Freshman Swimmer Makes It to NCAA Championships

Freshman Thomas Gallup will be Caltech's first representative at the NCAA National Swimming & Diving Championships in more than three decades after claiming two individual titles in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) February 17 and 18.

Gallup, a member of Caltech's men's swim and dive team, won individual conference titles in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. His times earned him invitations to compete in the NCAA National Championships, which runs from Mar. 15–18, in Shenandoah, Texas, just outside his hometown of Houston. The last time the Beavers sent a representative to the championships was in 1983, when 2016 Hall of Honor inductee Chris McKinnon competed in his third straight meet. Caltech's best finish as a team at the championships was in 1981, when the Beavers placed 26th in the nation.

In addition to the sense of achievement he receives from achieving personal athletic goals and overcoming strong competition, Gallup says that swimming for Caltech has been especially rewarding. "When I committed to swim at Caltech, some people questioned my decision, saying that it was a 'shame' that I had chosen a school that wasn't known for its swimming program. To show that we can balance both our academics and achieve at the highest level athletically makes me really proud to be a Techer!"

He adds, "All members of the swim team have a vision of turning our program into one of the best in SCIAC, and I'm proud to do my part in getting us there."

Read more about Gallup's achievement here.