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Nate Oppenheim, an Easton, Connecticut native, will swim for Bates College beginning in the fall of 2024. Oppenheim, currently a member of Ridgefield Aquatic Club, will join the Bobcats with top-ranked times in over 5 events.
I chose Bates for the amazing academic and athletic opportunities as well as the phenomenal team environment and coaching staff. I’d like to thank my RAC family, as well as Coach Peter at Bates for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Lori at ACC recruits for guiding me in my recruiting journey. Go Bobcats!
At the 2024 Connecticut Senior Champs in March, Oppenheim placed 1st in 4 events and swam 4 personal bests. He won the 200 breast (2:01.60), 200 free (1:41.94), 100 fly (49.33), and 200 IM (1:53.32). He additionally placed 3rd in the 100 free (46.23) and 2nd in the 50 free (20.98). Only his 100 free and 200 IM were not lifetime bests.
Oppenheim has made impressive strides in his 200 breast over the past year, and it has developed into what is arguably his strongest event. At Speedo Sectionals – Ithaca in 2023, he swam a lifetime best of 2:05.72 in prelims, undercutting his previous best of 2:07.80 that he had established just a month before. He dropped another second in finals (2:04.05) to place 5th overall. In 2024, Oppenheim continued this progression in February at the AD Region 1 Short Course Invitational, swimming a prelims time of 2:03.04 then finishing runner up at finals with a 2:02.56. A month later, he dropped just under a second at Connecticut Senior Champs to establish his current PB of 2:01.60.
Best Times SCY:
- 100 breast: 56.67
- 200 breast: 2:01.60
- 50 free: 20.82
- 100 free: 45.65
- 200 free: 1:41.94
- 200 IM: 1:52.95
- 400 IM: 4:01.17
- 100 fly: 49.33
Bates, which is located in Lewiston, Maine, is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), a Division III institution. Oppenheim is an extremely versatile swimmer, and will make a significant impact when he arrives on campus. Following the 2023-2024 season, he would have had school-leading times in the 200 breast and 400 IM, and ranked second in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 breast, 200 IM, and 100 fly.
At the 2024 NESCAC Championships, Bates finished 4th out of 11 teams, their highest finish since the 2019-2020 season. The Bobcats’ highest scorers were Max Cory and Mark Gregory, both of whom accumulated 78 points. While the 2024 season was Gregory’s final year, Oppenheim will overlap with Cory, a rising junior, for 2 years.
Oppenheim will have a plethora of events to choose from when it comes to conference championship season, as at the 2024 NESCAC Championships, his best times would have qualified for the A-final in the 200 breast, 200 IM, and 400 IM, and B-finaled in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, and 200 free.
Bates’ incoming class of 2028 will include Oppenheim, Zach White (Distance Free), Connor Schaffel (Distance Free), Eyton Ng (Sprint Free/Fly), Gavin Bavis (Breast), and Xander Theodos (Fly/IM).
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Oppenheimer
I know that guy