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#6 Recruit Lillie Nordmann Is in California, but Not Enrolled at Stanford

US National Teamer Lillie Nordmann has arrived in California but is still not planning to compete for the Stanford Cardinal varsity squad until next season, head coach Greg Meehan told SwimSwam this weekend.

Earlier this year, Nordmann, who finished high school in the spring, said on the SwimSwam Podcast that she would be deferring her start at Stanford because of the uncertainty of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Thus it became a surprise when she showed up on the results of yesterday’s meet between Stanford-based swimmers and Cal-based swimmers.

Meehan clarified that while she is in Palo Alto, she is not enrolled in school and is not training as part of Stanford’s varsity squad. She is allowed to train at Stanford because she is a member of the US National Team and the Stanford coaches are US National Team coaches. She thus trains in a group with Katie Ledecky, Simone Manuel, and Katie Drabot, who are also members of the US National Team.

Ultimately this move doesn’t have any huge net effect on eligibility, given that the NCAA has given winter sport athletes, like swimmers, an extra season of eligibility because of the uncertainty over the pandemic, structuring her time this way does allow her to focus on preparing for long course and the US Olympic Trials next summer.

At Saturday’s meet, Nordmann swam 1:00.45 in the 100 fly in long course and 2:11.38 in the 200 fly in long course.

Nordmann was the 6th-ranked recruit nationally in the high school class of 2021 and was part of Stanford’s top-ranked recruiting class. That class also lost the services of World Record holder and #1 recruit Regan Smith for this season after she decided to stay home in Minnesota and train.

Nordmann’s older sister Lucie also swims at Stanford, though she did not participate in this weekend’s meet.

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Stanford fan
3 years ago

Where is Ella Eastin training?

Taa
Reply to  Stanford fan
3 years ago

Hopefully in a swimming pool

swimgeek
Reply to  Stanford fan
3 years ago

Is she training?

swimgeek
3 years ago

Question about this from the article: “Ultimately this move doesn’t have a huge net effect on eligibility” — how does Nordmann training in Palo Alto have *any* impact on her eligibility?

Ghost
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

If needed because of injury, couldn’t she apply for an Olympic waiver for this year and still get 5 years to swim 4?

Ferb
Reply to  Ghost
3 years ago

I think she does still get 5 years to swim 4. She’s not enrolled or training with the team. She just doesn’t get 5 years to swim 5, which she would if she were actually on the team this year, if I understand correctly.

College Swimmer
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

So, because of corona, we could theoretically have someone win an event at NCs for 5 years straight?

Go Horns
Reply to  College Swimmer
3 years ago

Yes

Ferb
Reply to  College Swimmer
3 years ago

That assumes there will be NC’s this year.

swimgeek
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

Help me out b/c I don’t know the rule. Is the normal rule that once you finish High School (or something equivalent for swimmers coming from abroad), you only have 5 years to complete your 4 years of eligibility? In other words, taking a “gap year” (which is what Nordmann is essentially doing) is the same as using up your one redshirt year?

PsychoDad
Reply to  swimgeek
3 years ago

No, gap year does not count since if you are not enrolled at the college. 5/4 starts counting after you are registered in college and start taking classes and are part of the team.

swimgeek
Reply to  PsychoDad
3 years ago

That’s kind of what I thought b/c it appears Nordmann is taking a gap year (and just happens to be training with her future coach), but Braden is saying that 5/4 clock has started for Nordmann. Who’s right – Braden or PsychoD?

STB
Reply to  swimgeek
3 years ago

Braeden is saying that Lillie will have four years once she starts college (presumably next year)- the same the current college freshmen will have after this year due to the fifth year ruling.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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