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Egyptian swimmer Youssef Ramadan has committed to Virginia Tech. He is expected to join the program in the class of 2020.
Ramadan is primarily a sprint butterflier and freestyler who qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s 50 fly at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships. At only 17, his best time in the 100 fly in long course (53.47) is within half-a-second of the Egyptian National Record.
While Virginia Tech’s varsity squad doesn’t have any Egyptian swimmers on it, there is a connection in Blacksburg to Egypt: former Cal-based NCAA Champion in the 100 fly Farida Osman currently trains as part of the Virginia Tech post-grad group under head coach Sergio Lopez.
Best Times, LCM:
- 50 free – 23.19
- 100 free – 50.49
- 50 fly – 24.13
- 100 fly – 53.47
Virginia Tech’s top 2 butterfliers this season, Antani Ivanov and Blake Manoff, are both sophomores, so Ramadan will join a deep group next fall. He’ll join a class that includes announced swimmers breaststroker Collin Myburgh (55.9/2:01.3) and butterflier/IMer Alex Neff (49.8/1:48.8 fly, 1:50.9 IM).
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Meanwhile…. Gretchen Walsh
Ehh, the Hokie women’s team is a lost cause anyways, the ACC is running away from them. Focusing recruiting efforts on the men’s team would be my move if I were Sergio Lopez. Men could have a shot at solidifying itself in the top 3 w NC State and UVA this year, and the following years
Congrats! Great pickup for VT!
Carles colli is also committed to Virginia tech
It’s about time! They gotta get on the recruiting trail if they’re going to keep up with UVA, NC State, Duke, UNC and evening Georgia Tech
Just name another ACC school why don’t ya
Pretty sure VT beat all the teams you mentioned except UVA and NC State last year
Beating UNCheat is a given
GT in the evening sure is scary…
Good times, good get. Always wonder if international students like Youssef get recruited initially by coaches or if they contact coaches first?
It may have changed since I did it, but for those not already in the US system (Minakov, Morozov) you usually have to contact schools, particularly at the upper end swimming colleges (even if that’s where your times naturally put you).
I suspect ISL may limit the numbers going to the US now though. Previously a kid like Freya Anderson, European senior short course champ swimming for a school with many alumni who swam NCAA, would be prime candidates to head stateside. Now she’s getting paid.
Antani and Manoff are both sophomores