Sometimes it’s tough to separate myth from reality. Years ago, a recruit told us that they’d been informed, “Here at Stanford, there’s great athletics, great academics and a great social life, but there’s only enough time to excel in two of them.” We’ll chalk that up to myth, and so too will Spokane’s Mason Shaw.
| Shaw, who registered with CollegeSwimming.com’s Recruit Directory, saw “An excellent academic institution with a great group of guys on the swim team who are also motivated and talented.” But he also saw something more – a school with “an academic but also very fun atmosphere.”
Shaw arrives at the Farm as the most highly-touted breaststroker/ IMer since Tom Wilkens. Another incoming breaststroker drawing notable comparisons is Parker Lam. Lam’s range is a bit limited, but so too was Anthony Robinson’s but that didn’t stop Robinson from a NCAA title in the 50 free and some sick 50-breast splits. He’ll be pushed by another breaststroker from the Pacific Northwest, Garren Reichel and Princeton transfer Nick Manouso.
Coaches Kenney and Knapp managed to corral a pair of sprinters and in Texas’ Jake Hartley and San Jose’s Cole Davis, both look to be true sprinters with lots of upside. Mitch Stoehr in the same boat but with much more range. You can be sure the staff got good background on Stoehr as he comes from Lake Forest, where women’s coach Lea Mauer coached up until Stoehr’s freshman year.
Stars on any other class, Will Gunderson and Bryan Offutt round out this group. Both are extremely versatile with Gunderson coming from an athletic family. His sister swims at Utah and brother played quarterback at Oregon State. His family accomplishments pale compared to fellow freshman Justin Spitz whose dad was known as a pretty decent swimmer in his day. History aside, this is a class whose future looks bright.
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