Arizona State’s Michael Hochwalt Has Joined Elite Company Heading into Sophomore Year
Heading into the TYR Summer Championships, of the top-10 American performers in the history of the 400-meter individual medley, nine had represented the United States in Olympic or World Championships competition. Not all contested the 400 IM at the global level, but in at least one event, they represented Team USA on the international stage.
Michael Hochwalt is a contender to make it 10-of-11.
On Night Three of the TYR Champs at the William Woollett Aquatic Center, Hochwalt delivered the top performance of his career, winning the 400 IM in impressive fashion. Not only did he fend off Olympians David Johnston and Kieran Smith, Hochwalt registered a time of 4:11.46, which moved him into a tie with Charlie Swanson as the 10th-fastest American of all-time.
Hochwalt might be an under-the-radar type, but that distinction is going to change rapidly. Earlier this summer, at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Hochwalt registered times of 1:57.00 in the 200 backstroke and 1:59.42 in the 200 individual medley. Those efforts were good for fifth and ninth place, respectively. Hochwalt was disqualified in the 400 IM, which meant a two-month wait to show his growth in that event.
At the TYR Championships, Hochwalt certainly came through in the longer medley. In the final, he was out in 56.39 for the butterfly leg and followed with a split of 1:04.52 on backstroke. A breaststroke split of 1:12.00 preceded his 58.55 marker on freestyle. It all added up to a career-best performance, and victory over two established National Teamers. For good measure, Hochwalt was also fifth in the 200 IM (1:59.79) and fourth in the 200 butterfly (1:58.83).
Heading into his sophomore season at Arizona State University, Hochwalt is coming off a superb freshman campaign. As Coach Herbie Behm led the Sun Devils to the Big 12 Conference title, Hochwalt raced the 200 individual medley, 400 IM and 200 backstroke at the NCAA Championships. Ahead of that season-ending competition, he was the Big 12 titlist in the 400 medley and earned runnerup honors in the 200 IM. Hochwalt also finaled in the 200 backstroke at the Big 12 Champs.
Hochwalt had a tough go at the NCAA Champs, unable to advance out of prelims in any of his three events. But his freshman season in the desert was certainly a positive. The fact that the freshman from Washington state became a conference champ and NCAA qualifier reflects his development with the ASU program. More, a comparison of his times from the 2024 Olympic Trials to his recent long-course success shows how far he has come.
At Trials, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Hochwalt was 16th in the 400 IM, going 4:20.19. Additionally, he was 34th in the 200 butterfly (2:00.38), 26th in the 200 backstroke (2:00.18) and 25th in the 200 IM (2:01.28). Through one year of collegiate training, Hochwalt has vastly improved, highlighted by his nearly nine-second boost in the 400 IM.
If Hochwalt’s initial season under Behm and his coaching staff is an indicator, another jump forward is on the horizon. In the present, Hochwalt can be celebrated for a strong summer, one that has generated promise and excitement.
