Swimming World presents the video series called the Ross Report. It is a semi-weekly series where our head video producer Andy Ross will travel around the country to tell the stories of the swimmers and divers you don’t know much about.
Previous Ross Report episodes:
- Ep. #1: Kaersten Meitz
- Ep. #2: Zane Grothe
- Ep. #3: Division II Indianapolis
- Ep. #4: Robert Howard
- Ep. #5: Georgia Tech
- Ep. #6: Division III Williams
This week’s episode focuses on the pro group at the University of Florida. Ross caught up with Caeleb Dressel, Jan Switkowski and Mark Szaranek to explore how the three guys get the most out of each other in practice.
Dressel, Switkowski and Szaranek each finished their NCAA careers for the Gators in 2018, as did Gregg Troy, who announced his retirement at the end of last season. Troy has stuck around to coach the pro group in Gainesville which includes a number of world class swimmers.
The three guys talked about how much they enjoy training together and what specific things they get out of training with the team every day.
Dressel, Switkowski and Szaranek were on Florida’s 200 free relay team that won the NCAA title a year ago. Dressel led off with a mind boggling 17.81 and the Gators hung on to win their first ever 200 free relay title in school history.
Switkowski also had himself a successful NCAA meet in Minnesota last year as he won the 200 IM for his first ever individual NCAA title, joining the likes of Bradley Ally, Marcin Cieslak, Ryan Lochte, Greg Burgess and Martin Zubero as winners in the event for the Gators.
Switkowski also finished second the next night in the 100 fly to Dressel as the latter swam a monstrous 42.80 in the event, breaking the record by almost a full second.
Dressel, Switkowski and Szaranek really feed off each other positively in the water at practice, and it has shown in the competition pool. If they can keep that up, the future is certainly bright for those in the Gainesville pro group.
Our Jaś Świtkowski❤️??
Janek jesteś wielki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And it says a lot about the Gator Culture and their relationship with their coach, Gregg Troy.
Brawo Janek!