High school swimming: Peirsol signs with Texas

Newport Harbor High’s Aaron Peirsol, the 200-meter backstroke

silver medalist in the 2000 Olympics, and currently ranked No. 1 in the

world in the 200 back, will swim for the University of Texas next year

after signing his national letter of intent.

Peirsol, who won the gold medal and set a meet record (1:57.13) in the

200 back at the FINA World Championships in Japan in July, said there

were several schools in the running before he went down to the wire and

chose the Longhorns.

“Up until the last second, it was pretty tough to make the decision,”

said Peirsol, who chose Texas over the other schools he visited

including, Arizona, Stanford, Cal and Michigan. “When I took the trip (to

Texas) I really felt I would fit in well. Texas is more of a place where

I just fit it. Academically, it was the same as Michigan. I’m pretty

stoked; it’s pretty sweet.”

Peirsol described Texas, where he’ll swim under the guidance of Coach

Eddie Reese, as a real college campus that does not hold true to the

stereotypes of cowboy boots and country music.

Last spring, Peirsol won the CIF Southern Section Division I title in

the 100 back for the third year in a row. Peirsol also won the 200

freestyle and helped the Sailors to a championship in the 400 free relay.

As a sophomore he won the 200 individual medley title and set a meet

record (1:49.02).

-- by Steve Virgen