Last week, we learned that Cal Berkeley freshman Lauren Driscoll would be transferring from the University of California, Berkeley. Big news out of Knoxville this evening: the distance specialist has announced that she will transfer to the University of Tennessee and compete for Matt Kredich and the Lady Vols this fall.
The Ft. Lauderdale native will finish out the school year at Cal Berkeley (finals end in a little over two weeks), but there is no official word yet as to where she will be training this summer leading up to World Championship Trials. Driscoll is a huge pickup for the Volunteers, and will be one of four newcomers who will bolster the Volunteer distance ranks, along with incoming freshmen Camryne Morris, Madeline Tegner, and Morgan Dickson.
**Update from Swim Fort Lauderdale Head Coach Dave Gibson: “Lauren will be coming home this summer and will be training with us/me at Swim Fort Lauderdale at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex/ISHOF.”
Driscoll was a big piece of the nation’s #1 recruiting class this past season, which included five NCAA individual qualifiers (Liz Pelton, Rachel Bootsma, Kelly Naze, Rachael Acker, Driscoll) and two NCAA champions (Pelton and Bootsma).
Expected to be an anchor for the Bears’ distance group this year, Driscoll had a solid season, scoring 70 individual points at the Pac 12 Championships, and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in three events (she finished 47th in the 500, 37th in the 1650, and 40th in the 400 IM). However, Driscoll was a bit off her lifetime best times, particularly in the 500 free; she posted a 4:39.17 back in November of 2010 (the last time she swam a tapered 500 free), but was just 4:42.12 this season.
There are always a few things to consider: if she is pre-vet, UTK makes total sense. If she (or anybody) is a psychology (pulling random liberal arts major) major, at some point in the interview process, the name of the school factors in to the equation.
Grade inflation is grade inflation, being able to re-take only segments of the ACT floats that number nationally.
She got into Berkeley, she’s obviously a bright kid. I’m not pulling back what I said, right now UTK’s brand recognition across the board isn’t as high as the schools I mentioned.
All this being said, across all sports, I think freshman transfers shouldn’t count against a school or wait out years in applicable sports.… Read more »
Some very thoughtful posts on a subject which is often contentious here. The one example that was ridiculous and over the top for nearly 2 years was David Nolan. He’s majoring in bio mechanical engineering, a very specific field which is not widely offered. There are only two schools which offer both top five engineering and swimming programs. It was pretty clear that Nolan’s choice was at least as much about engineering as swimming. Didn’t stop many here from urging him to transfer from Stanford. I get that some view college swimming as a sport/coaching decision only, but the sport is very fortunate to have several schools which offer both exceptional academic and swim programs.
You all are overlooking Tyler Fenwick, a great coach that will give Driscoll what she needs.
don, they are talking about academics not yardage.
Agree with the other posters who say that an undergrad degree from UTk will set up any student who applies herself/himself appropriately well for the future. I’ll add that grad school programs, not undergrad, seem to be the differentiator between major universities (with some exceptions).
I have had a couple of kids go to Tennessee (none as swimmers) and since the introduction of the Hope Scholarship, many of the top students in TN are staying in state for school. While they still don’t have the reputation to rival Virginia or UNC as a state school, the average ACT score of the entering freshman class has climbed to 27 and the average GPA is a 3.89. The college scholars and honors programs are top notch. So I am thinking Lauren will get a great education. Best wishes to he and I hope she flourishes in the rest of her career!
UF would have been a 41/2 drive and not to easy by air either. Same coast same time zone BIG difference.
She said she wanted to be closer to home, but whether you’re in California or Tennessee, neither is a quick drive home.
disagree: Knoxville to anywhere in FL by air is not more than 3 hours plus with at one FL meet, her family could see her. Berkley is +6 hours and 3 hour time difference. 🙂
I know I am going to here it from the Tennessee folks but in these tough economic times, if you can go to Stanford, Texas, Michigan, or Virginia (elite educational schools-Stanford being in its own league here) why choose something that is not in the ballpark –after all isn’t Lauren a student-athlete (then again, I know nothing about her smartz/intellectual drive so maybe the Vols are a better fit overall?)–no diss to Tennessee–fine institution– but just not in the ball park of the others I mentioned-
wishing Lauren and her family the best!
you aren’t going to hear the academic argument from this lady vol fan (my brother is an alum). UVA, Vandy, Duke, UNC would all provide better academics. That being said, the LV swim team this year did have a high GPA (I’m not looking AT the rankings) and might have had the highest GPA of all LV teams to date (with softball, rowing and tennis still in season).
This argument pops up all the time in these message boards. The truth is, if you are an engaged student focused on academics and extra-curricular opportunities, the education you get at any of these schools will set you up for great future success. If you just go to class, and the pool, it likewise doesn’t matter where you go, as even a degree from Stanford won’t mean all that much when you’re out in the world.
If you are a driven individual focused on the right ways to spend your time, you can find success almost anywhere.
Though, I don’t take back my points. I certainly agree with you that so much of “success” is mostly determined by who you are and what you do instead of where you go.