NEW COMMIT: Olympic Trials qualifier Carl Bloebaum of Mason, Ohio, has pledged his verbal commitment to Virginia Tech and will suit up for the Hokies in the fall of 2022.
He will arrive in Blacksburg at the start of the 2022-23 season along with Landon Gentry, Aiken Do and Mitchell Stroud.
Regarding his commitment, he said:
“I’m proud to announce my decision to pursue my athletic and academic career at Virginia Tech! I want to thank my coaches, friends, and family that helped me along the way! Can’t wait to join such a great team, GOKIES!!”
Bloebaum, who does his club swimming with Mason Manta Rays, raced three events at the Toyota U.S. Open last month. Last winter, he flew to fourth in the 200 fly and eighth in the 100 fly at Juniors East.
In Summer 2019, he grabbed silver in the 100m fly at Ohio LCM Seniors before going on to finish fourth in the 200m fly and ninth in the 100m fly at Junior Nationals. Bloebaum also swam on the National Age Group record-setting 4x50m medley relay.
His best times include:
- 100 back – 49.63
- 200 back – 1:47.92
- 100 fly – 47.85
- 200 fly – 1:46.35
Currently a junior at Mason High School, Bloebaum is already a four-time individual Ohio State Championship finalist. He was the runner-up in the 100 fly and placed eighth in the 100 back as a sophomore while taking fourth in the 100 fly and 14th in the 500 free during his sophomore season.
Bloebaum will add valuable fly depth to the Hokies’ lineup at the start of the 2022-23 season following the graduations of Blake Manoff and Antani Ivanov. He would’ve been their third-fastest 100 butterflyer and their fifth-fastest 200 butterflyer last season.
Under head coach Sergio Lopez, the Hokies finished fourth overall in the team standings at the 2020 ACC Championships.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
