‘Blasting Off’ into Second A Final, Jack Hoagland Relishing Latest Chapter at SMU
In one breath, Jack Hoagland is able to go through the laundry list of things he’s experienced in college, lengthy even for his COVID-affected generation. In the next, he’s on record with his enthusiasm to use the sixth year that the pandemic has afforded.
All of that journey – through two schools, an injury redshirt, a pandemic and now two A finals at this week’s NCAA Championships – informs the SMU senior’s appreciation for what has transpired at IUPUI Natatorium.
Hoagland has twice this week made A finals, finishing sixth in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 400 individual medley. In the former on Thursday, he broke the curse of two 10th place finishes, in 2021 and 2023, both when he was at Notre Dame. By finishing eighth in prelims of the 400 IM on Friday, he helped exorcise the demons of finishing the dreaded ninth in both the 500 free and 400 IM at NCAAs in 2021.
Add in the missed 2021-22 season, when he redshirted after a wrist fracture, then his transfer to SMU … it’s been a lot for the native of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Breaking my wrist, having a year off, coming back last year and being able to have a decent meet but not the best meet, it speaks volumes to the program that we’re building, to the coaches, to the teammates, to everybody around me,” Hoagland said. “We’re blasting off. I think this is just the start of it for us. To be able to be able to come in here today after a great swim yesterday for our relay and be able to do something special, it means so much to me.”
Hoagland this week has gone a long way toward banishing the sense of what ifs inherent to his cohort. As a freshman, he was second in the 400 IM, second in the 1,650 free and third in the 500 at the 2020 ACC Championships, a table-setter for an NCAAs that never happened. He’s twice medaled in the mile at NCAAs, fifth in both 2021 and 2023. But getting into the top eight in the other events in a step forward.
His time of 4:11.11 in prelims of the 500 is a best time. Most notably, it’s the first time he’s gone sub 4:12 in his three NCAAs, a big swim at a big time.
The 400 IM is even more significant. His best time had remained stubbornly locked at 3:40.73 since his freshman ACC Championships now four years ago. He blasted under 3:40 in the morning to 3:39.85. The progress in his less favored events, he hopes, bodes well for the mile on Saturday.
He spoke glowingly of his experience in South Bend, and the Fightin’ Irish faithful reciprocated with hearty applause when he was on the podium. But his mentality has shifted in Dallas. Part of it is the sense of building something with the Mustangs.
“I think the main thing for me is my attitude toward swimming,” Hoagland said. “It’s definitely changed over the past year, finding more appreciation and love for the sport. I think that comes more with being a grad student and having less classes, being able to swim outdoors and have a little sunlight definitely helps overall. I think it really boils down to my mentality for sure.”
It has Hoagland thinking about his legacy. He’s eager to use his sixth year at SMU and to do so as a veteran mentor. SMU has had a strong meet in Indianapolis, with Danny Kovac making it back to the 200 IM B final and the 800 free relay (with Hoagland leading off in 1:32.47, a best time by a clean second) scoring in 15th.
That experience, he hopes, will lead to more moments like it for the Mustangs.
“Coming into my sixth year next year, I think the most important thing for me is being able to share my experiences and knowledge with some of the younger guys, to be able to get them to NCAAs, show them what it’s like and what we can do as a team,” he said. “I want to give back in any way I can to the team in that sense to be able to keep the program going strong.”
Looks like the Mustangs will finish back in the Top 20. Bravo to Jack and the other swimmers and to Greg and the entire coaching staff.