Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

As reported by Swimming World Magazine:

Lessons with the Legends: John Collins
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Swimming World continues a series in which top coaches share some of the secrets of their success. The September issue of Swimming World Magazine highlights the many accomplishments of Coach John Collins.

A lawyer by education and well-versed in modern aquatic training methods, Collins is well into his fourth decade as a decorated swim coach. As such, he has been a mentor to more than a dozen Olympians, world and national champions such as Rick Carey, Lea Loveless, Tobie Smith, Cristina Teuscher, Jenny Thompson and Cody Miller. He also directed NCAA D-III Manhattanville College aquatics for 22 years.

Coached by his father and schooled by Doc Counsilman at Indiana, Collins became an NCAA butterfly All-American and USA national team member before earning a J.D. from Fordham University. Law degree aside, Collins followed his father into the swim coaching business. For years, he ran workouts from a six-lane pool in Larchmont, N.Y., home base for the team established by his mother and father in 1945.

In 2018, he still advocates eight to 12 workouts per week. The addition of Lehman College’s 50-meter indoor pool, coupled with Badger’s “blue jewel” 50-yard outdoor facility guarantees longcourse training year-round.

Collins was a U.S. national team coach from 1984-2007 and head coach for the 1995 Pan American Games, 1997 Pan Pacific Championships and the 2001 and 2007 World Championships. He was also named 1983 ASCA Coach of the Year and has been inducted into the Metropolitan Swimming, Westchester County Sports and ASCA halls of fame.

To learn more about Collins and his many accomplishments, check out the September 2018 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

VIEW FULL ARTICLE Lesson’s with the Legends – John Collins Badger Swim Club

As reported by Swim Swam:

Nick Torres from Eastchester, New York has announced his verbal commitment to the University of Notre Dame for 2019-20. He will join Cason Wilburn, Jack Hoagland, Topher Stensby, and Will Barao in the Fighting Irish’s class of 2023.

“I am proud to announce my commitment to the University of Notre Dame. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity, and it couldn’t have been done without my family, friends, teammates, and coaches. Special shoutout to @yugo.tsukikawa who has been my training partner for 9 years. ND ‘95 -> ND ‘23 #legacy”

Torres is a senior at Fordham Preparatory School, whom he represented at the 2018 NYSPHSAA Federation Championship. There, he was runner-up in the 200 IM (1:51.07) and fourth in the 100 back (51.12). He also contributed to FP’s 3rd-place medley relay and 6th-place 400 free relay.

Torres swims year-round for Badger Swim Club in Larchmont, New York. A USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, he competed at 2018 Speedo Summer Juniors in Irvine, swimming the 200 free, 100/200 back and 200 IM. He also earned a PB in the 100 free leading off the 400 free relay. Torres had an excellent junior year; he updated his PBs in every event.

Top SCY times:

200 IM – 1:49.27
400 IM – 3:58.11
50 back – 23.59
100 back – 50.21
200 back – 1:49.44
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.

The early Badger team proudly wore Arena apparel, and we are excited to announce that we are returning to our roots. Badger Swim Club has been officially endorsed by Arena!

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As Swim Swam Reports: 

Jalen Ramjohn from Bronx, New York has announced his commitment to swim for Iona College in the fall.

“It’s been a long swim career, learned so much, helped so many, and I am so grateful for all the experiences and interactions I’ve had with people over the years. It made me the young man I am today. No matter if it was good or bad I am thankful for everything I have been given.”

Ramjohn represents Badger Swim Club and swam for Salesian High School. The versatile Ramjohn competed in a variety of events during his high school career. He was runner-up in the 100 fly at the 2018 NYSPHSAA Federation Championships, going 49.45, and he took 37th in the 100 breast. As a junior he swam the 100 fly and 200 IM at Easterns, and the previous year he competed in the 100 back at the NYSPHSAA Federation Championships.

Ramjohn was a finalist in the 100 fly at Geneva Futures last summer; he also competed in the 100/200 back. At Winter Juniors East he took on the 100 back and 100 fly and time-trialed the 50 free. This spring he finaled in the 100 back, 50 breast, and 100 fly at ISCA Junior Championship Cup. Since the start of his senior year of high school, he has lowered his PBs in the 200 free, 50/100/200 breast, and 50/100/200 fly.

Ramjohn will be an asset to the Gaels from Day One. His best 100 fly time would have made the A final at 2018 MAAC Championships, where freshman Conor Mullin was Iona’s top scorer in the B final. Ramjohn would also have scored in the B final of the 100 back; he is close in the 200 IM, 100 breast, and 100 free.

Read the whole article on Swim Swam

As Swim Swam Reports:

Alexa Lantin, a senior at School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York, has announced her intention to swim for Boston College next fall.

“I chose Boston College because I felt right at home the minute I set foot on campus. The more time that I spent with its amazing coaching staff and the entire team, the more I realized that I will be a part of a special family over the next four years. I’d like to thank my family, coach, school mentors, and friends who gave me the support that I needed during this amazing journey. Go BC!”

Lantin swims for Badger Swim Club under coach John Collins, where she specializes mainly in breast and distance free. This past summer she updated her LCM times in the 100/200 breast and 200 IM, reaching finals in both the 100m breast and 200m breast at Futures. She won the 200m breast at Connecticut Senior Invitation, and was 5th in the same event at Metropolitan Swimming Senior Championships. In 2016 she placed third in the 1500 free at Senior Mets, and was 6th in the 1650 free at Ithaca Sectionals.

Read the whole article on Swim Swam 

As Swim Swam Reports:

Andrew Babyak has announced his verbal commitment to swim for The University of Michigan beginning in the fall of 2018. Also on the Wolverines’ roster for the class of 2022 will be fellow verbal commits AJ Bornstein, David Cleason, Ian Miskelley, Michael MacGillivray, Patrick Callan, and Will Chan.

“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at The University of Michigan!  I want to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates for supporting me throughout this process and putting me in the position to have this opportunity.  I am looking forward to being part of the Michigan tradition.  Go Blue!”

The Bronxville High School senior has only been a one-sport athlete for a year. Prior to that he also played lacrosse, and made the All-Section and All-League teams as a defenseman at Bronxville. In high school swimming, Babyak won the 2017 New York State Public High School and Federation titles in the 500 freestyle (4:26.26) and anchored 2017 NYSPHSAA state champion 400 freestyle relay. He is a USA Swimming Scholastic All American and a two-time NISCA All-American.

Babyak swims year-round with Badger Swim Club in Larchmont, New York under coach John Collins. He won the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles at Ithaca Sectionals and swam in the 200/400/800/1500 freestyle events at Summer Junior Nationals.

Read the whole article on Swim Swam 

As Swim Swam Reports: 

Garrett Towne, a backstroke and butterfly specialist who trains under multiple-time World Championship coach John Collins at Badger Swim Club in Larchmont, New York, has announced his commitment to University of Toronto for 2018-2019. The Toronto Varsity Blues are led by head coach Byron McDonald, a Canadian Olympian and ex-Michigan swimmer. The men’s team finished third in the U Sports Championships last February behind British Columbia and Calgary.

“The team culture, practice playlists, experienced staff, & Byron’s fascinating stories made Toronto my favorite place to continue to love to swim. Can’t wait to train, travel, & pursue a National Championship with the team next year.”

A senior at Hackley School, Garrett is a NISCA All-American and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American who has broken school records in the 100 back (49.19), 100 fly (50.00), 100 free (47.7, since broken by Liam Bogart), and all three relays. He also owns the Ivy League records in the 100 back (49.19) and 100 fly (50.00). Towne is a recipient of the Con Edison Scholar-Athlete award and was Ivy champion in the 100 backstroke 3 years in a row. (Hackley does not attend NY States.)

Read the whole article on Swim Swam