AURORA | Hennessey Stuart traveled all over the country in his search for the type of college swim program that mirrored the one he is part of at Regis Jesuit High School.
The senior captain of the defending Class 5A boys state swim champion Raiders found that at North Carolina State, which received his verbal commitment early this week.
Over a five-week span, Stuart visited the University of Michigan — the 2013 NCAA men’s national champion — Southern California, Minnesota and Virginia, but the connection he made with the coaching staff and swimmers in Raleigh, N.C., made him sure he wanted to be a part of the Wolfpack.
“There was a lot of traveling and it was tiring, but I’m very happy with my decision,” Stuart said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t have decided on NC State if I didn’t feel that strong camaraderie from the very beginning of the process. That was a huge part for me. It means a lot to have a group of guys who are united on a common goal and willing to work together to achieve it. Team, team, team, that’s what Regis is all about and that’s what I was looking for.”
Stuart had a tough decision to make, as there were plenty of Division I programs interested in him after he won an individual state championship in the 200-yard individual medley and also set a Colorado state record in the prelims of the 100 backstroke.
Also part of Regis Jesuit’s state record-setting 400 freestyle relay team — which included University of Texas recruit Clark Smith — Stuart was recently named to the 2013-14 USA Swimming National Junior Team.
Stuart whittled down his choices to five schools, visited each one on a different weekend on a tour that ended this past weekend, and then called all five coaches to inform them of his decision.
The happiest phone call went to North Carolina State’s Branden Holloway, who has assembled a stellar class of 2014. According to Swimswam.com, the Wolfpack have received previous commitments from Colin Ellington, Ryan Held and Anton Ipsen.
“This freshman class is supposed to be one of the strongest in the history of North Carolina State and one of the strongest in the country next year,” Stuart said. “They are all well rounded individuals and very fast. …We want to create a whole new legacy.”
Stuart said he expects to work on his individual medley and backstroke — his specialty — plus contribute to relays for the Wolfpack, who finished 15th at last season’s NCAA men’s championship meet. He also plans to enroll in the university’s engineering school.
Another positive was the experience the Stuart family gained in the recruiting process, which they can draw in another year or so when Stuart’s younger brother, Quinlan, searches for a college program of his own.
“This was our first time going through this process, so we got advice from a lot of people and learned a lot,” Hennessey said. “We know what to do, what to say and what not to say, so it’s definitely going to create an opportunity for my brother to be successful.”
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
