UMBC Earns In-State Verbal From Quickly-Improving Luke Gude

Photo Courtesy: Scott Ward

NEW COMMIT: Eldersburg, Md. native and butterfly specialist Luke Gude has announced his in-state verbal to University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC) and will join the Retrievers in the fall of 2019.

Gude does his club swimming with Eagle Swim Team and has made significant improvements over the past two seasons, shaving off five seconds from his 100 fly, 19 seconds off his 200 fly and ten from his 200 back. He most recently competed at the Maryland LCM Championships where he achieved five best times and placed fourth in the 100m fly. At Maryland Seniors in February, he was a six-time finalist which included a gold medal in the 500 free.

He told Swimming World:

“As soon as I walked onto the campus, I saw how close the team was. They were constantly pushing each other and I knew I wanted to be a part of that. I am beyond excited for the next four years to further my academic and swimming career with UMBC!”

His best times include:

100 fly – 52.37
200 fly – 1:58.98
200 back – 1:58.93

When he suits up for the Retrievers as a member of the class of 2023, Gude will join a talented fly training group that includes Tiago Asakawa and Jack Carlisle and he would’ve scored in the B-final of both butterfly events at the 2018 America East Championships. In their first year back in the America East Conference, UMBC won 22 events to secure the championship team title.

Gude’s club coach, Scott Ward, said:

“Luke is a hard-working, late bloomer with his best swims ahead of him. So, I am pleased that he will have those performances at my alma mater!”

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