Alex Burtch

Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Goshen, Ind.
High School:
Concord High School

Junior: Burtch qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row. He was a member of the 800-free relay that placed 14th. Individually, he competed in the 200-free (37th) and 200-IM (43rd). He was named an Honorable Mention All-American as a member of the 800-free relay. Burtch played a significant role for the Cardinals at the BIG EAST Championships as he was named a three-time ALL BIG EAST performer. Individually, Burtch finished third in the 200-IM (1:47.09), third in the 200-free (1:36.40), and fourteenth in the 100-free (44.90). The times he posted in all three events were good enough for the national B-cut. Burtch was also a member of the winning 800-free relay that set new BIG EAST and school records as the lead-off swimmer, splitting 1:35.97. In the fall, Burtch led the Cardinals to a victory over Pittsburgh during which he had three individual first place finishes along with a win in a relay. After this performance, he was named the Men's BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Athlete of the week on Nov. 8. Over the 2011 summer, Burtch qualified to compete at the Olympic Trials in the 200-IM.

Sophomore: Burtch qualified to swim at the USA national championships last season. During the BIG EAST Championships, Alex had a big showing. He swam the anchor leg for the school-record-setting 400-free relay team with a field-best 43.55 split, helping the squad to a first-place finish and a national B-cut time. He swam the third leg of the 800-free relay and once again had the fastest split with a time of 1:36.16. In that race, Burtch's group finished in first with a final time of 6:23.23. In the 200-free relay, Burtch swam the anchor leg and had the third-fastest split with a time of 19.73, guiding the team to a race victory and B-cut mark. He added a second-place finish in the 200-IM with a time of 1:47.42, also good enough to make the B-cut. Burtch finished the year as a four-time All-BIG EAST performer.

Freshman: Alex swam three events at the BIG EAST championship. In the 200- IM, he posted a time of 1:49.70 which earned him a sixth place finish. In the 200 freestyle he finished in eighth with a time of 1:39.25. He also swam the 100-freestyle where he finished 10th place with a time of 45.69.

Prep: Alex came to U of L from Goshen, IN and was a ninetime All-American. In 2009, he finished third in the 200-IM (1:51.29) and sixth in the 100-free (46.63). In 2008, he earned All-American honors for the 200-IM in both 2007 and 2008, and the 200-free and 100-breast in 2008. In the 2008 IHSAA State Finals, he was third in the 100-free (46.23) and fifth in the 200-IM (1:52.73). In the 2007 IHSAA State Finals, he was fifth in the 200-IM (1:54.53). He set five Concord High School records: the 200-free (1:44.14), 200-IM (1:52.73), 100-fly (52.72), 100-free (46.00), and 500-free (4:43.65). He is a seven-time Concord Sectional Champion.

Personal: Son of Randy and Gale Burtch. Born April 8, 1991. He is majoring in exercise physiology.