Karin Schienvar Verbally Commits to Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

Sprint freestyler and breaststroker Karin Schienvar from the Red Bank YMCA in New Jersey has verbally committed to the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

After her freshman year in high school in Arkansas, where she was an all-state swimmer at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, the Schienvar family made a big move to the east coast, and Schienvar said the transition wasn’t easy.

“I struggled that first year as I worked to find my way in a very new environment in a new school system and new swim program, but great coaching by Jack Caucino and his team helped me achieve new best times at YMCA Short Course Nationals where I made the “C” final and finished 21st in the 100 yard Breast,” Schienvar said.

The dichotomy between her time in Arkansas and her time in New Jersey is clear. She hasn’t swum a best time in the 50 or 100 yard free since she left Arkansas and the Little Rock Dolphins, but her breaststroke times have exploded – to the tune of almost three seconds of improvement in the 100 in the two seasons since.

Best times in yards:

• 50 free – 24.48
• 100 free – 53.84
• 200 free – 1:55.85
• 100 breast – 1:04.56
• 200 breast – 2:24.34

Schienvar says that she battled a case of mono as a junior, but still recovered well enough to place 21st again at YMCA Nationals.

“By the end of my visit to FGCU, I knew that it was a perfect match both athletically and academically. I was so encouraged by how welcomed I felt by the coaches and team,” Schienvar said. “I’ve set some BIG goals for myself as I head in to college.  From the time I’ve spent with the coaches and team, it’s clear that Coach Studd has created an environment where student-athletes can reach their full potential.”

FGCU has begun to build a good young breaststroke group around sophomore Katie Armitage, who was a 1:00.28 last season. This program has especially valued sprint stroke swimmers as part of their First Team All-America medley relays, and Schienvar fits well into that mold.