Senior Ryan Hinshaw is one of the few athletes who have been on varsity teams since freshman year. He has gone above the norm, becoming one of Saratoga’s top swimmers.

He is ranked 11th nationally in the 1500m freestyle swim with a time of 16:07.23, a ranking he earned at the Speedo Junior Nationals last August. As a result of his amazing skill in long distance swimming, he has signed with Indiana University for next year.

“They have a really good distance program and it drew me there,” said Hinshaw. “My coach also really recommended Ray Looze, the coach at Indiana.”

According to his brother, junior Ben Hinshaw, Ryan is eligible for a scholarship, but the amount depends on his performance this season.

In addition to swimming for the Falcons, Hinshaw has been on club swim teams such as De Anza-Cupertino Aquatics and currently the Santa Clara Swim Club. He participates on relays but focuses mostly on distance freestyle.

Hinshaw competes in meets all over the country, from California to Indianapolis. He swam in the USA Swimming National Championships last summer in Indianapolis and more recently in the USA Swimming Short Course Nationals in Atlanta, placing well in both.

Although IU was not on Hinshaw’s original list of colleges, he is excited to attend the school.

“I planned on staying in California, but then that didn’t really turn out,” said Hinshaw.