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Hoagland Wins ACC Men's Freshman of the Year Honor

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Freshman Jack Hoagland has been named the 2020 ACC Men’s Freshman of the Year, the conference announced Friday. Hoagland made his mark during a rookie season that saw him finish on the podium in all three individual events at the ACC Championships and qualify for the NCAA Championships in those events. 

“Jack deserves this honor, as he didn’t let the fact that he was a freshman in the ACC deter him from his goals,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Litzinger said. 

Hoagland took Irish record books by storm this season, reaching the podium in all three of his events at the 2020 ACC Championships. He placed second in the 400 IM (3:40.73) and the 1650 Free (14:35.19), and third in the 500 Free (4:12.15). 

His 400 IM swim broke a program record, while Hoagland holds the title as second-fastest performer in Irish history in the 500, 1000 and 1650 Free, behind junior teammate Zach Yeadon. 

“We knew coming in that Jack had great potential,” Litzinger added. “Tapping into that potential daily was a work in progress that was helped tremendously by his training partners.”

The Irish put together a strong battery in the distance category, with Yeadon, Hoagland and junior Sadler McKeen swimming in the A Final of the 500 Free at the conference championships, while Will Barao and Max Miranda added to the distance group. 

“Being challenged daily, and responding to that challenge, is where great gains are made,” Litzinger attested. “Jack rose to those challenges. The one thing the staff could always count on was Jack being the first one to the pool in the morning with a big bowl of cereal and a smile.”

Hoagland qualified outright in three solo events for the NCAA Championships — the 500 Free, 1650 Free and 400 IM — the most possible events for which an individual can qualify. He joined fellow Irish freshman Coleen Gillilan as the only Notre Dame swimmers to qualify outright for three events at NCAAs.

In addition to remarkable postseason finishes, Hoagland rewrote the records of Notre Dame home pool Rolfs Aquatic Center, shattering three pool marks in the 2019-20 season: 500 Free (4:17.12), 1650 Free (14:46.08) and 400 IM (3:46.38). 

“He went out and competed fiercely,” Litzinger added. “There are more great things ahead for Jack.”