Before swimming a meet with the Wildcats, senior transfer Amanda Kendall has been dismissed from the team for “breach of contract and team policy” according to sources close to the team.
Kendall transferred to Arizona prior to this season from LSU, where she was an All-American in two seasons of NCAA competition. She broke her hand prior to her junior year NCAA Championships, expected to be a huge breakout after winning 4 gold medals at the 2011 Pan American Games. She was subsequently dismissed by head coach Dave Geyer, and Arizona coach Eric Hansen took a chance on her with one year of eligibility remaining (senior transfers carry little risk, as they often don’t receive much scholarship money and are exempt from APR calculations).
Kendall’s addition to the Wildcats would have been a huge boon scoring-wise after they lost many transfers of their own. A peak-shape Kendall is capable of winning NCAA titles, or at the least certainly a few NCAA medals, and provide a huge boost to the already-stout Arizona relays. The Wildcats still got much better in the off-season through transfers with the addition of former Maryland swimmer Megan Lafferty.
This season is Kendall’s 4th year enrolled in college, meaning she would be able to transfer prior to next season and complete her 4th season of eligibility (in 5 years, as allowed by NCAA rules).
Considering some of the jerks and complete f.uck-ups I swam with at D1 (and none received more than a one-meet suspension), I’m pretty sure Amanda’s problem is that she’s too serious. Both at LSU and Arizona, she was probably not contributing enough to the team atmosphere of binge drinking, hazing and cheating academically. Plus she probably did too much community service.
I volunteer to interview Amanda. She’ll have her opportunity to address the issue and I’ll ask the tough questions, like “How much do you hate Eric Hansen right now?” Can anyone provide her email address?
I believe it’s [email protected], but I could be wrong
Good one!
Gary, we need more of the old school Race Club videos that we used to see on flowswimming.org or whatever the predecessor to this was. People cannot subsist on Simpsons re-runs alone.
Check the Dave and Gary column for meaningless, brain-rotting entertainment. It’s the least I can provide. Really. The absolute least.
Now, now Gary. It’s very inappropriate to publicly place blame where it’s deserved.
I’m not blaming anyone. And I’ve earned inappropriate.
Can’t argue with that!
Fair enough!
How about an exclusive Swim Swam interview with Amanda herself? What does she have to say about all this? What is her deal?
Yeah Dutchwomen, Amanda should have to answer to you or a public message board for her actions.
A 21 year old girl who would like to have a simple private life like every other person wishes, but she should divulge all of her mistakes for all of the world to know. And for what? More of a story? So she can continue to be in the spotlight and publically ridiculed?
I am not siding with Amanda Kendall, it is principle of all flawed college athletes, but I cannot stand people like you. These kids do not deserve to be treated like this, and be mocked in public.
To SwimNerd’s point, yes there is a spotlight that is inhereted for… Read more »
She’s not a kid, she’s an adult. I’m not saying that we have a right to know what she did, but considering the way it’s affected two big-name programs, we certainly have a right to talk about it. Perhaps she would feel up to responding to us, to silence the critics and hush the rumor-mill. Or perhaps she will keep her mouth closed and try to move on. I’m fine with it either way.
She’s a very gifted national/elite level athlete and potential NCAA Champion if she can get her act together. She has been kicked out of two major programs now, the last one being Arizona which is arguably one of the best sprint programs in the country with one of the greatest sprint coaches in the country. Imagine what Rick DeMont could have done with Amanda Kendall. I wanted to see that marriage happen and I want to know why it didn’t happen.
You say –
“These kids do not deserve to be treated like this, and be mocked in public.”
I say –
This “kid” is a near professional athlete (lets call scholarships what they are, getting… Read more »
Normal things we all do?? This girl seems to be a dumb dumb …not every college and high school kid is a dumbass..believe it or not.
Drugs
This girl and Margo Geer would have been dangerous. Who are their other transfers? And to that guy, I agree that she is a kid and a human. People should probably try to remember that when they decide to read too far into whatever it is that she did or did not do. People will get over this quick though. I hope she finds a good place to train while she figures herself out.
Wow. Transfer to George Mason next?
Again???
LOL.
What did she do? Who cares! I understand we all have an insatiable need to know every detail, but can’t we all just stop and think what does it matter? It does no good to speculate and it does no good to make a story of this. Obviously Amanda has trouble, but what pedestal have we put her on and other collegiate athletes like her who make mistakes in which they deserve to be publicly ridiculed and questioned? We just assume all athletes are role models, but not all role models are athletes. All people have problems, some can deal with them, some cant. It’s a shame she has blown a lot of opportunities, but let the girl be!
I agree that nobody should negatively denounce somebody without knowing exactly what happened.
I think that it should be talked about and she should be put into the spotlight, though.
Swimming is moving towards becoming a sport just like baseball and basketball.
How much is written about Bryce Harper? Some portray him in a positive light while others paint a picture of cockiness and immaturity.
Either way, young swimmers, including up-and-comers, need to know they will be in the spotlight, and people will talk about them on message boards, blogs, and probably the Morning Swimshow.
The sport is growing up and will face new challenges a lot more frequently just like this one.
Anyone else find it strange that her old coach from LSU moved Arizona and all of a sudden she is in trouble again… Just food for thought.
Not related at all.
Team policies were in place and she failed to meet them.