Rapidly-improving and Olympic-Trials-qualifying butterflier Jack Montesi has verbally committed to Notre Dame.
Montesi, who swims for Jamie Barone at the Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club in Connecticut, could contribute in a number of events, strokes, and disatnace for the Fighting Irish.
His best times in yards:
- 100 free – 45.63
- 200 free – 1:39.66
- 100 back – 48.93
- 200 back – 1:47.26
- 100 fly – 48.98
- 200 fly – 1:49.00
The above times show Montesi’s impressive versatility, but likely don’t reflect the huge leap forward he made over the summer in the long course season. At the 2015 Junior National Championships, Montesi swam lifetime bests in the 100 and 200 backstroke, plus 100 and 200 fly in long course meters.
(LCM) | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
100 back | 59.67 | 58.61 | 57.76 |
200 back | 2:10.38 | 2:07.52 | 2:04.83 |
100 fly | 58.3 | 56.33 | 54.85 |
200 fly | 2:11.87 | 2:09.98 | 2:01.19 |
The row highlighted in red above highlights the long course improvements he made, where a nearly 9-second drop in the 200 meter fly gave the 17-year old his first Olympic Trials qualification time.
With that swim, he finished 10th overall at this summer’s Junior Nationals.
Montesi is the current Connecticut High School Record holder in the 100 yard fly and is a nine-time NISCA High School All-American competing for Greenwich High School.
After finishing 5th in their first ACC Championship meet last season, Notre Dame brings in the 9th-best recruiting class in the country this fall as freshmen. That includes an outstanding rookie butterflier Matt Grauslys, who has already been 1:45.1 in the 200 yard event in high school. While it appears as though Montesi is trending toward the butterfly events on the national, long course level, in short course he’s equally good so far in the backstrokes, where Notre Dame will need his help more immediately (depending on what else happens with this recruiting class).
Jack’s father (John) seam for me at Tufts Univerdity and was a New England Champion and Dlll All-American….John was a very talented athlete and ferocious competirive swimmer…The Irish are very lucky to welcome Jack along with his fellow classmates!! Go IRISH!!
So proud of you Jack! Go Irish ?!