Once upon a time, the news that a Division III student athlete was returning to the puddle after a year away from collegiate competition would not have been big news.
That was before Emory University’s Andrew Wilson.
Wilson, studying physics and applied mathematics, took the 2015-16 season off to train for the Olympic Trials in an effort to make a berth on the USA Olympic Team. He finished fifth in the men’s 100m breaststroke (59.97) and fourth in the men’s 200m breaststroke (2:09.35), outside the top two spots that make the team.
While he fell short of the mark to qualify for the Olympic Team, Wilson did return to the competition pool for the US Open, setting a new meet record in the 200 breast (2:09.73) and establishing a new personal best in the 100 breast (59.51) en route to claiming two US Open Titles. That 100 made him the third fastest American this season, and – after the Olympics – ranks him eleventh in the world.
Wilson’s explosion onto the national scene in 2015 at the Phillips 66 was a surprise to anyone who wasn’t closely following Division III at the time. At the 2015 Division III National Championship meet, Wilson clocked three new Division III records, including the 9th fastest 100 breaststroke done by an American (51.72) and the 13th best 200 breaststroke (1:52.97), chopping entire seconds off both records in the process.
And he’s not done yet. With a final season to go as an Emory Eagle, Wilson takes the helm as possibly the most accomplished swimmer to come out out of Division III. Joining Wilson in heading up the men’s side of the Eagle squad are two other Olympic Trial qualifiers: Oliver Smith (50 free) and Christian Baker (400 free).
The Emory swimming and diving team opens the 2016-17 season October 7th and 8th against Georgica Tech and Notre Dame.
Just off hand, I can think of some pretty good small college athletes from yesteryear…
Hats off to swimmer Dr. Bill Yorzyk of Springfield College, simmer of the Olympic gold medal in the 200 butterfly in 1956 (he beat Jack Nelson).
Another New England swimmer we shouldn’t forget is Sandy Van Kennan of Wesleyan, who I think won both the Small College Division and the University Division NCAAs in the same year – back in 1964, I think.
Speaking of Wesleyan, how about some of their cross country runners from back in that same era (the 1960’s), namely Bill Rogers and Amby Burfoot – both won the Boston Marathon.
And speaking of marathon running, let’s not forget Bowdoin College’s… Read more »
Richard Blick – Gold Medal, 1960 from North Central College.
Not to take anything away from D3’s Andrew or Emory with his phenomenal improvement from his HS time, but in 1975 Millikin University had a woman, Marcia Morey, swimming on their men’s team (no women’s team at that point in time) who won Sr. Nationals SC in American Record times in the 100 Breast (1:05.4) and 200 Breast (2:18.5) and made the 1976 Olympic Team the next year.
That is an excellent tidbit.
Well, some schools had girls teams but before 1974, it was GAA not CIF for the girls. They had fun distance like 25 yard fly, 50 breast and back, 100 Im. I swam that in high school.
You are talking about Miliken College not HIgh school sorry about that. There is a Miliken high school.
Well, some schools had girls teams but before 1974, it was GAA not CIF for the girls. They had fun distance like 25 yard fly, 50 breast and back, 100 Im. I swam that in high school.
Sorry, for the double comment. I must hit it too hard, yaks.
Delete comment.
Well, he’s mastering physics, applied mathematics, and breaststroke. I’m 0 for 3 on those.
The Longhorns will miss good ‘ol Kirstaps
That “puddle” is gonna be pretty deep at Emory this year with Wilson, Smith, Baker, Burdette-Sapp, Tollen and other strong returners, while Kenyon and Denison both seem to have lost a lot of bench with graduating seniors. Emory seems to have relied last March more on their underclassmen and some incredible supporting performances in the clinch (thank you, Aaron, Trey and Alex!). Wilson might just be the rallying point the Eagles have needed. Screech is watching the Emory men this season, very carefully. GO EAGLES!!
My handle is “BaldingEagle” because I went to Emory (the Eagles), and I’m losing my hair.
Did you call D-III a puddle?
I love it.
Will he swim for the next quad too?