Path to Excellence: The Rise of Division II Star Jacob Hamlin of Tampa
University of Tampa sophomore Jacob Hamlin has ascended to the college swimming mountaintop. The 2025 CSCAA Swimmer of the Year at the Division II level, Hamlin picked up five national titles, one relay and four individual, at the National Championships last month. Included in that haul were four national record swims.
This success that has propelled Hamlin to the top of the mountain has not been without its trials and tribulations. However, each challenge that has presented itself along the way has formed Hamlin into the championship winning swimmer he is today.
Foundational Years
Born and raised in Orlando, Hamlin’s journey in the water started at a young age, as he learned how to swim with the help of his dad at a local community pool. While these early lessons wouldn’t immediately transition into a competitive swimming career, they were the crucial base that everything would be built on.
When Hamlin decided to become a competitive swimmer around fifth grade, it took a few more years before he realized the potential he had in the water. When that switch clicked inside of him, it was due in large part to the teammates he was surrounded by.
“I really credit a lot to that group of guys that I had to work with and feed off of,” Hamlin said. “That really helped keep my love for the sport, and my competitive edge.”
As Hamlin transitioned into high school, he always had a feeling that he wanted to continue swimming at the next level, but he wasn’t exactly sure where that part of his journey would take him. Through the help of his club coach, Todd Mann at Highlander Aquatics, he was able to start narrowing down where he could see himself swimming collegiately.
On his recruitment journey, there were some hiccups along the way. An unforeseen medical emergency right before his junior year NCSAs put him on the sideline for six weeks and forced him to miss out on recruiting opportunities. However, this roadblock would only be temporary, as the summer going into his senior year, Hamlin was able to put together an outstanding meet at the Futures Championships in Cary, North Carolina. These performances at Futures allowed Hamlin the opportunity to find his collegiate home.
University of Tampa
After his success at Futures, Hamlin was put into contact with a number of colleges and one that particularly spiked his interest was the University of Tampa. After taking both an unofficial and official visit to Tampa in the fall of his senior year, he saw how the school had everything he wanted in a college.
Courtesy: Peter Bick
“Being from Orlando, I can go home and see my parents and friends over the weekend. It’s easy for my parents to come and watch meets,” Hamlin said. “I also met people like Caleb Brandon and Parker Knollman and a couple other guys, really solid guys in and out of the pool and I was like, ‘Yes, I can see myself here.’”
After officially making his decision right before his senior state meet, where he picked up two FHSAA state titles, Hamlin’s transition to college swimming was relatively smooth, thanks to his training base from high school. With a greater focus on intensity at Tampa, Hamlin credits his teammates as one of the major factors that allowed for his development in the water. There were high expectations for the end of his freshman year, but right before his conference meet, Hamlin encountered another roadblock.
“About a week before conference, I got a really bad case of the flu and dropped about seven pounds,” Hamlin said. “It took me out of the mile and then I had two weeks to get back to whatever kind of shape I could going to the nationals.”
While his freshman season didn’t have the individual ending Hamlin could have wished for, it did begin the path for the next year’s journey to greatness.
2025 Season
After winning a national title in the 800 freestyle relay and contributing crucial points to Tampa’s team championship at the 2024 NCAAs, Hamlin had one thing missing from his resume – an individual national title. While an individual title was in the conversation for Hamlin, it wasn’t something that consumed him. Rather, he was focused on each step of the journey.
“Staying healthy was my main goal. If I could accomplish that, then everything else would fall into place,” Hamlin said. “I refrained from putting the pressure on however many titles I wanted because that’s not the focus right now. It’s a long season.”
After setting national records in both the 500 and 1650 freestyles at his midseason invite at South Carolina, Hamlin allowed himself to start looking toward the possibilities of what could happen at the NCAA Championships in March. However, before that chance, Hamlin used the Sunshine State Conference meet as his tuneup for preparation for NCAAs.
“I wasn’t shaved or tapered for conference…it was trying to figure out how I wanted to swim each event at Nationals, pacing wise and how to split it,” Hamlin said. “I think I figured out just about everything during that conference meet. That was a really strong meet for me.”
Hamlin’s performances at his conference meet helped lead the Spartans to their third consecutive SSC title. After the celebrations wrapped up in Ocala, all attention turned to the next journey.
The NCAA Championships
In Indianapolis, Indiana, a city known for crowning champions, Hamlin found himself in the hunt for both team and individual glory.
Courtesy: Peter Bick
Arriving in Indianapolis on Sunday, Hamlin didn’t have to wait long before he found himself on the top step of the podium at the IU Natatorium. His first national title of the week came in the 800 freestyle relay, when he paired up with Brandon, Knollman, and Rafael Ponce De Leon to take the title in an NCAA record time of 6:18.46.
As individual events began on Wednesday, Hamlin kicked off action in the 1000 freestyle, an event in which he had set the national record earlier in the season. While he was be the favorite to win the title, he faced tough competition, specifically from the University of Indianapolis’ Cedric Buessing, the two-time defending national champion. Hamlin left no doubt of the outcome, as he came to the wall in 8:47.23, obliterating his own record by more than six seconds. For Hamlin, the bell on the final 50 has always been a welcoming sound.
“That’s been a thing since high school, getting that last 50 bell. You gotta win the final 50 bell,” Hamlin said. “That bell is definitely a call to kick it back into gear if I’m hurting. I love that bell.”
This event, along with the 200 freestyle, which also resulted in a national title, are the two events that have the strongest meaning to Hamlin because of the distinct journeys that each took to achieve greatness. In the 1000, it was about getting the job done in the event that he had topped throughout the season. In the 200, it was about exceeding expectations. Coming in ranked sixth and leaving with a national title was a special feeling. On top of these victories, Hamlin picked up two more national titles in Indianapolis, setting national records in the 500 and 1650 freestyles.
As Hamlin looked back on the week in Indy, the successes he found in the pool allowed him to take a new perspective on what it means to be a champion.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next year, but that level of intensity and really courage to go out in the race is the bar for me now,” Hamlin said. “Not national records and national titles, but that amount of intensity and courage to really go out and put down everything that I have in the water is the bar for me now. That’s where I’m setting my standard.”
The Next Journey
With his sophomore season concluded, Hamlin has had time to reflect on what this year meant. While his swimming successes have been a key part of his year, so has his faith. As a lifelong Chrisitan, Hamlin felt his faith truly restored this year and that has played a major role in his journey.
“I really found myself back in the faith again, and He’s done so many, so many good things for me. Very blessed,” Hamlin said.
As Hamlin prepares for the future, both in and out of the pool, he looks forward to the opportunities to push himself to grow as both a swimmer and a person.
“I’m just gonna continue giving it my all in training and in life. I’m always trying to improve,” Hamlin said. “I’m really looking forward to putting my head down this summer and seeing just how much more I can build off of the work that I put down this season.”
Amazing season Jacob! Well earned!