Brian Benzing has carved a remarkable name for himself in collegiate swimming, becoming a decorated athlete at Towson University and achieving national recognition at the NCAA Division I Championships. His journey is marked by consistent record-breaking performances, multiple Swimmer of the Year awards, and a relentless drive that has positioned him as a dominant force in the pool, particularly in breaststroke events.
A Stellar 2023-24 Season: NCAA Runner-Up and Olympic Trials Qualifier
Benzing’s 2023-24 season was nothing short of exceptional. He reached the pinnacle of collegiate swimming by securing the national runner-up title in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Division I Championships. His All-American performance time of 50.59 seconds underscored his elite status. Further demonstrating his versatility and endurance, Benzing also earned Honorable Mention All-American honors by placing 16th in the 200 breaststroke at the same championships with a time of 1:52.71.
Beyond collegiate competition, Benzing made waves at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Towson swimmer to advance at this prestigious event, finishing 12th in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:00.29. This performance highlighted his ability to compete at the highest national level and underscored his potential for future international success.
Within the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Benzing’s dominance was undeniable. He was named the CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time, a testament to his consistent excellence throughout his college career. He was also honored as the CAA Championships Men’s Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the third time, and received the CAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Leadership and Sport Excellence Award, recognizing his contributions both in and out of the pool.
Academically, Benzing also excelled, earning CSC Academic All-American® Second Team honors, proving his commitment to both athletic and academic achievement. In the pool, he shattered four individual CAA all-time records in the 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 individual medley (IM). His outstanding performances were further recognized with six CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week awards. As team captain, Benzing’s leadership was invaluable to Towson, culminating in him receiving the Towson Athletics Golden Paws Senior Career Achievement and Athlete of the Year Awards.
2022-23: Honorable Mention All-America and Record-Breaking Performances
The 2022-23 season saw Benzing continue his ascent in collegiate swimming. He earned Honorable Mention All-America status in the 100-yard breaststroke, further solidifying his national presence. For the third consecutive year, he was named CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Year and CAA Championships Men’s Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet. His All-CAA accolades included the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, and 200 IM, showcasing his versatility across different swimming disciplines. Towson University recognized his achievements by naming him Male Athlete of the Year.
Benzing’s performances throughout the season garnered him five CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week awards. At the CAA Championships, he reset both the Towson and CAA records in the 100 breaststroke with a blistering time of 51.25 seconds, securing gold and achieving an NCAA A Cut, the highest standard for qualification. He also set new Towson and CAA records in the 200 IM with a time of 1:44.41, earning another gold medal and an NCAA B cut. Adding to his gold medal tally, he won the 100 butterfly in 46.25 seconds, the second-fastest time in program history.
At the NCAA Championships, Benzing placed 15th overall in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 51.48, and 48th in the 200 IM with a time of 1:45.45. In relays at the CAA Championships, he established Towson records in the 100 freestyle (43.63) and 200 freestyle (1:35.08). He also holds the fastest 100 IM in program history with a time of 48.61, achieved against UMBC. His speed was further highlighted by recording the third-fastest 50 freestyle (20.07) and ninth-fastest 100 backstroke (49.43) in Towson history.
In long course competition, Benzing placed 12th in the 100 breaststroke and 20th in the 200 IM at the 2022 Toyota US Open, with times of 1:02.84 (LCM) and 54.83 (LCM) respectively. His speed in the breaststroke was further emphasized by recording the second-fastest 50 breaststroke split in history at the CAA Championships (22.54). His leadership qualities were recognized early in the season as he was named a team captain for the 2022-23 season and he was also named to the CAA Academic Honor Roll for his academic achievements.
2021-22: NCAA Championship Debut and Continued CAA Dominance
Benzing’s 2021-22 season marked his first appearance at the NCAA Championships, where he earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was named CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Year for the second time and earned All-CAA honors in three events: the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley, and 200-yard breaststroke. Towson University again recognized his athletic prowess by naming him Male Athlete of the Year. He was also named CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week three times throughout the season.
At the NCAA Championship meet, Benzing set a Towson and CAA record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 51.47 seconds in the preliminary round. Seeded 22nd entering the meet, he remarkably finished ninth in the prelims, becoming the top seed in the B Finals with the ninth-fastest time overall. Throughout the CAA Championships, Benzing was undefeated in the 100-yard breaststroke, winning the event seven times during the season. He also demonstrated his strength in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning four times and finishing second at the CAA Championship Meet.
2020-21: Record-Setting Freshman Year
Benzing’s freshman season in 2020-21 was nothing short of spectacular. He went undefeated in the 100-yard breaststroke, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with from the outset of his college career. At the CAA Championship meet, he set a school record in the 100-yard breaststroke with an impressive time of 52.57 seconds, which also became the Towson, CAA, and CAA Championship record.
During his freshman year, Benzing recorded Towson’s best times in the 50-yard breaststroke (24.72) and 200-yard breaststroke (1:57.99). He also posted the second-fastest 50-yard butterfly time for Towson (24.04) and the fastest 200-yard individual medley (1:47.07). At the CAA Championships, he took second place in the 200-yard IM (1:47.07), swam the first leg of the champion 400-yard freestyle relay, finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke (1:58.38), led off the champion 800-yard freestyle relay, and clinched victory in the 100-yard breaststroke in record time (52.57). His phenomenal freshman season culminated in being named Towson Male Athlete of the Year.
Personal Background and Aspirations
Prior to Towson, Brian Benzing attended Oslo International School and swam for OI Svomming, gaining international experience that prepared him for collegiate competition. He is the son of Jim and Stacey Benzing and has two siblings, Matt and Tom. His mother has an athletic background, having played basketball at Randolph Macon.
Benzing is majoring in sports management and minoring in business administration at Towson, reflecting his career aim to work in the sports industry. He admires his parents most and has demonstrated a commitment to service, participating in community service by building a school in Mozambique. He also gained professional experience working summers at the Norwegian Embassy. His favorite athlete is Tomoe Hvas, and he enjoys chicken pot pie, Avengers: Endgame, and the acting of Robert Downey Jr. A memorable experience for Benzing was visiting South Africa and Mozambique with his high school class.
Brian Benzing’s career at Towson University is a testament to his dedication, talent, and hard work. From record-breaking freshman performances to national recognition and Olympic Trials qualification, he has consistently excelled in the pool. As he looks towards the future, Benzing’s combination of athletic achievement and academic pursuits positions him for continued success both in and out of the world of swimming.
