University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Swimming Signs Virginia State Champion
11/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
University of Minnesota men’s swimming and diving head coach Dennis Dale announced today that Matt Benecki has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Minnesota.
The senior from Fairfax, Va. shattered the Virginia state record in the 500 freestyle as a junior en route to winning the state title with a time of 4:30.16. Benecki was also a 2008 Olympic Trials participant in the 1500-meter freestyle. He also qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open held at University Aquatic Center in August, finishing an impressive seventh in the 800-meter free.
Benecki is a senior at Chantilly High School and is coached by Peter McDonough. Benecki also competes for the The Fish ,under his father and head coach Ray Benecki, that produced U.S. Olympian Kate Ziegler. Benecki is a NISCA High School All-American and is rated as a five-star recruit by Swimming World Magazine.
"Matt is the second Olympic Trial caliber distance swimmer we have signed this Fall," assistant coach Bill Tramel said. "We are very excited to reload our tradition with Matt. Although we lose one of our all-time greats with the graduation of Mike Holmes this Spring, thinking about the 2010 season’s distance group is mind numbing. Minnesota will have three milers with Olympic Trial experience next year (Michael Daup and Michael McBroom). Minnesota has had four swimmers in the 1500 freestyle over the past two Olympic Trials. This will be an awesome group to train and watch compete.."
Benecki will join an elite class of distance swimmers that have posted recent success on the national scene. Justin Mortimer finished third in the 1500-meter free at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials and was a 13-time All-American. Mike Holmes finished 15th at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials and third in the same event at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Travis Beckerle also qualified for Olympic Trials in 2004 while Michael Daup achieved the feat in 2008.
His top times are 4:30.16 in the 500 free, 9:23.58 in the 1000 free, 15:34.04 in the 1650 free (short course yards), 3:59.71 in the 400-meter free, 8:13.27 in the 800 free and 15:50.21 in the 1500-meter free (long course meters).
Benecki is the second member of the 2008-09 Gopher signing class, joining Michael McBroom (The Woodlands, Texas).
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