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Winter Juniors qualifier Gwen Shahboz of Gator Swim Club has verbally committed to Tulane University for the fall of 2023.
“I am super excited to announce my verbal commitment to Tulane University to further both my athletic and academic careers. I’m extremely thankful to my friends, family, Coach John, and Gator Swim Club, as well as Coach Leah and Coach Kosuke for allowing me this opportunity. I am thrilled to become a part of the Tulane Swim and Dive family. Roll Wave💚💚💙💙🌊🌊!!!”
Shahboz is entering her senior year PK Yonge Research School in Gainesville, Florida. She was a two-time finalist at the 2021 FHSAA Florida 1A State Championship where she placed 4th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 breast with lifetime best times in each event. She also logged her fastest 50 breast split during the 100.
Shahboz rounded off her recent short course season with lifetime best times in the 200 breast and 400 IM at the Florida Swimming Spring Senior Championships in March to place 2nd in both events. She took two seconds off her previous best time from March 2021, which was already a Winter Juniors qualifying time, while her 400 IM swim was her first Winter Juniors cut in the event.
Top SCY times:
- 50 breast – 30.65
- 100 breast – 1:04.03
- 200 breast – 2:15.67
- 500 free – 5:00.09
- 400 IM – 4:21.35
Shahboz’s lifetime best 200 breast and 400 IM times would have qualified for the A finals at the 2022 American Athletic Conference Championships. She would have placed 6th and 7th, respectively. Her best times also would have made the 100 breast B final and missed the 500 free B final by one spot (it took a sub-5 minute 500 time to make finals last season.)
She will make an immediate impact on Tulane’s breaststroke group which is rebuilding after last season’s AAC runner-up in the 100 and 200 breast, Christiana Williams, transferred to San Diego State University. Williams was an integral part of Tulane’s 3rd-place 200 medley and 400 medley relays, splitting 28.06 and 1:01.36 on the breaststroke legs, respectively. Now, rising junior Autumn Keats-O’Connor leads that group and she finished 11th in the 100 breast and 14th in the 200 at last season’s championships. This makes Shahboz Tulane’s fastest 200 breaststroker and second-fastest 100 breaststroker.
Tulane’s 400 IM’ers remain strong with all three A finalists returning to the team next year, including rising junior Gianna Spremullo who won the event. Lilly Byrne won the 500 free by 1.5 seconds last season to become Tulane’s first-ever AAC conference champion, but she has now transferred to Auburn.
Tulane women are coming off a 3rd place finish at the 2022 AAC Conference Championships under head coach Leah Stancil. Shahboz joins Keirlyn Mullica in Tulane’s class of 2023 verbal commitments.
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Umm…”Rising senior Lilly Byrne won the 500 free by 1.5 seconds for Tulane last season.” Byrne transferred to Auburn.