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Ryan Murphy Chooses the Champs

Standout senior Ryan Murphy from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida has made his college decision: and it comes as no surprise that he has decided on Dave Durden’s defending champions from Cal.

Murphy is best known for his exploits as a backstroker, where he is the holder of 8 out of a possible 18 National Age Group Records in backstroke (he only just recently turned 17, meaning he hasn’t gotten a fair crack at the 17-18 records yet). Last summer, he really impressed by finishing 4th at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 backstroker, cracking another one of Aaron Peirsol’s all-time bests.

“I am very relieved that my decision is made,” Murphy said. “I took five recruiting trips, which were all incredible experiences, but exhausting.  In the end, after careful reflection on what is the most important to me, I chose Cal Berkeley.  I believe that the coaches and athletes at Cal will provide me with the most competitive training environment.   The coaches are amazing and the team shares my goals of being an Olympian.

“I am so grateful for the positive relationships I formed through this process.  The coaches and athletes that I got to know are special individuals!”

But what’s really underrated is how well-rounded of a swimmer he is, with three other National Age Group Records to his credit.

We’ll start with his backstroke times, though. In yards, he’s been 46.72 and 1:40.90. For reference, that time in the 200 backstroke would have placed him 3rd at last year’s NCAA Championships already; he and Stanford’s David Nolan should have some great battles over the next two years.

But beyond that, he brings so much more to this Cal team. He’s a 20.02 in the 50 free and a 44.15 in the 100: close to the best in the class. He’s a 1:36.34 in the 200 free. He’s “only” a 48.16 in the 100 fly, from a post-Trials time-trial event at Bolles, and he’s a 1:45.77 in the 200 IM. Alongside his fellow 1 and 1a recruit in the class of 2013 Jack Conger, Murphy is one of those recruits who can really take a team to new heights.

The scary thing is that Cal is already at the eptiome of the sport, having turned out the last two NCAA Championship teams. They already have one very good backstroker for Murphy to train with in 2012-2013 freshman Jacob Pebley, plus at least a year of Marcin Tarczynski and Auburn transfer Tony Cox. A sleeper in this group is sophomore Jeremie DeZwierk, a transfer from Columbia who was the Ivy League Champion in the 200 back last year.

Suddenly, in just two recruiting classes plus some transfers, the backstrokes have gone from a weakness for Cal to a big strength.

With Tom Shields graduating, Murphy will immediately have the opportunity to fit into that “do-everything” role for this team that Shields took on very early in his career. We rated him as our #2 recruit in the class, though just barely.

As they say, the rich get richer. All eyes now turn to Conger and where he’ll end up.

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WHOKNOWS
12 years ago

It’s interesting that the Golden Bears continue to put together a team (without diving) that continues to win the NCAA’s. A Pac-12 university stated that they would not reinstate swimming because it was mathematically impossible to win a NCAA championship without diving. They insist that the points are skewed in such a way that you must have a diving team to win… We wonder where they get their facts!

H2OUKNOW
Reply to  WHOKNOWS
12 years ago

They don’t look at facts – just an excuse. Those in the know are wise to the smoke and mirrors of “the exuse” and that’s all it is – a lame excuse. They just don’t want to spend the $$$ or take anything away from their precious football.

CalBearFan
Reply to  H2OUKNOW
12 years ago

Wait…there’s diving at ncaas?

Sam
12 years ago

So proud of Ryan! I’ll miss him

Joni
12 years ago

Congratulations to Ryan! These are hard and important decisions for young athletes….but if they believe in their decisions they are most likely to be happier and more successful! Here’s to a great future for Ryan Murphy!!!! We will certainly miss him being here in Florida.

bobo gigi
12 years ago

It’s a massive pick for Cal. And yes backstroke trainings with Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley will be very interesting. It will be incredibly a good thing for them to train together.
On an international perspective, we know he’ll dominate very quickly backstroke but do you think he can also become an all-around swimmer like another famous floridian swimmer?
I can’t wait to see his improvements next year.

gored
12 years ago

Ryan,

Congrats on your decision to attend Cal. Great school and terrific swim program.

I look forward to watching you represent your country in Rio.

TOSHI
12 years ago

Congrats to my nephew Ryan Murphy. Well done!!!!!!

GatorChomp
12 years ago

hypocritical recruits

swimfan
Reply to  GatorChomp
12 years ago

what do you mean by hypocritical?

Lneidigh
Reply to  GatorChomp
12 years ago

Not sure what you mean by that one

Korn
12 years ago

I say Conger to TX

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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