PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown men’s swimming & diving head coach Chris Ip has announced the team’s eight-member class of 2020, which includes seven swimmers and one diver, set to begin competition in the fall of 2016.
“I am very excited for our incoming class of 2020,” said Ip. “Assistant coach Chris Dart, our recruiting coordinator, has done a great job finding the swimmers and divers that will complement the needs of our program. All eight men have embraced our team philosophy and are on board with the direction we want our program go.”
Class of 2020:
Cody Cline
Hometown: Wellington, Fla.
50 Free – 20.14
100 Free – 44.88
200 Free – 1:39.29
100 Fly – 49.45
Why did I choose Brown: “It is very hard to describe the feeling of finding the right place but I believe that I felt it during my visit. Also, the coaches have been extraordinarily kind and I cannot wait to work with them.”
Troy Li
Hometown: Carmel, Ind.
50 Free – 21.03
100 Free – 45.25
200 Free – 1:38.59
500 Free – 4:33.02
Why did I choose Brown: “I chose Brown because of the wonderful atmosphere the student body has and because of the endless academic opportunities that are available to undergraduates.”
Will McNelis
Hometown: Grosse Pointe Falls, Mich.
Diving
Why did I choose Brown: “I fell in love with Brown when I first visited in middle school. The combination of elite academics, beautiful campus, unique curriculum, and diverse and interesting student body is very appealing to me. My recruiting trip only reinforced all of the great things that I had heard about Brown.”
Alex Smilenov
Hometown: Katy, Texas
50 Freestyle – 20.73
100 Freestyle – 44.96
200 Freestyle – 1:38.90
100 Fly – 49.66
Why did I choose Brown: “I chose Brown for the excellent academics that allow me to change my major and dabble in all sorts of things in order to find who I really am. On top of it, the campus made me feel right at home.”
Jagger Stephens
Hometown: Hagatna, Guam
LCM 50 Freestyle – 23.84 (Converted to 20.75)
LCM 100 Freestyle – 51.50 (Converted to 44.95)
Why did I choose Brown: “After speaking with the coaches, I was convinced I wanted to be a part of Team Bruno. Brown offered everything I was looking for: a prestigious university and a team with coaches that I felt my personality and times would be a great fit with.”
Coley Sullivan
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
100 Back – 49.66
200 Back – 1:47.02
200 IM – 1:51.16
400 IM – 3:59.30
Why did I choose Brown: “I chose Brown for the open curriculum, the academic reputation and for the coaches, who are excited to be here.”
Joon Sung
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
100 Fly – 48.86
200 IM – 1:51.26
100 Free – 45.21
200 Breast – 2:05.06
Why did I choose Brown: “When I first read up on what Brown had to offer, I enjoyed the idea of the open curriculum because I will be able to take courses that line up with my personal interests. I was further convinced that Brown was the place for me when I took my recruiting trip. The campus was beautiful, and the people I met there were friendly, positive, and outgoing. I saw that students at Brown were excited to go to class because they chose courses based on their interests. I enjoyed the company of the swim team, and I saw that the swimmers were motivated to improve and supported each other. I wanted a team that functioned as a family, and Brown’s Swimming and Diving team provided just that.”
Toshiki Takahashi
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
LCM 100 Breast – 1:05.07 (Converted to 56.81)
LCM 200 Breast – 2:21.00 (Converted to 2:03.55)
Why did I choose Brown: “I chose Brown for its academics. Brown offers a wide range of academic topics, and with its open curriculum it allows me to take the courses I want to take from my freshmen year. Also due to its open curriculum, it forces me to be responsible for my education and that is something I wanted in a university. Also, I picked Brown because the coaching staff was really friendly and supportive toward our individual goals. Last, but not least, I loved the food served at the dining halls.”
“This was the first year we have been able to have a complete recruiting cycle start to finish and we’re ready to partner with and challenge this class in the classroom and in the pool,” said Ip. “I expect this group to continue progressing throughout the summer long course session, building the confidence and competitive drive necessary to become immediate impact performers for our program.”
Swimming news courtesy of Brown Swimming & Diving.