Ella Smith

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
Breaststroke/IM/Freestyle
High School:
Chicopee Comprehensive HS
Hometown:
Chicopee, Mass.

Career Honors and Awards

Winner of Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at 2023 team banquet

2023-24 Sophomore Season: Minnesota Invite: came in 22nd in the 500 free (5:00.40) and the 200 breast (2:27.65)... Wisconsin Dual: finished eighth in the 200 IM (2:11.92) and the 100 breast (1:09.68)... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: placed third in the 1000 free (10:38.94) and sixth in the 200 breast (2:29.51)... SMU Dual: came in seventh in both the 200 IM (2:13.13) and 400 IM (4:35.60)... Nebraska/South Dakota Tri-Dual: got sixth in the 400 IM (4:38.83) and 10th in the 100 breast (1:09.06)

2022-23 Freshman Season: Winner of Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet ... First Chance Meet: earned first in the 400 IM (4:27.79), third in the 200 breast (2:18.54) and fifth in the 500 free (5:01.96) ... Minnesota Invite: came in 20th in the 200 breast finals (2:16.98), 22nd in the 400 IM finals (4:25.56), 27th in the 500 free finals (4:55.46) and 35th in the 100 breast prelims (1:05.08); also part of the 200 medley relay that came in 17th (1:41.10) ... Iowa Dual: placed fourth in the 200 breast (2:25.62) and fifth in the 1000 free (10:36.99); also part of the 200 medley relay that placed fourth (1:44.94) ... Wisconsin Dual: claimed seventh in the 100 breast (1:06.70) and eighth in the 200 breast (2:22.34) and 200 IM (2:10.79); also part of the 200 medley relay that was fourth (1:44.24) ... SMU Dual: finished third in the 400 IM (4:28.49) and fourth in the 100 breast (1:05.92) and 200 IM (2:06.26); also part of the 200 medley relay (1:44.14) and 400 medley relays (3:49.92) that both finished second ... Nebraska/South Dakota Tri-Dual: made collegiate debut by placing sixth in the 100 breast (1:07.11), swimming the 200 back (2:09.45) in an exhibition and helping the 200 medley relay (1:45.06) to a second-place finish

Prep: Attended Chicopee Comprehensive High School …All-American in the 100 breast in 2020 … earned all-state honors in 2019 and 2020 … Massachusetts DI State Meet record holder in the 100 breast … two-time state champion in the 100 breast …holds seven school records … Masslive Swimmer of the Year … High-Honor Roll student … National Honor Society Member … swam at the club level for Bluefish Swim Club from 2016-21 … competed at Summer Nationals, US Open, Summer Junior Nationals, Winter Junior Nationals and TYR Pro Series … best finish at the events was ninth place in the 200 breast at the TYR Pro Series … named New England Outstanding Swimmer and New England Top Ten Swimmer in multiple events

Personal: Parents are Lisa Brogle and Craig Smith … has one younger sister, Charlotte … cousin, Lindsay Marjanski, competed in track and field at Holy Cross … plans to major in biomedical engineering … hobbies include hiking, biking and anything outdoors

Why Minnesota:"From my very first phone call during the beginning of my recruitment process, I felt an instant connection to the University of Minnesota. Everyone on the staff and team was unbelievably kind, supportive, and positive. The engineering program here was also outstanding, and the location and school size was exactly what I was looking for. The program has a history of bringing swimmers in and helping them improve a ton, and that really stood out to me, as well. When it was time to make a decision, I have never felt so sure about where I felt I belonged."