Freshmen Making Immediate Impact for UK Swimming

The 2016-17 Kentucky swimming and diving team is experiencing something of a youth movement. In fact, head coach Lars Jorgensen has seen some of his freshmen swimmers reaching bold new heights, even though their careers are just starting.

“Hopefully this is a class that is impactful for years to come and they can keep attracting really high national level kids,” said Jorgensen.

Among a talented crop of freshmen, two Wildcats have emerged as leaders in the individual medley races, one of those being Louisville, Ky., native, Asia Seidt. At the Ohio State Invitational this fall, Seidt posted two individual school-record times, touching in 4:09.33 in the 400-yard individual medley and 1:55.33 in the 200 IM. 

Seidt has a particular strategy for the individual medley, which consists of the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

“In the 200 especially, I focus on the backstroke knowing that I can pull away from the competition in that,” Seidt said. “And when it comes to breaststroke, it is kind of survival mode and keeping that lead as much as possible.”

And pull away in the backstroke she can. Along with breaking records in the individual medley events, Seidt has excelled in the individual backstroke races as well. Behind senior Danielle Galyer, Seidt now owns the No. 2 spot in the UK record books in both the 100 and 200-yard backstroke races.

Nationally, Seidt is one of only two swimmers to post an automatic NCAA qualifying time in the 200 IM and one of only three to post an automatic qualifying time in the 200 backstroke. In each of those events, she owns the second-fastest time in the nation.

On the men’s side, Glen Brown has also had early success in the individual medley races. Just a few months into his freshman season, Brown has earned himself the No. 6 spot in UK’s all-time records in both the 200 and 400 IM events.

Like Seidt, Brown knows how to play to his strengths during the individual medley.

“I am able to come (from behind), and I train distance in practice which really helps me able myself to come (from behind) with races like the 400,” Brown said.

Jorgensen recruited both Seidt and Brown hoping they would make an immediate splash on the team, and the UK head coach has not been disappointed.

“They bring a lot to our team,” Jorgensen said. “We recruited them to be highly impactful and they have been. They have done a great job so far.”

And as far as the future for Seidt and Brown, Jorgensen knows that the sky is the limit. 

“I think that they both have a chance of being really good in maybe even 2020 with the Olympic Trials,” Jorgensen said. “That is something we are hoping for.”

For now, Jorgensen knows that his two talented freshmen are making an immediate impact on this year’s Kentucky swimming team.