Jed Garner: Towson University’s Newest Swimming Star

TOWSON, Md.- At final month’s Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship meet, Towson University swimmer Jed Garner gained each breaststroke occasions and certified for subsequent week’s NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta.

In the 200 breast, the junior erased Brian Benzing’s title from the Towson document guide, touching the wall in 1:52.45, .26 quicker than Benzing’s greatest time. Benzing is essentially the most embellished males’s swimmer in program historical past – a four-time time CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Year and three-time Towson Male Athlete of the Year. As a senior in 2024, Benzing was an All-American after ending because the nationwide runner-up within the 100 breast. He additionally scored factors on the NCAA’s in 2022 and 2023.

Jack Saunderson additionally earned All-America standing – after ending seventh within the 200-yard butterfly on the 2019 NCAA championships. He made the comfort finals in a number of occasions in 2017 and 2018 – incomes factors.

“Knocking Brian’s record off the board is special,” Garner stated. “To see my name up there with his and Saunderson is so cool.”

Garner’s journey to Towson was atypical. The Clarksburg, Maryland native spent two years swimming on the University of Tennessee – qualifying for the NCAA’s in each breaststroke occasions final 12 months – serving to the Volunteers to a fifth place end on the 2025 nationwide championship meet.

After the House v. NCAA settlement final summer season, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) established a roster restrict of twenty-two athletes for males’s swimming and diving groups, eight lower than the NCAA permits. Garner’s scholarship was not renewed, so a swimmer who completed 18^th within the nation within the 200 breast, was left and not using a residence. In July, he entered the switch portal, and three weeks earlier than the 2025-26 college 12 months began, he signed with Towson.

“Jed being from Maryland made this an easy connection,” Towson swimming and diving coach Tony Bruno stated. “I crossed paths with him as a high school kid at World Championship trials when Benzing was here. What also helped was his connection with Benzing, and it made it an easy transition. Since Brian had success, Jed knew he would still have the opportunities to do where he wants to go. He came here and got faster. We really helped support his dreams and big goals.”

Garner thrived underneath Bruno’s route. At the US Open meet in December, he made the B closing in all three breaststroke occasions (50, 100, 200) and set Towson’s 200 breast lengthy course document when successful the B closing. He additionally exceled in occasions he didn’t at Tennessee – ending second within the 200 IM and being a part of the third place 200 medley relay workforce on the CAA meet.

Garner now heads into the NCAA meet with loads of confidence – swimming his greatest instances in each the 100 and 200 breast.

“When he came to campus on his recruiting visit, we joked about him beating Brian’s records because we thought those records were going to stand for a while,” Bruno added. “It is very impressive because Brian did it while scoring at the NCAA meet, so hopefully that can give Jed some confidence that he can score at NCAA’s and continue the tradition.”

“I know what I need to do and however it plays out, it will play out. Scoring points would be great for me and Towson,” Garner added. “As much as time matters, getting my hand on the wall as quickly as possible is the main thing. If I get to the A Final but don’t swim my best time would mean a lot more than if I swim my best time in the morning and don’t make either the A or B final.”

Benzing lately returned to Towson as Director of Operations for the swim and dive applications. His duties embody supporting all areas of this system whereas additionally coaching as one of many 67 male swimmers on the USA National Team.

“Racing him before CAA’s gave me confidence that I could go fast,” Garner stated. “He is really good and pushes me every day. I feel like the closer I can get to him, the better I am going to be. Being sharp is important. I am going to have to be at my best but am ready to compete with anyone.”

“It is always a benefit when you have guys who have done it trying to help guys who are trying to figure out how to get it done, Bruno said. “I say to Jed on a regular basis is that Brian had one of many quickest first 25’s within the nation, however his job is to have the quickest final 25 within the nation. If that occurs, we may have one other Towson swimmer scoring at NCAA’s.”

Garner will compete within the 100-yard breaststroke on Thursday, March 26, whereas the 200-yard breaststroke can be Friday, March 27.

On the ladies’s facet, Meredith Budner (2009-11), Cari Czarnecki (2011) and Kaitlin Burke (2013-14) all scored factors for the Tigers on the NCAA Championship. Budner completed second in each the five hundred and 1650 freestyle as a senior in 2011.

–TowsonTigers.com-