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The University of Tennessee is adding another international freestyle specialist next season in 18-year-old Australian Koby Bujak-Upton.
Bujak-Upton is coming off a successful Australian Age Championships in April that saw him set lifetime bests in the 50 free (23.20), 100 free (50.26), 200 free (1:49.65), and 400 free (3:56.50). He placed 2nd in the 100 free behind Flynn Southam and 3rd in the 200 free behind Anders McAlpine and Southam, both of whom medaled in the event at last year’s World Junior Championships.
The Knox Pymble Swim Club standout announced his verbal commitment to the Volunteers last month.
“I am excited and proud to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Tennesse (sic),” Bujak-Upton wrote on Instagram. “I am looking forward to pursuing and excelling in my academic and athletic endeavours. I am very grateful for everything my coaches, family, and teammates have done to help me through my career so far. GO VOLS🍊🍊”
Best LCM Times (Converted from SCY)
- 50 free – 23.20 (20.18)
- 100 free – 50.26 (43.83)
- 200 free – 1:49.65 (1:35.90)
- 400 free – 3:56.50 (4:24.98)
Bujak-Upton’s best converted times wouldn’t score at the SEC Championships quite yet, but he’s just half a second shy of C-final range in the 200 free. At last season’s SEC Championships, Cayman Islands star Jordan Crooks placed 3rd in the 200 free, Trinidad and Tobago freshman Nikoli Blackman made the B-final, and Peruvian junior Joaquin Vargas made the C-final. Tennessee’s freestyle group also includes Brazilian sprinter Gui Caribe.
The Volunteer men placed 5th at the SEC Championships in February before finishing 6th at the NCAA Championships in March. Head coach Matt Kredich has been at the helm of the program since 2005. The SEC should get even more competitive next season with Texas joining the conference from the Big 12 this summer.
One interesting wrinkle is that Bujak-Upton is signed to an Australian modeling agency. He could risk losing his F-1 student visa if he does name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals on U.S. soil, but a loophole exists that allows international college athletes to profit off their publicity rights outside the country.
Bujak-Upton’s older brother Tyson also swims in the US. He began his college career with a very short stint at the University of Florida before re-emerging last season at Division II McKendree. There he became an NCAA Division II Champion and record holder in the 400 medley relay.
Their father Simon Upton was an Olympic swimmer who competed for Australia at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
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I hope he gets the Crooks treatment
Seems reasonable, they have a 17.9/40.3 21.7/47.7 guy as well as an 18.5/40.5 guy who’s split 46 before
And hey, it’s not cal
He just dropped a 1:46.05 SCM 200 free a few hours back
Been some swift swims from some young ones at this meet as well.
Didn’t his brother swim in the NCAA?
He was committed to Florida, swam roughly 1 dual meet, and wound up at McKendree.
Never heard of him
Who?
His Dad is Simon Upton (who was a Seoul 88 Olympian in the 100/200 Backstroke).
Memorabilia race from 88 Seoul:
Salnikov 1500, Armstrong 200 free, Nesty 100 fly, Tamas Darnyi IM, Janet Evans 400
His dad is Olympian Simon Upton.
Thanks for the Upton updates guys – had no clue.