NCAA qualifier Kacper Piotrowski has entered the transfer portal, becoming the fifth Alabama swimmer to explore alternatives this offseason.
The 6-foot-4 freestyle specialist from Poland has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.
The Crimson Tide parted ways with Piotrowski in early April, soon after he helped Alabama’s 800 free relay place 10th at the NCAA Championships with a 1:34.49 anchor. The Crimson Tide men placed 19th at NCAAs in their second season under head coach Margo Geer, snapping a streak of eight straight top-15 finishes.
“At the beginning of April I was told that I’m not the best fit for the direction of Alabama’s Swim & Dive program,” Piotrowski told SwimSwam. “I’ve never thought I’d be in the position that I’m in right now, so I decided to put my name in the transfer portal. Even though this one hurts and still does not feel right, I wish nothing but the best for Bama’s program. It was a privilege to represent the script of A and the University of Alabama.”
Piotrowski posted a personal-best 1:34.53 in the 200 free at the 2023 SEC Championships in February, but he fell short of his best times in the 100 free and 50 free from last year’s SECs. He was Alabama’s third-fastest 200 freestyler last season behind Charlie Hawke (1:31.20) and Kaique Alves (1:32.93). At the 2022 SEC Championships, Piotrowski scored in the 50 (19.61), 100 (43.01), and 200 free (1:34.87).
Piotrowski joins Alabama sophomore Mateo Miceli (butterfly), sophomore Linus Kahl (breaststroke/IM), sophomore Jackson Dement (freestyle), and senior Jocelyn Fisher (breaststroke/butterfly/IM) in the portal. Over the past few weeks, the Crimson Tide have also lost two associate head coaches, James Barber and Ozzie Quevedo.
Before Piotrowski arrived at Alabama, he had already competed internationally several times, including at the 2017 European Youth Festival, the 2018 European Junior Championships and the 2019 European Junior Championships. At the 2019 Euro Juniors, he split 49.63 on Poland’s 400 free relay, which helped them to a fourth-place finish.
