University of Minnesota Athletics
2025-26 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster
John Watson
- Class:
- Junior
- Position:
- Breaststroke/IM
- Hometown:
- Omaha, Neb.
- High School:
- Creighton Prep
- Prev School:
- Mizzou
CAREER NOTES
- Ranks sixth in school history in the 200 breast (1:54.20), seventh in the 400 IM (3:45.23), and ninth in the 200 IM (1:45.56)
HONORS & AWARDS
- 2024-25 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2026 CSCAA Individual Scholar All American
- Won the Outstanding Student Athlete Award, Most Improved Award, and Hardest Worker Award at the 2026 team banquet
2024-25 Sophomore Season (MIZZOU):
- Raced a time of 1:51.78 in the 200 IM to take silver against Purdue (Oct. 25).
- Finished third in the 100 back with a time of 49.23 against Texas A&M (Nov. 1).
- Notched fifth in the 200 IM with a 1:46.18 swim at Georgia Invitational (Nov. 20-22).
- Placed third in the 200 breast with a time of 1:59.43; won the 200 IM with a 1:48.86 swim against McKendree and Missouri State (Jan. 17-18).
- Swam the 200 IM in 1:45.37 for a season best; raced the 100 breast in 53.46; finished 22nd in the 200 breast with a time of 1:55.50 at SEC Swimming and Diving Championships (Feb. 17-22).
- Raced a time of 47.69 in the 100 back at Mizzou Qualifier (March 1-2).
2023-24 Freshman Season (MIZZOU)
- Placed third in the 200 IM (1:51.75), finished fifth in the 200 fly (1:51.87), touched the wall fifth in the 200 back (1:53.09) and competed in the 200 medley relay (23.81) against Alabama (Oct. 20)
- Touched the wall fifth in the 200 back (1:49.87), placed seventh in the 200 IM (1:52.58), finished ninth in the 100 back (50.51) and raced in the 200 medley relay (23.72) against Indiana and Auburn (Oct. 25)
- Finished fourth in the 200 fly (1:50.18), swam in the 100 fly (53.17), competed in the 400 IM (3:56.95) and competed in the 200 medley relay (21.68) against Lindenwood and Southern Illinois University (Nov. 3)
- Placed first in the 100 breast (55.46), notched second in the 400 IM (3:49.95), finished fifth in the 200 IM (1:47.85), competed in the 200 back (1:48.05), raced in the 50 breast (25.92), swam in the 100 fly (51.66), competed in the 800 free relay (1:38.28) and raced in the 400 medley relay (49.41) at the Mizzou Invitational (Nov. 15-17)
- Touched the wall first in the 400L IM (4:38.23), placed fifth in the 200L IM (2:11.40), swam in the 50L fly (27.56) and raced in the 100L fly (59.81) at the Mizzou Long Course Trials Qualifier (Nov. 18)
- Notched second in the 500 free (4:36.06), finished fifth in the 100 back (50.93), placed fifth in the 100 IM (51.71) and raced in the 200 medley relay (21.64) against Missouri State (Dec. 2)
- Finished fourth in the 200 back (1:51.14), placed fifth in the 400 IM (4:00.92), touched the wall sixth in the 100 back (50.38) and competed in the 200 medley relay (21.77) against Louisville (Jan. 5)
- Placed first in the 200 breast (1:59.79), finished third in the 100 fly (49.33), touched the wall sixth in the 200 free (1:39.00), and raced in the 200 free relay (20.25) and 200 medley relay (20.15) at the Tiger Qualifier (Feb. 2-3)
- Notched a time of 1:58.84 in the 200 breast at the SEC Championships (Feb. 20-24)
PREP
- All-American in the 200 IM and 200 medley relay
- Scholastic All-American
- Set the Metro Conference 500 free record
- Metro Champion in the 500 free (2020, 2021), 200 free (2021) and 100 back (2022)
- State Champion in the 500 free (2021), 200 IM (2021, 2022) and 100 back (2022)
- 2020 Central Zone 100 breast Champion
PERSONAL: Son of Paul and Katie Watson • Has one brother, Ed, and two sisters, Mary and Eva • Studying Journalism
WHY MINNESOTA?: "I really love training with the mid-distance group, and the coaching staff is outstanding."
Tuesday, March 03
Sunday, March 01
Friday, February 27
Friday, February 27
