Bence Szabados Decommits from Northwestern; Announces Verbal to Michigan for 2020

Photo Courtesy: Bence Szabados

NEW COMMIT: After originally committing to Northwestern University, Bence Szabados has changed his verbal commitment to the University of Michigan. The Chicago, Ill. native will arrive in Ann Arbor in the fall of 2020.

Szabados swims year-round with Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club and owns five Summer Juniors or faster cuts. He’s currently coming off of an extremely successful showing at Winter Juniors West, where he was the 200 fly runner-up with three additional top-6 finishes en route to achieving 100% best times. He capped off his long course season as the 100m fly champion with all lifetime bests at NCSAs and posted four top-3 finishes at Pleasant Prairie Speedo Sectionals in March.

Only a high school junior, Szabados also represents Whitney Young High School and is a four-time Chicago Public Schools champion. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American finished fourth in the 100 free and ninth in the 200 free at the Illinois State Championships during his sophomore season. He is also the son of Béla Szabados, a former Hungarian freestyler who competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

He told Swimming World:

“I couldn’t be more excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and swimming careers at the University of Michigan! I’d like to thank my family and coaches for their support throughout this process, and I can’t wait to be a Wolverine! Go Blue!”

His best times include:

50 free – 19.97
100 free – 44.39
200 free – 1:37.46
100 fly – 47.35
200 fly – 1:44.84

Even with 1.5 years of club swimming to go, Szabados would’ve scored in the B-final of the 50 free and 200 fly as well as the C-final of the 100 fly at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. He will also join Yugo Tsukikawa, Wyatt Davis and Alexander Capizzo as members of the class of 2024.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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