It’s official: Harvard’s Dean Farris has announced his plans to take an Olympic redshirt for the 2019-2020 NCAA season. For the next 14 months, Farris will focus exclusively on long course training and competition. In addition to his new focus on long course, Farris will also utilize a new home pool at the University of Texas under the guidance of Eddie Reese. Harvard head coach Kevin Tyrrell and Associate head coach Sam Pitter will remain in close contact with Farris, making occasional trips to Austin over the course of the next year.
According to Tyrrell, Farris’ incredible performances at the 2019 NCAA Championships were the culmination of a three-year process that cemented their decision to redshirt the 2019-2020 season. Tyrrell’s full interview on Farris’ upcoming year of training with the Longhorn men can be found here.
As for Farris, the next year until Olympic Trials is about growth, training alongside, and learning from some of the fastest swimmers and best coaches in the world. Of course, making the Olympic Team is the dream, but placing either top-2 or top-6 in any one of his primary events at Trials cannot be the only metric for success. See Farris’ full interview below:
He’s right that being a senior in college and trying to make the Olympic team might be too much to juggle successfully.
We’ll see how he handles the excruciating pressure of the Olympic Trials. The freestyle events are always very competitive.
He’s got a chance this summer to climb the rankings and set himself up for 2020.
Wait a minute. Weren’t you guys the same ones who had an exclusive that he was swimming for Ireland?
That was an April Fools joke
Smart decision in an Olympic year. His LCM is way behind his SCY
I’m not sure about how much success Texas has had with its pro group recently. I am under the impression that Eddie only focuses with his college group and that’s why Conger left (and likely Schooling no longer trains with them).
It’s different during Olympic years. He helped Conger, Schooling, Clark Smith, Haas A LOT for Rio.
Just being a nitpicker here, but they were all in college at the time.
Might be a silly question but what is redshirting
It means he’s not competing, but also won’t lose a year of eligibility.
(not competing in the NCAA meets)
Farris and Haas training together…both are gonna be ready to drop the hammer at trials/rio
Tokyo*
There was a video here of them training last year when Farris went to Austin. He was killing Haas in practice. Of course, he also killed him at NCAAs this year. Hope Haas has recovered from that first 250 of his 500 free.
So generous of Dean to bring his greatness to Texas. Eddie will learn a lot.
I think he made the right decision & hope + expect he will make the team next year.
But I do believe the Ivy League has a strict policy against athletic redshirting & is also notoriously difficult to make a showing for a medical redshirt. The schools have long held you only have 4 consecutive years to go it as a student athlete in any varsity sport. Is that out the window now or is this just a very rare exception?
Read David berkoffs post. And watch the video
Many Ivy athletes have taken a year off and returned for personal, academic, or even disciplinary reasons.
Technically, this is more a “gap year” than a traditional red shirt, since he will not be training/living/attending Harvard.
This is definitely a good move for him. He’ll probably have the best shot on making the Olympics in the 100, 200 free and 100 back.
Also, prediction for 2020 NCAA champs – Coleman Stewart is gonna win the 100 fly and 100 back (Assuming he doesn’t redshirt too).