University of Minnesota Athletics
C.J. Smith Signs with the Gophers
11/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Clayton “CJ” Smith, of Wilmette, Ill., has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the University of Minnesota men’s swimming & diving team, Golden Gophers coaches Dennis Dale and Bill Tramel announced. Smith will join the Gophers for the 2011-12 season.
“I just want to say how excited I am to have the opportunity to swim at the University of Minnesota under Coach Bill Tramel and Coach Dennis Dale while I study at one of the top schools in the country,” said Smith. “The University of Minnesota swimming and diving team is a great group of guys that work hard in the pool as well as in the classroom. I cannot wait to begin my college studies and I look forward to the next four years as a Gopher.”
A senior at New Trier High School, Smith is a top-notch distance freestyler. Smith is coached by Mark Onstott. Smith also competes for the YWCA Flying Fish club team under the direction of Pete Caragher.
Smith holds personal top times of 4:29.30 in the 500 free and 15:29.09 in the 1,650 free; times that would already notch him NCAA “B” qualifying standards. In long course events, Smith has a best of 8:22.86 in the 800 free and 15:55.59 in the 1,500 free.
“CJ Smith is the next great swimmer from Chicagoland to join us in Minnesota,” said Tramel. “We currently have five Chicago guys on our team and several on the women’s team as well. In fact, one of our all-time Minnesota greats, Terry Silkaitis, is one of CJ’s assistant coaches at Flying Fish. Terry was an Illinois state champion for Evanston Township.
The thing that really gets me excited about CJ is what his head club coach Pete Caragher told me about his work ethic, ‘CJ is one of those guys who is just a tough, blue collar worker.’ We have a top caliber distance star in sophomore Matt Benecki right now on our Gopher squad. I can’t wait for CJ to start training alongside Matt in my distance group. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
“I just want to say how excited I am to have the opportunity to swim at the University of Minnesota under Coach Bill Tramel and Coach Dennis Dale while I study at one of the top schools in the country,” said Smith. “The University of Minnesota swimming and diving team is a great group of guys that work hard in the pool as well as in the classroom. I cannot wait to begin my college studies and I look forward to the next four years as a Gopher.”
A senior at New Trier High School, Smith is a top-notch distance freestyler. Smith is coached by Mark Onstott. Smith also competes for the YWCA Flying Fish club team under the direction of Pete Caragher.
Smith holds personal top times of 4:29.30 in the 500 free and 15:29.09 in the 1,650 free; times that would already notch him NCAA “B” qualifying standards. In long course events, Smith has a best of 8:22.86 in the 800 free and 15:55.59 in the 1,500 free.
“CJ Smith is the next great swimmer from Chicagoland to join us in Minnesota,” said Tramel. “We currently have five Chicago guys on our team and several on the women’s team as well. In fact, one of our all-time Minnesota greats, Terry Silkaitis, is one of CJ’s assistant coaches at Flying Fish. Terry was an Illinois state champion for Evanston Township.
The thing that really gets me excited about CJ is what his head club coach Pete Caragher told me about his work ethic, ‘CJ is one of those guys who is just a tough, blue collar worker.’ We have a top caliber distance star in sophomore Matt Benecki right now on our Gopher squad. I can’t wait for CJ to start training alongside Matt in my distance group. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
Players Mentioned
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