The Texas Longhorns continue to recruit their hometown well, and have gotten a verbal commitment from a locally based Nitro swimmer Mason Tenney, who called head coach Eddie Reese and told him of the news on Wednesday evening.
Tenney is an impressive butterflier who is already just .06 seconds shy of the Olympic Trials cut for 2016 in the 100 meter distances (54.85).
In yards, his best times are:
- 100 fly – 48.83
- 200 fly – 1:47.77
- 200 IM – 1:50.86
- 400 IM – 4:00.00
He’s also an above-average freestyler who could contribute there at some point in his college career if he keeps developing.
- 50 free – 21.40 (non-taper meet)
- 100 free – 46.78 (non-taper meet)
- 200 free – 1:41.37
- 500 free – 4:36.63 (as a sophomore)
When you’re a program as good as Texas is – they were 2nd at the NCAA Championships last year – weakness and strength are relative terms. The Longhorns, though, are very good in the sprint butterflies, and set up well into the future as well. Last year, they had 6 swimmers under 47 seconds in the 100 fly, and 5 of them have at least two years of eligibility left. In the 2014-2015 season, they add to that Joseph Schooling, the fastest butterfly recruit ever, which improves their depth in the 200 fly, and Brett Ringgold, a 47.6 100 butterflier; and Texas has become an attractive landing spot for butterfly recruits. That comes after a few seasons where they were a little down in that particular stroke: in 2011-2012, for example, Jimmy Feigen (as a secondary to his sprint freestyles) and Neil Caskey where the extent of their elite butterfliers.
Normally, that note next to the 50&100 freestyle races saying it was a non taper meet would be important, but for this kid every meet is a taper meet. He suited up for like 32 meets this summer, so it probably wouldn’t be too much of a drop at the end of the season. Great swimmer though and should have a lot of potential looking after upperclassmen Brett TheBatman Ringgold and Singapore sensation Joe Schooling.
You are confusing tapered with suited up. Huge difference. ~1-2 seconds per 100.
Congrats to Mason, its going to be fun watching your college career. Hook-em!!