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Jed Ritchie has announced his commitment to swim and study at Wheaton College, located in northern Illinois. Ritchie hails from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and recently graduated from Chambersburg Area High School. He also trains and competes year-round with the Chambersburg Memorial YMCA.
“I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to Wheaton college! I would like to thank my family, coaches, and teammates who have been beside me to this point! I am especially thankful for the coaches and team at Wheaton! Let’s Roll!!”
Ritchie swims a variety of events, and is a Futures qualifier in the 500 free, 200 fly, and 400 IM. Last summer at the YMCA National Long Course Championships, he recorded top-16 finishes in the 1500m (13th, 17:03.23) and 200m free (14th, 1:57.89), with both swims establishing new personal bests.
Many of his best short course times were posted this past short course season at the 30th Annual YOTA/Arena Capital Classic. He dropped nearly six seconds in the 500 on his way to a 3rd place finish (4:35.84), while in the 400 IM he knocked off over nine seconds to record a 4:05.39. His 200 free (1:42.30) and 200 fly (1:52.71) also saw improvements and landed him in the top-8.
More recently, Ritchie competed at the short course version of Y Nationals. He placed 14th in the 1000 with a time of 9:36.36, which marked a four second improvement from the best time he set in the fall. He was also 30th in both the 500 (4:40.69) and 200 fly (1:54.01), with both swims just off his bests from earlier in the season.
Top SCY Times
- 200 free – 1:42.30
- 500 free – 4:35.84
- 200 fly – 1:52.71
- 400 IM – 4:05.39
Wheaton College, a Division III program in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), is led by head coach Jacob Ayers on the men’s side. The team finished 2nd overall at the CCIW Championships this season, where they trailed Augustana by just four points. Ritchie is a huge addition for the Thunder, as his best times in the 400 IM and 200 fly would have won the CCIW title at this year’s conference meet.
The 400 IM went to Wheaton’s Isaac Eilmes this year, who stopped the clock at 4:06.76 to win by over a second. The 200 fly was the weaker event of the two, with Philip Holst turning in a 2:00.05 to take 7th as the team’s top finisher.
Ritchie is joined by Jac Cummings, Luke Anderson, and Isaac Chambers in Wheaton’s incoming class this fall.
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