCAA ‘B’ standard 4:14.91 and was fourth in the 200 butterfly in ‘B’ standard 2:00.26. Was member of winning 800 freestyle relay (NCAA ‘B’ 7:10.03) and 400 freestyle relay (meet record and ‘B’ standard 3:17.72).
Meredith Cavalier, Brooke Point – Now at U-Va., placed 14 at ACC championships in the 50 free with a time of 23.28. Was also ninth in the 100 back (NCAA ‘B’ 43.46) and was 16th in the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.38.
Amanda Kendall, Robinson – Now at LSU, finished 12th in the 50 free at SEC championships with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 22.89. Was 13th in the 200 freestyle (NCAA ‘B’ 1:48.25) and 10th in the 100 free (NCAA ‘B’ 49.51). Member of 800 free relay and 200 free relay that posted NCAA ‘B’ times of 7:14.54 and 1:29.66, respectively, in fourth-place finishes. Also part of 400 medley relay that placed fifth with NCAA ‘B’ time of 3:39.46. Also part of fifth-place 400 free relay (NCAA ‘B’ 3:19.09). The 200 medley relay went NCAA ‘B’ standard 1:39.37 in time trial.
Gabrielle Mizerak, Osbourn Park -Now at William & Mary, Mizerak is seeded highly in several events for CAAs. In 200 IM she is seeded sixth with a time of 2:06.72, second in the 100 butterfly (55.57) and ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:52.57). Also seeded 37th in the 100 back (1:01.25), 18th in 200 back (2:08.33) and seventh in 200 fly (2:04.75).
Maren Taylor, Yorktown - Top diver now at Texas, Taylor has posted the team’s highest scores in any competition in the 1-meter and platform events with scores of 304.10 and 269.70, respectively. Also has team’s third-highest score in the 3-meter event (315.67).
Tags: AAA Northern Region, Amanda Kendall, Brock Park, Concorde District, Eric Friedland, John Schnittker, Logan Shinholser, Maren Taylor, Michael Flach, Michael Hallock, NCAA, Oakton High School, Rachael Burnett, Suzanne Schwee, Virginia High School Swimming
Andrew Relihan (Prep ’08) is tearing it up at Maryland and highly seeded in 2IM, 4IM and 2back at ACC champs this weekend. Drew Fisher (Churchill ’09) is also swimming for MD at ACCs. Also, Heather Denman (Sherwood) has top times for San Jose State in several events and will be competing in WAC champs this weekend.
A quick glance at the psych sheet has Relihan seeded 7th in 2IM (1:50.12), 6th in 4IM (3:58.07) and 5th in 200 back (1:47.52).
Fisher’s highest seed is 17th in the 200 back (1:50.26) — he’s also swimming the 50 free and 100 back.
From San Jose State’s website re: Denman – “San Jose State is led by sophomore Heather Denman, who was chosen as the WAC Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of her first conference championship a year ago. She enters the meet with the fastest times in the WAC this season in three events: the 100 back (54.06), 200 back (1:58.54) and 100 fly (54.63). The two-time WAC champion is set to compete for gold medals in all three of her allotted individual finals, seeking to already eclipse the four individual titles attained by Brie Marhenke, the only other Spartan swimmer to take the top spot on the podium in an individual event.”
Thanks so much for the heads up!
Michael Flach’s best time in the 200 freestyle is 1:36.62, which is a NCAA ‘B’ standard. He was the first leg of South Carolina’s 800 freestyle relay team at the SEC championships.
Burnett’s performances are pretty impressive
After not getting the respect she deserved while in High School, I think Mina Vucic, who won the 50 Free at Metros as a Junior (she was the class of ’09, deserves to be mentioned. She is currently swimming for University of Richmond, and was recently 15th in the 50 at the Atlantic 10 Championships. She’s one who should have made 1st Team All-Met, but the year she won the 50 ended up being Honorable Mention…
Don’t they name 1 All Met per event?
How do you figure Vucic “should have been all met? her best times in 2008 or 2009 were no better than 3rd or 4th fastest in the area. 2-3 girls beat her from Virginia each year (Amanda kendall, Eliz. hall)
I would definitely say that the Metro Wash area is very well represented. Good Job to all these kids.
Sean Fletcher is not swimming at Big10 conference champs..surprising
Why is it surprising? Michigan is a big time school, Sean decided to go to a very strong program…. goes from HS National record holder to being the #5 100 flyer on the roster… squad size is limited at Conference meet and they probably couldn’t include 5 flyers
Why does Swimfan come on here and trash everyone? If you are trashing an all-met who failed in college, don’t just limit it to Fletcher. Many past swimmers of the year are under achieving in college, while others who weren’t first or even second team all-met are excelling in college. The irony of all this is high school swimming is fun and the elite athlete knows it. The ones who do full tapers for the big HS meets (VA States/Metro’s) won’t make it in college – just sayin.
Hmmm – The ones who do full tapers for the big HS meets (VA States/Metro’s) won’t make it in college – just sayin.” – Are you kidding me?!
no, I don’t think Eric Friedland has done well in college. nor the Meyers brothers, Liz Kemp, Katura Harvey, Colleen Haase, Robert Grimmet-Norris nor several of the other swimmers whose coaches allow them to compete in Metros at or near their peak. There is plenty of time to prep for Juniors or Sectionals as well. These kids only get 4 years in high school – why should they be denied that?
The most elite swimmers in the area should have an opportunity to enjoy being a high school athlete and Metros is THE stage in MD. I’d say the bigger difference in college success is in how good their club coach is at targeting them so they don’t peak when they are in 10th or 11th grade but are on the upswing as they complete their high school career.
I’m not sure swimfan was “trashing” Fletcher, hopefully it was just an observation. And how is Fletcher a “failure”? He is swimming at Michigan, one of the top programs in the world!! He has the 22nd fastest 100 fly time in the NCAA this year, a solid “B” cut. I certainly don’t know why he isn’t swimming, but it isn’t because he is a “failure at Michigan
Come on people, the statement applies to “some” swimmers of the year, not all. I read swimfan’s post as negative, although I see the other side now. Many talented swimmers who have natural ability but don’t work hard has and will continue to fizzle at the next level. Swimmom, I bet all the names you mentioned above have good work habits.
Hold on..I never trashed anyone. I was wondering why a kid that had just swum a 47+100fly was not on the travel team.Thats what I found surprising… I assume he is at UM and that time says he is doing well..Sometimes swimmers get injured or are sick or decide to redshirt, I was curious..
Geez, the posters are getting a little touchy..I just was wondering where a talented local was..
This is the first time I’ve read the “replies” but I can offer that Sean Fletcher is absolutely not a failure … he has had mono since November according to a pretty reliable source. All of these kids are phenomal and really shouldn’t be criticized. Any swimmer or parent who has been through the recuriting process knows that swimming in college period is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations to all the swimmers!
no one can say sean fletcher is a failure…i’d like to see YOU go a 47 100 fly.
I just want to say that being a college athlete is more work than having a job. These kids must go to school (which is the only thing most college kids do) and then endure two practices a day with weight training thrown in for good measure. I am a mom of a freshman girl who has called home crying that she was always tired and never home with any down time. She never doubled in HS and never did weight training, so the adjustment was tremendous. She has survived the year and has seen much success in the classroom and water so far. I know it will be a life altering experience once she is done in three more years and she will be a great young lady when it is all over.
Kelli Kyle (2010) is a former 2nd team All Met swimming at Clemson. As a sophmore she was just invited to her second NCAA Division 1 Championship meet. Her time of 53.44 in the 100 backstroke ranks her 22nd in the country and only 0.01 behind another former All Met Michelle Parkhurst for the Clemson record.
Anyone that calls any swimmer in college a failure is a moron. Regardless if these kids make nationals or just their conference team, they work too hard for so little recognition to ever be labelled as anything but winners!