For the 2015-16 season, the Texas A&M men have picked up a transfer for the 2015-2016 NCAA season in sophomore Austin Van Overdam. A versatile swimmer across all strokes, Van Overdam comes to College Station after spending his freshman year at the University of Arizona.
At the 2015 Pac-12 Championships, he was a scorer in the 400 I.M. with a 14th place finish in the 400 I.M. (3:52.60). He also won the C finals in the 200 I.M. (1:46.72) and 200 butterfly (1:47.39), but only the top 16 score at the Pac-12 meet for men.
Only one of those times, the 200 I.M., was a personal best at his championship meet. He put up some more impressive times at the Texas Hall of Fame Invite mid-season. There, he was a 1:47.35 in the 200 fly and a 3:48.01 in the 400 I.M. That time in the 400 I.M. would’ve been good for a 19th place scoring swim at last season’s SEC meet. Now that Hayden Duplechain has graduated, he fills the spot as the fastest 400 I.M.er on the team.
Van Overdam’s Top Times
200 back- 1:47.53
100 breast- 54.55
200 fly- 1:47.35
200 I.M.- 1:46.72
400 I.M.- 3:48.01
In addition to the events mentioned above, he also has potential for the Aggies in the 100 breast. His 54.55 from a time trial at Pac-12s would’ve scored at last year’s SEC championships and landed him in 18th overall. Given that this is an event he didn’t swim much, he may have potential to challenge for a relay spot on the breaststroke leg. Last year, the fastest Aggie was Mauro Castillo with a 53.78.