Mitchell Whyte

Photo by: Mooreshots LLC

Mitchell Whyte prepares for the backstroke

Photo by: Mooreshots LLC

Mitchell Whyte celebrates a silver medal in the 200 backstroke at the ACC Championships.

Photo by: Karl L. Moore

Weight:
null
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Oakdale, Minn.
High School:
North St. Paul

Junior: Whyte continued his high-performing ways for the Cardinals during his junior campaign. At the NCAA Championships, he finished ninth in the 200 backstroke (1:40.00) and 19th in the 100 backstroke (46.27). He also led-off the 200 medley relay in 20.72 that won the Cardinals’ first-ever NCAA relay title and swam the lead-off leg on the 400 medley relay in 45.03 that finished fourth. Whyte’s split of 20.72 in the 50 backstroke also lowered his own UofL record. At the ACC Championships, he earned gold in the 200 backstroke (1:39.98), bronze in the 100 backstroke (45.13), and took 16th in the 100 butterfly (46.55). He also led-off the winning 200 medley relay in 20.79 and the gold-medal 400 medley relay in 45.50. Throughout the abbreviated dual meet season, Whyte swept the backstroke events against Notre Dame and Kentucky and was named ACC Swimmer of the Week on January 19. For his efforts in the classroom, he was named to the All-ACC Academic Team.

Sophomore: After a standout freshman season for the Cardinals, Whyte continued his success as a sophomore and qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 100 and 200 backstroke. At the ACC Championships, he earned silver medals in the 100 backstroke (44.64) and 200 backstroke (1:39.46) while also finishing 14th in the 100 butterfly (46.53). Whyte also split a 44.93 as the leadoff of the Cardinals’ 400 medley relay that secured gold en route to setting a new ACC meet and pool record. At the Purdue Invitational, he won the 100 backstroke (46.30) and was the runner-up in the 200 backstroke (1:43.87) while also finishing fifth in the 100 butterfly (47.69). Whyte recorded 13 top-6 finishes throughout the dual meet season, highlighted by wins in the 100 backstroke against Kentucky (47.70), Northwestern (48.31), and Notre Dame (48.56). For his performances in both the pool and in the classroom, Whyte was awarded CSCAA Scholar All-America honors. He was also named to the CSCAA All-American team in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, and 400 medley relay.

Freshman: Following a breakout performance at the ACC Championships, Whyte qualified for the NCAA Championships in his debut season as a Cardinal. At NCAAs, he earned Honorable Mention All-American status in the 200 back, finishing 11th in a personal best time of 1:40.28. Whyte also competed on the Cards’ fifth place 200 medley relay and finished 19th overall in the 100 back (45.55). At ACCs, he earned a silver medal in the 200 back with a time of 1:40.39 and took fourth in the 100 back with a time of 45.38. He also placed 17th in the 100 fly (46.48) to score 63 individual points for the Cards. At the IU Invitational, Whyte recorded an 11th place finish in the 100 back (48.05) and was 13th in the 200 back (1:47.17). Throughout the dual meet season, Whyte tallied eight top-three finishes, including a win in the 100 back against Northwestern. Whyte finished 19th in the 100m back (55.39) at Phillips 66 Nationals where he also competed in the 100m fly (54.19), 200m back (2:03.03) and was a member of the Cards’ eighth-place 4x100m free relay team.

Prep: Hailing from Oakdale, Minn., Whyte comes to Louisville as a backstroke and butterfly specialist. Whyte swam for North St. Paul High School and coach Tess Behrens, where he finished second in both the 100 back and 100 fly at the MSHSL 4A State Championships and broke the Minnesota state record with a time of 48.10 in the prelims of the 100 back. Whyte swam club for Mako Aquatics under head coach Bob Young and is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. He also won the 50 back at the NCSA Spring Championships in 2018. At the NCSA Summer Championships, he captured silver in the 100-meter back in a time of 56.17. A Junior National and US Open qualifier, Whyte holds best times of 47.76 in the 100 back, 1:46.54 in the 200 back and 48.97 in the 100 fly.

Personal: Son of Dave and Shelly Whyte. Born on Feb. 15, 2000.