Former Junior College star Billy Cruz has signed to use his final season of college eligibility at Indiana University.
Cruz, who was raised in Montreal but represents Mexico internationally, broke through in November 2019 while swimming at Iowa Central Community College. During a fall invite, he swam 19.10 in the 50 yard free on a relay leadoff, which was the second-best time in NJCAA history.
He ended that year as an NJCAA Champion in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly.
He then transferred to USC for the 2020-2021 season, though he was never really able to recapture his form. His best 50 free time for the Trojans came at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships, where he swam 19.87 to place 11th.
He was also 15th in the 100 free (43.88) and 16th in the 100 fly (47.88) at that meet.
He began the 2021-2022 season with USC, but wound up not finishing the year, racing last for the Trojans at the January 2022 UCSB Invitational.
He entered the transfer portal after that year, but wound up swimming for the USC Collegiate Club team in the 2022-2023 season, where he swam 19.94 to win the Collegiate Club National Champion in the 50 free.
He also won the 50 fly (21.53), 100 free (44.46), and finished 2nd in the 100 fly (48.30).
Best Times in Yards:
- 50 free – 19.10
- 100 free – 43.33
- 100 fly – 47.39
If he can recapture his Iowa Central form, Cruz becomes immediately valuable for Indiana, who finished 4th at the NCAA Championship meet. His best times would have ranked him 2nd in the 50 free, 6th in the 100 free, and 5th in the 100 fly on Indiana’s roster last season.
With the team’s top sprinter Van Mathias out of eligibility, Cruz’s potential becomes even more valuable for the Hoosiers going forward.
Cruz represented Mexico internationally at the 2016 Junior Pan Pacs Championships, 2017 World Junior Championships, and 2018 Youth Olympic Games. He finished 7th in the 50 free at Junior Pan Pacs, 27th at the 2017 World Junior Championships, and 15th at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.
He also made a final in the 50 back at the 2018 Youth Olympics.
