Towson University junior Brian Benzing, one of the best mid-major swimmers in the NCAA, has entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer for the 2024-25 season. He has two years of eligibility left, and one of which is the fifth year of eligibility given to all swimmers that competed during the 2020-21 NCAA season.
“I talked to my coaches and we decided that it was best for me to enter the transfer portal early to make sure I can full explore my options for my graduate year and find the best fit,” Benzing said to SwimSwam. “I want to see what other programs have to offer.”
NOTE: A swimmer being in the transfer portal does not mean that they HAVE to transfer to another school, it only means that they have opened up communication with different schools and coaches.
Benzing finished the 2022-23 NCAA season ranked 15th in the country in the 100 breast, by virtue of the 51.25 he swam at the CAA Championships. He also holds the fifth-fastest 50 breaststroke split of all-time, having split a 22.54 on Towson’s 200 medley relay also at CAAs.
At the 2023 NCAA Championships, Benzing placed 15th in the 100 breast (51.48) and 48th in the 200 IM (1:45.45.). He was one of the four men’s mid-major swimmers to score at NCAAs, with the other three being Air Force’s Wen Zhang, Princeton’s Ranuak Khosla, and Southern Illinois’ Ruard Van Renen. Notably, Van Renen is also in the transfer portal.
The highest that Benzing has placed at NCAAs was 13th, having swum a 51.66 to earn that finish back in 2022.
Benzing’s Best Times:
- 50 breast split: 22.54
- 100 breast: 51.25 (50.94 split)
- 200 breast: 1:55.33
- 100 fly: 46.25
- 200 IM: 1:44.41
- 50 free: 20.07
- 100 free: 43.63
- 200 free: 1:35.03
With the 100 breast last season being very senior and fifth year heavy (in fact, 7/8 of 100 breast ‘A’ final at NCAAs were seniors and fifth years), many top teams will be losing their top sprint breaststroker during the 2024-25 season, which makes Benzing a very valuable free agent. Some examples of teams in need of new breaststrokers that season include Texas, which loses Will Chan and Caspar Corbeau; Cal, which loses Reece Whitley and Liam Bell; and NC State, which loses Mason Hunter and Giovanni Izzo.
Currently, the 100 breast appears to be Benzing’s only NCAA-scoring event, but he has the potential to develop in events like the 100 fly, 200 IM, and the sprint freestyles at a bigger program.
Future Mustang. Welcome to Dallas
Brian to Minnesota? Max McHuge pt.2?
Is Liam Bell not coming back for a fifth year?
The press release they put out before their senior day meet with Stanford listed all their seniors and fifth years except Colby Mefford, so make of that what you will: https://calbears.com/news/2023/2/17/mens-swimming-diving-no-2-bears-host-battle-no-10-stanford.aspx
I’ll be surprised if ASU doesn’t get several to return, so losing Bell and Louser would probably drop Cal out of favorite status for next year
You mentioned Caspar and Bell as losses for Cal and Texas respectively. Is it confirmed they won’t be doing a 5th year?
Free Agent bidding wars!
Future Buckeye?
There are FAR better programs than OSU for Brian to train and develop. OSU may be desperate, but I would venture to NC State, Cal or Texas.
You have to earn your transfer to Texas. I’d say he is right there. He has put in the work at a 6 lane pool turned into a 8 lane pool. Good work
TN is losing most of their breaststroke squad – Brian would be a tremendous addition!