CNBNews

OMAHA, NE – Rowan’s Kevin Gillooly (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) will get his chance to fulfill a dream on Saturday, June 19, when he competes in the 50-meter freestyle at the US Swimming Olympic Trials at the Chi Health Center in Omaha. This week's Trials determines the team that will represent the USA at the Tokyo Summer Olympic games that begin on July 23.

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A senior with the Profs, he qualified for the Olympic Trials with a time of 22.60 at the 2021 Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club Spring Derby, making the Olympic Trials Wave II cut which stood at 22.71. 

“Less than one percent that are involved in the sport of swimming actually do qualify for the Olympic Trials,” said Brad Bowser, Rowan’s head men’s swimming & diving coach. “It is a high honor for Kevin to be competing this Saturday and it’s going to be truly a delight to be able to watch him swim down that pool.”

“His determination through Covid has been to still continue to train to make a dream come true. I’m looking for Kevin to not back down and to be a competitor. Win his heat and see what happens,” said Bowser. 

Gillooly had his senior season canceled due to Covid, but he will be back with the Profs next year while pursuing a master’s degree in Diversity and Inclusion after graduating in May with a bachelor’s in Health & Exercise Science. 

In 2019-20, Gillooly qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 50-yard freestyle, the 200-yard backstroke and in three relays (200 medley, 400 medley, 200 freestyle). Despite the championship being canceled because of the pandemic, he received All-America honors for the second time in his career from the coaches association. 

The 2020 NJAC Swimmer of the Year, he earned All-Conference first team honors in three individual events - the 50-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 yard backstroke, as well as three relays.

Gillooly will be joined in the 50 freestyle competition by Rowan alum Jesse Novak ’17, who finished 38th in the 100 freestyle earlier this week with a time of 50.01.