When Notre Dame graduate North Hansen touched the wall in the final 500-yard freestyle event of his stellar high school career on March 18, he had no idea what he had ultimately achieved.
While Hansen finished second in the 2018 CIAC State Open Meet to Ridgefield and University of Florida bound swimmer Kiernan Smith, Hansen’s time of 4:30.45 earned him all-American consideration at the time.
Now, after being released by NISCA on July 1, Hansen’s time is officially among the top 100 in the country for 2018. This has earned him all-American status. His time placed him 76th overall nationally in the 2018 swim season.
“Last year I got under the All-American consideration time, but I didn’t make the final cut, so this year I really wanted to actually get it,” said Hansen, who will take his pool talents to the University of Connecticut this fall. “When I saw my time at the State Open, I thought I would get the honors, but I still had to wait three more months for the final decision. It was worth the wait”
“I am thrilled for North on receiving this news,” said head coach Michael O’Brien.
“He had a super senior season and worked hard every single day and it’s great to see hard work like that rewarded,” O’Brien said. “Only 100 swimmers in the country receive this status so North has placed himself in elite company on the high school level. It’s a fitting way to put a cap on his Notre Dame career and I have no doubt he will continue this success over the next four years at UConn.”
Hansen, who was named Notre Dame’s 2017-18 Athlete of the Year for his exploits in the pool, had himself quite a senior season and career as his resume attests.
North Hansen Swimming Resume: All-American Status in the 500-Yard Freestyle; 6-time Class M state Champion; 7-time Southern Connecticut Conference Champion; runner-up at the State Open in 200 Yard Freestyle and 500 Yard Freestyle as a senior; holds School Records in the 200 Yard Freestyle and 500-Yard Freestyle; Class M Record Holder in the 500 Yard Freestyle; 4-Year All-State, 4-Year All-SCC, and 3-Year New Haven Register All-Area; USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals Qualifier; will be swimming at UCONN this fall