Caltech men’s swim & dive freshman Thomas Gallup (Houston, Texas / Phillips Exeter Acad.) and first-year Head Coach Paul Hughes have been named the SCIAC Rookie and Coach of the Year, respectively. SCIAC Release Gallup won conference titles in both the 100 and 200 Breast to become the program’s first SCIAC champion swimmer since 1996 […]
Caltech men’s swim & dive freshman Thomas Gallup (Houston, Texas / Phillips Exeter Acad.) and first-year Head Coach Paul Hughes have been named the SCIAC Rookie and Coach of the Year, respectively.
Gallup won conference titles in both the 100 and 200 Breast to become the program’s first SCIAC champion swimmer since 1996 and its first double winner in the same meet since 1982. He also swam key legs on three program record-setting relays, including the 400 Medley which placed third as Caltech’s first All-SCIAC relay since 1993. He is set to become the Beavers’ first representative at the NCAA National Championships since 1983, when 2016 Hall of Honor inductee Chris McKinnon competed in his third straight championship after leading Caltech to its best finish of 26th place in 1981.
Hughes joined Caltech this past summer and immediately hit the ground running in his first stint as a head coach. The Beavers set a combined 20 records between the men’s and women’s teams, including four relays apiece. The men’s team placed sixth overall for its best finish at the SCIAC Championships in over a decade and a mere six points shy of fifth place. The last time Caltech finished as high came in 1999, when only seven teams competed in the SCIAC, while the Beavers also defeated the most teams (three) since 1986 and scored their highest point total since 1989.
Gallup and Hughes will head to Shenendoah, Texas for the National Championships from Mar. 15-18.
