Two-time Canadian World Championship team member Mackenzie Padington will not be returning to Minnesota for the 2020-21 NCAA season.
Padington, who is taking an Olympic redshirt for the current college campaign, announced her decision on Instagram on Monday night.
This year Padington, who will be entering her junior season in September, has been training at the High Performance Center – Victoria which will shut down after the 2020 Olympics. In an Instagram comment, she did indicate she would be returning to the NCAA.
As a sophomore, the now 20-year-old Padington finished third at NCAAs in both the 500 and 1650 free and was Minnesota’s second-leading scorer with 32 individual points.
A 2018 Pan Pac bronze medalist in the women’s 4×200 free relay, Padington will have a great shot at making her first Olympic team in April (Trials are Mar.30-Apr.5). At the 2019 World Championship Trials, she placed first in the women’s 400, 800 and 1500 free.
This is a huge blow for Minnesota! This swim team just can’t seem to catch a break. Why is she leaving? What is wrong with Minnesota, other than it is not Stanford, Cal or Virginia?
Sounds like a big reason is that her distance coach left the program.
But Kostoff replaced her so there’s that.
I find nothing “wrong” with Minnesota. Their coaching staff is second to none, great facilities, consistently top 15 at NCAA (women), B1G university prestige, etc. All that said, Minnesota doesn’t try to “wow” anyone— they just do their thing, quietly put in the work, and show up come championship season. And that’s really different from a lot of top 15/top 20 teams. Kremer, Ganley, and co. don’t seem to draw a ton of big names, but holy cow can they develop them (Danielle and Chantal Nack, Bowe Becker, Haley Spencer, David Plummer). All that to say, Minnesota seems to have a different approach, and maybe Padington doesn’t love that. And that’s just fine! She’s a truly remarkable athlete and I… Read more »
NCSU?
My bet would be Denver.
That would makes sense because her distance coach from Minn is now head coach at Denver! There are always two sides to the story when someone transfers.
Michigan might be a good program for her
First place I thought of with best Canadian swimmer already there.
Wow. Many great opportunities, but also a huge hit for the Gophers.
Yuri?
UVA…?
Geez. You guys are like peak “STATE-MENT” now.
Check out her updates Instagram post where she says she is staying in the NCAA