UF WSWIM & DIVE: Gators Add Minnich as Transfer, Will Compete Beginning in January

The Royal Oak, Mich. native is a two-time B-finalist at the Big Ten Championships.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida women’s swimming and diving program and head coach Jeff Poppell have officially announced the transfer of Katie Minnich, a late addition to the 2020-21 squad.

Minnich will be begin competing for the Gators in January of 2021 after spending her first two collegiate seasons in Ann Arbor, Mich. swimming for the University of Michigan.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Katie join us at Florida,” said Poppell. “I have no doubt that she will be a valuable contributor to our program both in and out of the pool!”

The Royal Oak, Mich. native would finish her sophomore season as a two-time B-finalist at the 2020 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships. She posted a 12th-place effort in the 100 back with a swim of 53.46, as well as a 13th-place finish in the 200 back (1:55.85) . Both times sit as personal-bests and met the B-cut time standard for last year. Throughout the regular season, Minnich would compete in the 100 back, 200 back and 500 free.

As a freshman in 2018-19, Minnich would dive into her first conference meet in the 100 back (22nd), 200 back (26th) and the 200 IM (52nd). On Nov. 29 at the Georgia Fall Invitational, she would post a new 200 IM personal-best of 2:04.17.

Minnich achieved academic success during her freshman and sophomore seasons, earning College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar (CSCAA) All-America Honorable Mention and Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2020. She also received the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement in 2019 and 2020.

At Mercy High School, she claimed three MHSAA D-1 state championships in the 100 back and was named Detroit Swimmer of the Year by MLive twice. Minnich would also leave the high school ranks as a six-time honoree in three awards- All-American, All-State and All-Catholic League.

Academically, she was a three-time National Society of High School Scholar honoree as well as a three-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.

Minnich Personal-Best Swims
Event

Short-Course

Long-Course

100 Back

53.46

1:04.75

200 Back

1:55.74

2:19.49

200 IM

2:04.17