Breeja Larson

Position:
Breast/Free
Class:
Senior
High School:
Mountain View
Hometown:
Mesa, Ariz.

2013-2014 (Senior)
After a dominating performance at the SEC Championships, Larson was named SEC Swimmer of the Meet for the second straight year. Larson posted victories in the 100 and 200 breaststroke defending her title in both events in record setting time. Larson broke her own American, US Open, SEC, and A&M record in the 100 breast (57.28) and set a new SEC meet record in the 200 breast (2:04.92). Larson swam the breaststroke leg on the Aggies’ winning 400 medley relay, placed 11th in the 50 free (22.37), and swam legs on the Aggies’ third-place 200 free relay and fourth-place 200 medley relay. Altogether, Larson posted 80 individual points and helped bring in 250 points through her relay performances. At the NCAA Championships, Larson posted her third straight title in the 100 breast winning the event in 57.23 to break her own Amerian, US Open, SEC, and A&M record for the second time in the post season. Larson finished as the runner up in the 200 breast in 2:05.88 and improved her personal best in the 50 free placing 16^th in 22.17. Larson was vital to three school record setting relays, the fourth place 200 medley relay (1:35.59), the 400 medley relay (3:28.13), and the fourth place 200 free relay (1:27.19). Larson’s 22.17 swim in the 50 free is the fifth fastest 50 freestyle in A&M school history. On the season, Larson posted two individual NCAA ‘A’ cut times, in the 100 and 200 breast, and two NCAA ‘B’ cut times in the 50 free and 200 IM.

2012-2013 (Junior)
Larson defended her NCAA Championship title in the 100 breast and took third in the 200 breast. Larson shattered her own NCAA, US Open, and American record in the 100 breast (57.43) and set the NCAA, US Open, American record for the 200 breast (2:04.48), also setting the records for the SEC and for Texas A&M. At the NCAA Championship, Larson scored 36 individual points with two NCAA ‘A’ cuts. Larson won the SEC Champion title in the 100 breast and 200 breast and scored 71 points for the team. Larson was recognized as the SEC female swimmer of the year. Larson also helped win in the SEC 400 medley relay title which finished in an NCAA ‘A’ time of 3:28.93, also setting a new school record. At the Phillips 66 National Championships and World Championship Trials, Larson took 2nd in the 50 breast and 1st in both the 100 and 200 breast. Larson went on to place 5th in the 100 breast, 4th in the 50 breast and brought home a gold medal in the 4x100 medley relay at the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona.

2011-2012 (Sophomore)
Larson had a huge season winning NCAA champion title in the 100 breast and taking third in the 200 breast ... set the NCAA, US Open, and American record in 100 breast (57.71) ... set two individual school records in the 100 breast (57.71) and the 200 breast (2:06.82) and assisted on two school-record relay teams: 200 medley relay (1:35.71) and 400 medley relay (3:29.42) ... had three NCAA “A” cut times ... Larson went on to qualify for the summer Olympics in style beating six-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni to the wall for the 100 breast at the Omaha, Nebraska U.S. Olympic Trials ... at the summer Olympics, Larson won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. medley relay team and was a finalist finishing 6th in the 100 breast and 4th in the 200 breast.

2010-2011 (Freshman)
Larson finished an impressive freshman season with four NCAA ‘A’ cut times as well as four school records. She scored 59.5 points at the Big 12 Championship meet with three second place finishes in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breast, and as part of the 400 medley relay (3:31.04), a 10th place finish in the 50 free (23.34), and swam a leg on the first place 200 medley relay which set a school record at the Big 12 Championship meet (1:36.62). She also set school records in the 100 breast (58.51) and the 200 breast (2:06.18) while earning runner-up finishes in both races at the NCAA Championships.

High School/Club:
2010 graduate of Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona ... state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke, after winning the district and regional championships ... three-year letterwinner was named the Swimmer of the Year and the Most Improved in 2009 ... set the school record of 1:02.68 in the 100 breast ... had personal bests of 1:02.1 in the 100 breast, 23.68 in the 50 free and 51.12 in the 100 free ... named an Athletic Scholar ... coached by Glen Coy at Mountain View ...also lettered in softball and track and field ... swam for Mesa Aquatics Club and was coached by Brad Hering, Paul and Laura Smith, John Shaw and Steve Roth ...set club records in the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 50, 100, and 200 free.  

Personal:
Breeja Larson is the daughter of Kjell and Marni Jo Larson of Mesa, Ariz. ... born April 16, 1992 in Mesa, Ariz. ...undecided on her major ...one of seven siblings -- all girls ... relatives Brad and Becky Larson swam at BYU ... began swimming competitively at age 17 ...came to A&M because: “Right when I stepped on campus it felt like home, I love the team, coaches, staff, and the weather, A&M checked off everything on my list that I wanted in a school.”

Best Times:
50 Free: 22.17
100 Free: 50.47
100 breast: 57.28
200 breast: 2:04.48

Close Up:
Favorite TV show: Modern Family
Most played song in my iPod: Crystalize by Lindsey Stirling, and songs by FUN
What I drive: My bicycle
Favorite movie: Sherlock Holmes movies
What I’m reading: Textbooks for class
Bookmarked websites: Hulu, Facebook, Twitter, Hotmail, Stumbleupon, YouTube
Worst habit: Peeling my nails
Superstition: Pre-race routine
Worst job: Babysitting annoying children
Favorite city to visit: Boise, Idaho
Talent I’d most like to have: Singing
Dream date: Something outside; the beach, camping, hiking
Most competitive teammate: Paige Miller
Which teammate could succeed at another sport and which sport: Paige, Interpretive dance
Pre-competition music: Lindsey Stirling
Favorite quote: “Stay humble and hungry”
Something about me that most people don’t know: I’m absolutely terrified of the dark
Favorite swimming or diving set: Recovery breaststroke
Favorite tradition at Texas A&M: Aggie Ring
Describe coaches in one word:
Coach Bultman: Patient
Coach Jamison: Stylish
Coach Lerew: Hilarious