The University of Illinois at Chicago will have a fast new backstroker on their hands next season, as Frank Ruppel has committed to join the men in Fall 2017. Ruppel, a native of Colorado, is primarily a backstroker, but he’s also good in the fly and sprint freestyle events. His current training base is with Highlands Ranch Aquatics, and he’ll be heading to Illinois after graduating from Highlands Ranch High School at the end of this spring.
Ruppel’s Top Times:
- 100 back- 51.90
- 200 back- 1:54.40
- 100 fly- 53.26
- 200 fly- 1:58.23
Ruppel has represented Highlands Ranch at the Colorado high school state meet for each of the last 2 seasons, and will likely find himself competing at that meet again this coming May. At the 2016 Colorado 5A State Championships, he qualfied to swim both the 100 back and 100 fly. He was a championship finalist in the 100 back, swimming to a 5th place finish. He cracked the top 16 in the 100 fly, touching 16th overall. Ruppel was also a medalist as a part of his team’s 200 medley relay, helping the to a 3rd place finish with his contribution on the backstroke leg.