With the first full season finished amidst the pandemic, there are a handful of big names in the NCAA transfer portal potentially making moves for next fall.
Note that being in the portal does not mean an athlete is transferring, just that they’re alerting other coaches that they are considering a move. Athletes have gone into the portal to ‘feel out’ their options before withdrawing their name.
Calypso Sheridan is the biggest name. She has been home in Australia since the start of the pandemic but confirmed to SwimSwam a month ago that she’d be back to complete her last year at Northwestern for the 2021-22 season.
Sheridan won the 400 IM and 200 breast Big Ten titles in 2020 during her junior season and was a contender for the NCAA title in the 400 IM. In 2019, Sheridan raced at NCAAs, placing fourth in the 400 IM after not scoring in 2018 as a freshman.
Sheridan is listed in the portal as a graduate transfer, indicating that she has, or intends to, complete her undergraduate degree before leaving Northwestern.
Two major Division II names are also in the portal: McKendree’s Fabio Dalu and UIndy’s Landon Driggers. Dalu was named the 2021 NCAA D2 swimmer of the year, winning the 1000 free, 400 IM and 1650 free at the 2021 NCAA D2 Championships and setting D2 records in multiple events. Driggers, meanwhile, was the 400 IM national runner-up as a freshman, adding a fourth-place finish in the 200 back.
Meanwhile, seven women from Arkansas have entered the portal since early March. The biggest name among them is NCAA scorer and distance specialist Peyton Palsha, who is finishing up her senior year in Fayetteville and could be pursuing a grad transfer. The rest of the group of Razorbacks are non-seniors, including three freshmen.
- Peyton Palsha (senior)
- Anna Ervin (freshman)
- Rachel Rodriguez (junior)
- Madeline London (sophomore)
- Serena Gould (freshman)
- Abby Pfeifer (freshman)
- Brittney Pike (junior)
Among the other names in the portal recently are NC State’s Kimani Gregory and West Virginia’s Emily Haimes.
Having 2 daughters that swim in D1 schools I can tell you the head coach at Arkansas is without question mentally abusive. Our family experienced the best of coaching at one school and the worse of coaching at Arkansas.
Just look at comments made previously regarding FSU coaching. No wonder there were at least 10 swimmers that entered the portal from Arkansas this year. The common denominator is the head coach.
Everyone should know that the accounts commenting negativity on this post about the programs are ones who aren’t there anymore, take into consideration that there are two sides to every story and some people will make anyone sound terrible to make themselves sound better. 🙂
Everyone should know that even if it is from people who aren’t there anymore there is a common denominator and those who are still there mostly feel the same as those who aren’t. Take into consideration that some people are incapable of taking responsibility and holding themselves accountable. 🙂
The biggest transfer just announced where she is going.
It’s not about the program, it’s about the common denominator!! 10 transfers in April and an average of 7 in previous yours should tell a story, just like it did at FSU when the same common denominator was fired
Just takes a look into why .. believe it’s coming…
Just seen disturbing open letter from a crowd called PAMAOSA, which I believe stand for Parents Against Mental Abuse Of Student Athletes, addressed to what looks like the entire School senior management, all parents as well as the NCAA. Looks like it’s speaking to the root of the problem, which appear to be the “common denominator” from what is said
I’ve heard the assistant coach has been used as a support system for the team
10 now leaving team maybe more
It seems that some D1 schools don’t have the usual scholarship money to pay for summer classes and housing for swimmers who continue to train with the school programs. Same thing last summer. It’s a shame and also may be the reason some of these kids want to or have to transfer to schools that are able to make good on that option. Having no stipend and having to pay for summer classes (which can get especially expensive for out of state students) for two summers can have a negative effect mentally and financially especially if a student was counting on taking classes each summer.
Is this the Arkansas situation?
I’d put money on the fact that this is the most interested you’ve been in Arkansas in your entire life.
I’ve gotten free Chik Fil A at their meets before and have had positive interactions in the community with Neil and his wife, so maybe not a super fan but definitely curious!
No its not
they know this when applying to school? if not cheeeez.
It’s the head coach definately.
Um, seven from Arkansas?? 😳
Will be much more very soon
Where can you see the transfer portal?
nowhere to my knowledge, it is closed system with credentials needed
apparently the article author can, or is shoulder surfing a coach
Guessing Dalu and Driggers are aiming for something bigger – Dalu didn’t have any competition at NCAAs.
is there link available to an authoritative, crisp , athlete- and athletes parent-centric write up about the portal?
it’s unclear to me reading this:
Athletes may enter the transfer portal at any time without even having to notify the coaching staff. It does not mean that they must transfer but their current program does not have to continue to allow them to train with their program.
I would seriously hope that no coaches would be having conversations with other athletes before they were in the portal. Doing so is an NCAA violation and also unethical.
Thank you (trying to figure out why I got 3 downvotes). What I took away from you is that entering the portal wouldn’t be fraught if the athlete was on solid ground with the coach. Say the D II athletes, their coach says ‘my conference and DII can only give you so much competition, go for it.’
For the athletes who’re on shaky ground with their program, they’re leaping in the hope that they’ll land at a school that meets their academic needs – eg will transfer their credits – and will be a program that works for them – eg has a long distance program that works for the athlete.