The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are not a program with a long history, if only because they haven’t been around that long – the 2014-2015 season was their breakout season, as the team qualified its first ever relays for the NCAA Championships, and pushed through to their first relay A-Final performance by finishing 8th in the 200 medley.
Despite the graduation of Emma Svensson, whose commitment four years ago launched this program to a new level, the Eagles are poised to continue their run in season #9, thanks to the signing of Elise Haan on Tuesday. Haan is arguably the best uncommitted swimmer that had remained in the senior class of 2015, as the class of 2016 has started to take over the recruiting focus.
Haan is primarily a freestyler and backstroker, with some sprint butterfly skills to match, which makes her a near-perfect replacement for Svensson (in the pool, at least). Her best times in yards:
- 50 free – 23.41
- 100 free – 49.19
- 200 free – 1:48.25
- 100 back – 52.60
- 200 back – 1:56.05
- 100 fly – 55.55
She’s a much better short course than long course swimmer to this point in her career, with just one Olympic Trials cut so far (a 1:01.67 in the 100 meter backstroke). Haan’s best time in the 100 yard backstroke would’ve won last year’s CCSA Conference Championship, as would have her 200 free. Her 100 freestyle would’ve been second only to Svensson, and her 200 backstroke would’ve been second only to FGCU’s other star (who they’re also losing), Toussaint.
Haan will attempt to at least partially fill the gap left by Svensson’s graduation, as well as the outward transfer of First Team All-American Toussaint, who will attend Tennessee for her final two years of eligibility.
Haan swims for Gulf Coast High School and Swim Florida, though for most of her prep career she trained with Paul Yetter’s T2 Aquatics. Her hometown of Naples is a twinned city with Florida Gulf Coast’s location in Fort Myers.
Congratulations to Elise and coach Neil…at this time of next year, you’ll be millionaire Trig.