READING, Pa. – Former Albright men's swimmer, Ralph Porrazzo '14, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on Friday night in the 100 meter backstroke while competing in the 2020 Toyota US Open Championship in Irvine, California.
 
Porrazzo swam the event in 56.43 seconds, beating the qualification cut of 56.59 seconds. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials meet will take place June 13-20, 2021 in Omaha, NE and those swimming will compete for a spot on Team USA Swimming for the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, Japan during summer 2021.
 
"It was a mix of emotions when I looked up and saw my time," Porrazzo said "The race felt smooth and I took the longest reach into the wall and had no clue where I was time wise. It was one of those races where you knew you just gave it everything you had and didn't hold back. Once I looked up at the clock and saw it was a personal best, I looked up at my coach, Wilma Wong, and screamed 'let's go!' We've been working toward this for a while and it felt amazing to see the results."
 
Porrazzo swam under the club Swim UPHill at the US Open Championships. The club was founded by Paralympic swimmer, Jamal Hill, and Wilma Wong. The nonprofit organization's mission is to teach people to swim through lessons and take justice against drownings. 
 
At Albright, Porrazzo completed one of the most decorated careers in Lions swimming history. After beginning his collegiate career at Iona, Porrazzo transferred to Albright before his sophomore year. He became the first Albright swimmer to earn All-American status at NCAA Championships when he finished 12^th in the 100 backstroke in 2014. He led the Lions to MAC team championships in all three seasons he was on the team, while earning the David B. Eavenson Award (MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer) twice at the championships. During his three seasons at Albright, Porrazzo won 15 gold medals at the MAC Championships, eight of them being individual and seven on relay teams.
 
"Albright paved a solid foundation of hard work and dedication to the sport", Porrazzo said. "My teammates and best friends made the sport fun. You hear about swimmers getting burnt out and dropping the sport after graduating. Albright made me hungry for more. My head coach John Stuhltrager believed in me. He had big goals for me and knew what it took to achieve them. Back at Albright we had a dream of going to NCAAs and found a way to make it possible. I think it is fun breaking records and pushing new boundaries, but more importantly I enjoy the countless training days leading up to those moments."
 
Porrazzo is a three-time College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Scholar All-American, and earned first team scholar All-American honors in 2014. He also earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District First-Team honors in 2014. When Porrazzo graduated in 2014, he left with school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 back, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay; along with Albright Natatorium marks in the 100 back, 200 back, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 200 medley relay. He still holds the school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 back, and both freestyle relays. Porrazzo also still holds the MAC Championship records in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
 
"As a Division III post-graduate swimmer I never wanted to put a label on what kind of swimmer I was," Porrazzo said. "I surrounded myself with people who believed in me to achieve a goal that is difficult to obtain. I had a strong support team with people who believed in me that allowed me to believe in myself.  I am confident that my parents, coaches, and teammates are the reason I achieved my goal."
 
To find the results from the Open Championships click here