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A senior at Westwood Excessive Faculty in Austin Texas, Raphael Wang, has introduced his intentions to swim at Duke this time subsequent yr.
Wang, ultimately winter’s UIL 6A State Championships, made the finals in each of his particular person occasions. Within the 200 IM, after putting third within the prelims in a time of 1:48.78, a private finest, he lowered it once more to 1:48.57, capturing 4th within the last behind Maximus Williamson‘s 1:40.81. Within the 100 breaststroke in a while within the meet, Wang popped off one other private finest, ending 2nd in a time of 54.62.
He didn’t include his successes to particular person occasions, nonetheless, as Wang was additionally a part of two relays. He anchored the 200 free relay to a twelfth place end, splitting 21.19 (he was 20.95 within the prelims), and he took on the butterfly duties of the 200 medley relay, splitting 22.14. The relay comprised of Kevin Qian (Bk- 24.26), Steven Ma (Br- 25.42) and Josh Lee (21.60) completed seventh general in a time of 1:33.42
Wang continued his assault on his private file e book a fortnight later on the Lewisville Sectionals meet, competing along with his membership group, Waterloo Swimming. Whereas he lowered his finest in some off occasions just like the 100 free (46.79) and the 200 again (1:51.98), he additionally had some robust drops in his bread and butter occasions, too. Within the 100 breasts, he completed sixth in a brand new better of 54.59, and within the longer breaststroke occasions, he positioned seventh in a brand new PB of 1:58.02. He carried out even higher within the 200 IM, taking third in a brand new private better of 1:48.04, knocking off half a second in simply two weeks’ time.
In lengthy course this previous summer season, Wang continued his latest run of success. On the Austin Sectionals meets in mid-July, he matched his private finest drops in yards to these in meters, swimming a brand new finest within the 100 free (54.68), in addition to in his higher occasions. He positioned third within the 100-breast last, taking the bronze in 1:03.11, and did one higher within the 200-breast, claiming silver in a private finest of two:16.61. He equaled that silver medal within the 200 IM, first swimming 2:08.66 within the prelims after which chopping off greater than two seconds to complete 2nd general within the last with a results of 2:06.33.
Very similar to he did within the winter, between States and Sectionals, two weeks later in July, on the Austin website of the Futures Championships, Wang once more lowered his private bests. Within the 100 breast, he positioned ninth general in 1:02.82, and within the 200 breast, he positioned third general in 2:15.38. The same drop may very well be seen within the 200 IM, the place he dropped right down to a time of two:05.16, which was good for tenth general.
Finest Yards Instances
50 Breast -25.73
100 Breast – 54.59
200 Breast – 1:58.02
200 IM – 1:48.04
Wang will probably be becoming a member of a Duke program that swims within the more and more aggressive ACC, which can see the addition of the highest ten packages, Cal and Stanford, this season. Below the tutelage of Brian Barnes, who took over this system simply final yr after Dan Colella handed away, Duke positioned tenth on the 2024 ACC Championships, scoring 287 factors.
Duke’s prime finisher within the 100 breast was Michael Volpe, a then-junior, who completed twenty ninth general in a time of 55.82; Duke additionally had a No Present from Justin Woo. Within the 200 breast, Kalen Anbar, a then freshman, positioned sixteenth within the prelims in a time of 1:56.96. Within the B-Ultimate, he moved up one spot to complete fifteenth in a time of 1:47.13. Jack Smith, additionally a then-freshman, was the following quickest Duke finisher, putting twenty seventh general in a time of 1:59.76.
Regardless of having a yr to enhance, Wang’s arrival on campus will instantly enhance Duke’s prospects at their championships. His finest time within the 100 breast would have been Duke’s quickest time at ACCs, as his 54.59 would have ranked twenty sixth. His 200 breast would additionally simply have missed qualifying for a last, as his 1:58.12 would have ranked twenty sixth as properly, simply .04 away from being twenty fourth.
Wang’s presence may additionally assist Duke’s relays. Whereas Anbar was 53.53 on the 400 medley relay, Volpe, who presently doesn’t seem on Duke’s roster (as listed on their web site), was 24.90 on the 200 medley, and Wang, with some enchancment, may take over that obligation.
Anticipated to affix Wang on campus subsequent fall are Ryan Griffith, Gus Koh, Anderson Kopp, and Cade Anderson, all of whom have a backstroke pedigree. Charlie Kulp, a powerful 500 freestyler, and Owen Waibel, a sprinter, spherical out the category.
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