Brendan McHugh, one of the most illustrious swimmers in the history of Penn swimming, recently completed his second season at his alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach in the 2016-17 season. McHugh helped lead the Quakers to record-setting seasons on both the men's and women's sides in the 2016-17 campaign. The men's team captured its best all-time finish since 1971 at the Ivy League Championships in February, placing second overall with a team total of 1,335 points - the fourth-straight season the program has eclipsed the 1,000 point mark.
Andrew's record-setting year did not stop there, however, as the sophomore qualified for the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis in the 400 IM for the second-straight season. Andrew went on to break his own all-time program record, and the Ivy League all-time record, in the preliminaries of the NCAA's, ultimately finishing 15th overall and becoming Penn swimming's fifth All-American in the last six years.
On the women's side, McHugh oversaw the Quakers' third consecutive fourth-place finish at the Ivy Championships, while totaling the second-most points in program history in the last nine seasons (962). Virginia Burns led the way during the Ivies, becoming the fifth-ever, three-time champion with her third win in as many years in the 500 freestyle. Burns picked up her second win of the championships the very next night in the 200 freestyle, while also setting the poo record at Brown's Katharine Moran Aquatics Center. The Quakers were also led by senior Ellie Grimes, who broke three program records at the Ivy Championships. Burns earned first-team All-Ivy, as freshman Grace Ferry was awarded second-team honors.
The two-time honorable mention All-American in the 100 and 200 backstroke set 16 school records during his four years as a Quaker. McHugh earned seven All-Ivy honors at Penn and won the 100 breast in 2009 and 2011. His 2011 championship swim set a school, Ivy League, and Ivy League Championships record.
Since graduating from Penn in 2012, McHugh has been competing on the national and international levels in hopes of making it to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Most recently, McHugh placed second in the 100 breaststroke at the Orlando Pro Swim in February (2015) to earn a spot on the U.S. Swimming National Team*. Â Additionally, McHugh finished 10th in the 100 breast and 16th in the 200 breast at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
*The U.S. National Team is made up of the top six swimmers in each Olympic event from the combined results of all U.S. Swimming or FINA-sanctioned meets from Jan. 1, 2015, to Aug. 10, 2015
