HIGH SCHOOL

ASU swimming has Ryan Hoffer's attention

Richard Obert
azcentral sports
Ryan Hoffer is now giving ASU swimming some attention.

Arizona State's recent coaching moves could have a trickle down effect in the high school pool to where the Sun Devils could become the destination school for elite swimmers in the state.

ASU hired world-renowned coach Bob Bowman, whose move to Tempe has now prompted world-renowned swimmer Michael Phelps making a move to the Valley to train under Bowman for the 2016 Olympics. Bowman also brought in former Olympic gold-medal winner and local legend Misty Hyman to his coaching staff.

This has the state's best high school swimmer's attention.

"Bob Bowman has more of a distance-based method when it comes to training, and, as a sprinter, I'm focused on the college programs that would be a better fit for me and my needs as a sprinter," said Scottsdale Chaparral junior-to-be Ryan Hoffer, the state high school record-holder in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles in 19.53 seconds and 43.20, respectively. "Although it would be very cool to train with Michael Phelps."

Hoffer says he is going to keep his options open.

But now ASU is at least in the conversation when it comes to his college future.

Hoffer says he is focusing on nationals at the end of the summer.

"I'm really shooting for make the Singapore team," he said.

That would be representing the United States in the first Junior World Championships that run Sept. 1-6 in Singapore.

Phoenix Brophy Prep has produced countless state titles and individual champions in the past three decades. But, since 2009, coach Pat O'Neill said that ASU has not reached out to his swimmers.

"We sent 12 or 13 to Division I programs, and not one was looked at or contacted by ASU," O'Neill said.

Ex-Phoenix Desert Vista sprinter Cole Miller is the only former Arizona high school swimmer on ASU's current men's roster.

Former Mesa Mountain View star Kat Simonovic is the only local girl on ASU's women's roster.

O'Neill said he is hoping that the relationship with Bowman can foster more elite simmers to stay home for college.

"I'm hoping as soon as (Bowman) gets in and settled, we can get him to a high school coaches' talk and try to establish a relationship," O'Neill said.

Grand Canyon University, under Steve Schaffer, had five local swimmers on its men's swim roster last season.

The University of Arizona had one local swimmer – ex-Brophy Prep sprinter and butterfly swimmer Brian Stevens – on its men's roster with four in-state swimmers on the women's team.

O'Neill believes Arizona is a hotbed for youth swimming.

"The kids who are 13, 14, 15 right now, they're some of the hottest we've had in Arizona," O'Neill said. "I'm excited about our freshman and sophomore classes already. I see Arizona on the up-curve bringing in Bob Bowman and some of the professional swimmers he's going to have around him. It's going to be awesome."