Three East Carolina swimmers announced they would be continuing their swimming careers after ECU cut swimming and diving.
When East Carolina University cut its swimming and diving programs last month, the athletes that chose to continue their swimming careers elsewhere would immediately be eligible for competition at that school. Last week, three East Carolina swimmers announced plans to swim elsewhere as Sara Niepelova will transfer to Florida Gulf Coast, Adela Vavrinova will head to Arkansas, and Shannon Stott will go to Nebraska.
Sara Niepelova
After just one season at East Carolina, Niepelova will head down south to Florida Gulf Coast to join coach Dave Rollins and company. Niepelova, a native of Slovakia, swam the 500 free, 400 IM and 200 fly at the AAC Championships this past season, scoring highest in the 400 IM (4:24.54) with a 12th place finish.
Based on last season, Niepelova would be the Eagles’ top swimmer in the 500 and would be third in both the 400 IM and 200 fly.
Her best yards times:
- 500 free: 5:00.72
- 400 IM: 4:24.54
- 200 fly: 2:04.78
Adela Vavrinova
Vavrinova also swam just one season as a Pirate and will join the Razorbacks next season, Arkansas swimming was able to confirm. She swam both IM’s and the 100 free at their conference championships this season, reaching A-Finals in all three of her events, and also led off ECU’s 800 free relay team.
At Arkansas, she would rank second on the team in the 200 IM and third in the 400 IM, and should add some relay depth to the Razorbacks’ team. Vavrinova is a native of the Czech Republic and will be joining an Arkansas team that finished 10th at SECs in 2020.
Her yards best times:
- 100 free: 50.32
- 200 free: 1:47.14
- 200 IM: 1:59.97
- 400 IM: 4:18.32
Shannon Stott
Stott swam two seasons at East Carolina and will join Nebraska next season, she confirmed with Swimming World. Stott, a native of Great Britain, swam both butterfly events and the 500 free at their conference championships, making the A-Final in the 100 and 200 fly. At Nebraska, she would have the second fastest time at the school in the 500 free and 200 fly, and the third fastest time on the team in the 100 fly.
She has already proven she can score at the Big Ten level as her 200 fly time would have put her in the B-Final at the 2020 championships. The Cornhuskers were 10th at the Big Ten championships last season.
Her yards best times:
- 500 free: 4:50.47
- 100 fly: 54.69
- 200 fly: 1:58.51