NEW COMMIT: Junior National Champion Michael Brinegar has verbally committed to Indiana University. Brinegar is originally from Indiana, though has spent the last two years in California. As a freshman he was the 2015 Indiana Boys high school state champion in the 500 freestyle.
Brinegar told Swimming World,
“I am happy to announce my commitment to become an Indiana Hoosier beginning in the 2018-19 academic year.
I am excited to have the opportunity to train alongside and learn from 2016 Olympic Gold Medalists Blake Pieroni, Cody Miller and Lilly King as well as current USA World Championship team member Zane Grothe. I am also looking forward to joining several of my former Indiana age group friends and competitors to train and compete together.
Having spent most of my life in southern Indiana, I have enjoyed watching the recent resurgence of Indiana Swimming under Ray Looze, highlighted by Rio Gold Medalists Pieroni, Miller and King. The atmosphere of championship expectations is one I look forward to joining and I cannot thank Mark Schubert enough for preparing me for this next step.”
Brinegar currently swims for Schubert at Mission Viejo Nadadores. He’s excelled in distance freestyle. His top times are:
- 500 Free 4:19.80
- 1000 Free 8:56.67
- 1650 Free 14:53.52
Brinegar brings plenty of high level swimming experience with him to the Hoosiers. In 2016 he was the Speedo Junior National Champion in the 800 freestyle. Last year he also won the silver medal in the 7.5K at FINA Junior World Open Water Championships. In August he will represent Team USA in the 800 and 1500 freestyles at Junior World Championships.
Great to hear of Michael’s commitment. Family stories in our sport are very heartwarming, and this is a good one which would make it hard for him to end up anywhere else. His mom is Jennifer Hooker Brinegar — 6th in Olympic final of 200 Free in Montreal and an Olympic record holder for one heat (DDR broke it in Heat Two) when she swam the prelims of the famous 4 x 100 Free Relay to give Shirley Babashoff a chance to rest before the 800 Final that night. Her dad was a multi-term Mayor of Bloomington. While she trained in Louisville before making the ’76 team, she also went out to Mission a few of her teen year and trained with Mark S. before coming home to IU for college. She’s long been an athletic administrator at IU, including oversight of swimming. Apparently Michael sensed a pattern! Hoosiers come Home!!
It’s great to hear him give credit to coach Schubert for all the hard work that goes into preparing swimmers for success at the next stage. Often swimmers neglect to give that credit. This says a lot about his upbringing, so kudos to his parents too.