The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2008-09 Men's Swimming and Diving Roster
Roster
Benjamin Van Roekel
- Position:
- Free
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- null
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Ankeny, Iowa
- High School:
- Ankeny
• American record holder, 200y freestyle relay
• All-American
• Two-time Big 12 Champion
2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
• placed 75th in the 100m freestyle (51.14) and 83rd in the 50m freestyle (23.45)
AS A JUNIOR (2008-09)
• teamed up with Dave Walters, Jimmy Feigen and Scott Jostes to set a new American record and place fourth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:15.90) at the NCAA Championships; anchored the relay in 19.23
• placed 26th in the 50 freestyle (19.65), 26th in the 100 freestyle (43.24) and 28th in the 200 freestyle (1:35.62) at the NCAA Championships
• joined Walters, Feigen and Ryan Verlatti to set a then-American record in the 400 freestyle relay (2:49.17) at the Big 12 Championships; split 42.55 on the second leg
• teamed up with Feigen, Jonathan Jackson and Walters to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:16.89) at the Big 12 Championships
• placed fifth in the 50 freestyle (19.79), sixth in the 100 freestyle (43.53) and seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:36.59) at the Big 12 Championships
• won the 100 freestyle (45.04) and took third in the 200 freestyle (1:40.24) against Texas A&M
• placed third in the 50 freestyle (20.75) and the 100 freestyle (45.91) at Georgia
• took seventh in the 50 freestyle (20.90) at Auburn
• placed eighth in the 50 freestyle (20.01), second in the 100 freestyle consolation final (43.72) and first in the 200 freestyle D final (1:37.35) at the Texas Invitational
• took fourth in the 50 freestyle (21.07) against Washington
• placed eighth in the 100 freestyle (45.55) against Indiana and Michigan
AS A SOPHOMORE (2007-08)
• completed exhibition swims in three consolation finals at the Big 12 Championships; clocked 20.39 in the 50 freestyle, 44.56 in the 100 freestyle and 1:39.37 in the 200 freestyle
• placed fifth in the 100 freestyle (46.98) against Georgia
• placed seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:44.65) against SMU
• competed in the 50 freestyle (21.06), 100 freestyle (45.52) and the 200 freestyle (1:40.92) at the Texas Invitational
AS A FRESHMAN (2006-07)
• competed in the 50-yard freestyle (20.90) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.98) at the Big 12 Championships
• placed fourth in his 50 freestyle consolation heat at the Texas Invitational (21.36)
• completed exhibition swims in the 50 freestyle against California and Indiana (21.53), Florida (21.56), Auburn (21.37) and Arizona and SMU (21.82)
• completed exhibition swims in the 100 freestyle against California and Indiana (47.49), Florida (47.24), Auburn (47.23) and Arizona and SMU (47.00)
• completed exhibition swims in the 200 freestyle against California and Indiana (1:46.39) and Arizona and SMU (1:44.69)
HIGH SCHOOL
• competed on swim team all four years in high school
• named District swimmer of the year
• four year letter winner
• team captain during his junior year
• named most valuable swimmer
• placed fourth and sixth in the 100 free as a junior and sophomore, respectively, at the state meet
• placed second at the Iowa State Championships as a junior in the 100 backstroke
PERSONAL
Son of Phil and Laura Van Roekel...has one brother, Jake, 17 ... born on Sept. 4, 1987 in Odessa, Texas ... named to the 2006-07 UT Athletic Director[apos]s Honor Roll ... plans to study business.
