Division III 200 back record holder Tanner Filion has announced on Instagram that he has committed to Notre Dame for his COVID-19 fifth year.
Filion announced this in an Instagram post late Monday night saying,
“Stoked to say I’m headed to Notre Dame next year to further my education and swimming career! A sincere thank you to all of you who helped me get here. Go Irish! #mc4l”
Filion spent his first four years at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Whitman was a conference champion in the 100 and 200 backs as a freshman before the season ended up being canceled due to COVID-19.
He only competed in one meet as a sophomore (2020-2021), the season that the NCAA granted athletes an additional year of eligibility. As a junior, Filion made three Division III NCAA A finals. He set a Division III record in the 200 back swimming a 1:41.49. He also was second in the 100 back touching in a 46.89 and seventh in the 200 free in a 1:37.99.
As a senior, Filion won both the 100 and 200 backstrokes at NCAAs. He notably broke his own Division III record, swimming a new personal best of 1:41.17. He also was third in the 100 fly touching in a 46.83.
Filion’s SCY time progression is:
| High School | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | |
| 100 back | 53.34 | 49.93 | 51.5 | 46.89 | 45.75 |
| 200 back | n/a | 1:48.51 | n/a | 1:41.49 | 1:41.17 |
| 200 free | 1:44.04 | 1:42.02 | 1:41.93 | 1:37.63 | 1:36.54 |
Filion’s best times in both backstroke events would have been second on the roster this past season behind freshman Tommy Janton who swam a 45.12 and 1:39.45 in the 200.
Filion’s best times would have been sixth in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes at ACCs this past season. In addition, Filion is not far off of making Division I NCAAs as it took a 1:40.62 in the 200 back and a 45.70 in the 100 back.
He is the second fifth-year to transfer to Notre Dame so far as sprint freestyler and ACC Champion Abdelrahman Elaraby announced last week. The Notre Dame men were fifth at ACCs and expected to return 431.5 individual points, sitting behind Virginia (504 returning) and Virginia Tech (508 returning).
According to the Whitman Athletics website, Filion is currently majoring in pre-med/psychology. He plans to work towards a Masters in Management at Notre Dame.
