Dennis Pursley has already gotten two big commitments on the women’s side of his program in the last week; now he’s started hitting the men hard, starting with a verbal from Scott Fortier out of Tallahassee, Florida.
If one were to just peruse a listing of his best yards times, the reason for excitement might not be immediately obvious. Scroll down, though, to his long course results that included a 2:02.42 in the long course 200 fly at the Olympic Trials, and things become much clearer. That time left him just barely outside of the top 50.
In yards, he’s been a 1:50.90 in that same race, and at Alabama is also expected to compete in the 500 free (4:32.63) and 400 IM (4:03.87).
Most of his best times came from his sophomore season, as an injury cost him a significant amount of pool time. With boys usually making huge lurches forward in their times during their junior seasons, this will have accounted for why his yards times haven’t advanced the same way his long course times have. With the Florida High School State Championship meets coming up early this year (in November), and then Winter Junior Nationals in December, we’ll find out soon enough what he’s got in him for the yards season.
Though this program has almost an entirely new coaching staff this year, one thing they’ve inherited is a reputation for developing 200 butterfliers. That includessenior Anestis Arampatzis on the men’s side, who will shoot for a top-3 finish at the SEC Championships this season.
Alex Coci doesn’t seem to be listed on the roster.
Good catch Reid.