Northwestern University sophomore and 2012 Malibu High graduate Jordan Wilimovsky concluded his second year in college by earning All-American honors with a fourth-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Wilimovsky is the first Northwestern All-American since 2006.
“My goal for the season was to finish top eight at the NCAAs, which earns you All-American, so it was great to reach my goal,” said Wilimovsky, whose brother, Alec, is a junior on the Malibu High swim team.
While competing on March 30 at the University of Texas in Austin, Wilimovsky swam a time of 14:44.36 in the mile to finish No. 4 in the nation among 33 competitors.
Last year, Wilimovsky placed 24th as a freshman in the NCAA 1,650 free with a mark of 14:58.80.
In a grueling race that consists of 66 laps of swimming, Wilimovsky settled in and improved by 14 seconds from last year’s NCAA Championships to place behind Michigan senior Connor Jaeger (14:29.27), California senior Jeremy Bagshaw (14:39.00) and Florida sophomore Arthur Frayler (14:43.08).
Athletes who finish in the top eight of an individual or relay event are granted All-American honors by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
“I was really happy with my 1,650 at NCAAs,” Wilimovsky said. “I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get my best time but was happy to back up my swim from Big Tens.”
Wilimovsky’s NCAA success came on the heels of his second place showing in the Big Ten Championships a few weeks earlier at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan. With a school-record time of 14:42.99, he was named All-Big Ten Second Team.
After becoming the first Northwestern swimmer to post a sub-15:00 mile as a freshman last season at the NCAA Championships, Wilimovsky broke his own school record in the mile with a 14:55.25 time during the “TYR Invite” in Evanston, Ill., back in November.
He then improved by 12 seconds at the Big Ten Championships and subsequently earned his All-American status with the 4th place finish at the NCAA’s.
In just two years at Northwestern University, Wilimovsky has taken the city of Chicago by storm with his outstanding swim performances.
“Northwestern has been awesome. It’s a lot of fun being able to go to school and compete here,” he said. “I got second in the Big Ten and fourth in NCAA’s so hopefully next season I can keep on improving and do a little better.”
Wilimovsky will return home to Malibu early next month in preparation for the U.S. Open Water National Championships at Lake Castaic on June 13.
If he qualifies again for the U.S. Open Water National team as he did last summer, Wilimovsky will have the opportunity to race internationally throughout July and August including the Pan Pacific Open Water Championships in Australia on August 25.
“This summer I plan to come home and continue training with my club team, Team Santa Monica,” Wilimovsky said. “Hopefully I can re-qualify for the Open Water national team and make Pan-Pacs. I also look forward to swimming at the U.S. Open.”
