Turkish National Teamer Makes Program-Shifting Commitment to D2 Saginaw Valley State

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Sagniaw Valley State has added a program-changing verbal commitment for fall 2025 thanks to the addition of Turkish swimmer Bora Cabbar.

He comes to SVSU, a decade-old program in Central Michigan, with long course times that could rewrite the school’s record books. Cabbar turns 20 in 2025, the year he’s scheduled to arrive on campus.

Cabbar has represented Turkey, a rising nation in the global swimming rankings, at several minor international meets like the 2023 Multinationals Junior Meet and the 2021 Mediterranean Cup.

In January, he finished 2nd in the 100 fly (54.01) and 3rd in the 100 free (51.44) at the Turkish National Championships.

Best Times in LCM/SCM/SCY Conversion:

The SVSU program record in the 100 fly is a 46.99 that was done earlier this year by senior Alejandro Robles Ruiz. A program on-the-rise in D2 swimming, every men’s program record in swimming aside from the 200 breaststroke has been set in 2023 or 2024.

The men’s team finished 5th out of 7 programs at last season’s GLIAC Championship meet and placed 21st at the NCAA Division II Championship meet. If Cabbar’s conversions hold true, that time would have placed him in the B final of last year’s championship meet, with 46.99 being the last qualifier for the “A” final.

Cabbar is part of a wave of Turkish swimmers who have matriculated to the NCAA via a feedback loop of sorts. In 2013, Turkey hired famous American swim coach Bob Bowman, who led the NCAA Champion Arizona State men last season, as a consultant. Since then, the quality of performances in the country’s youth ranks has gone up, attracting more interest from NCAA programs, which in turn provides more opportunities and incentives for young Turkish athletes to pursue swimming.

Cabbar is a member of the Turkish National Team and trains with the famed Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul.

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