Northwestern University Athletics
Robinson Announces Three Additions to Men's Swim & Dive Class of 2025
11/11/2020 2:43:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern's Director of Swimming and Diving Katie Robinson announced the three new additions to the Wildcats' roster for the class of 2025 as part of National Signing Day.
"We are thrilled to make these young men Wildcats", says Robinson. "Each of these men come in ready to score points at the Big Ten Championships based on their current times. They have a hunger to help grow our program to be nationally ranked and have the tenacity and talent to do so."
This is the first recruiting class for Robinson, who was promoted to Director of Swimming and Diving in June, and her staff.
Tyler Lu (Kirkland, Wash.), Graysen Bernard (Toronto, Ontario) and Alex Ispas (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) will join a program that is coming off an impressive season, earning their highest finish in the Big Ten Championships since 2007.
Full bios for each student athlete can be found below:
Tyler Lu
Kirkland, Washington / Bellevue High School
Robinson on Lu: "Tyler is a talented and versatile swimmer with times in multiple events that would immediately score big points at the Big Ten Championships. His four years as a Wildcat will lift our team to new heights nationally and we see him blossoming an extremely successful collegiate swimmer and beyond."
Before Northwestern: Currently ranked 6th in the 2021 recruiting class ... A National Age Group record holder in the 400 IM and a member of three NAG relay records ... Champion in the 200 IM and runner-up in the 200 back at the 2019 Winter Juniors West .... He also placed 4th in the 100 back and 9th in the 400 IM ... At the 2020 Washington Open, won the 200 breast and finished in the top-4 in the 50 free, 500 free, and 100 fly ... Currently already holds two Olympic Trials cuts ... Member of Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club team for two years … Parents are Ruobo and Eliza Lu … Anticipated major is Computer Science … Chose Northwestern over USC, Notre Dame, and Princeton.
Top Events (Best Time)
200 IM SCY (1:44.87)
400 IM SCY (3:48.14)
200 Back SCY (1:42.97)
100 Back SCY (47.34)
50 Free SCY (20.41)
100 Free SCY (44.60)
200 Free SCY (1:37.43)
200 Breast SCY (1:59.05)
200 Fly SCY (1:49.25)
Graysen Bernard
Toronto, Ontario / Riverdale Collegiate Institute
Robinson on Bernard: "Graysen's strength in the IM events will fill a need to help make our team one of the best in the Big Ten. He is a true team player and a burning desire to get stronger and faster for the entirety of his swimming career."
Before Northwestern: An up-and-coming member of the Canadian Junior National Team ... Placed second in the 100 back at the 2019 Canadian Swimming Championships and went on to Budapest to compete at the 2019 World Junior Championships, where he finished, 22nd, 37th and 45th in the 400 IM, 100 breast and 50 fly, respectively ... Ontario Junior International Champion in both the 200 IM and 50 Back in December of 2019 ... Swam for Toronto Swim Club for 13 years … Two-time National Age Group record holder (Canada) … Parents are Jennifer Jones and Ray Bernard … Anticipated major is Biology.
Top Events (Best Time)
200 IM SCM (2:00.71)
400 IM LCM (4:26.79)
100 Breast SCM (1:01.33)
100 Back SCM (54.12)
200 Back LCM (2:05.19)
Alexandru Ispas
Corona Del Mar, California / Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Robinson on Ispas: "Alex is from one of the highest performing distance club programs in the country and is deeply committed to being the best he can be both in the pool and classroom. His strength in the distance events will make him an asset to our team right away."
Before Northwestern: Earned 14th place at the 2018 Winter Junior Champs in the mile event ... Represented Austria at the 2019 World Junior Championships and 2019 European Junior Championships ... Recorded a high-finish of 31st in the mile event at World Juniors ... Finished 13th in the mile, 15th in the 800 free and 24th in the 400 free at Euro Juniors, while also claiming best times in each of these events. ... Earned three varsity letters swimming at Santa Margarita Catholic High School … Swam for Mission Viejo Nadadores for three years … Honor roll student … Parents are Anca and Mihai Dan Ispas … Chose Northwestern over Yale … Anticipated major is Economics.
Top Events (Best Time)
400 Free LCM (3:59.01)
800 Free LCM (8:14.39)
1500 Free LCM (15:48.08)
"We are thrilled to make these young men Wildcats", says Robinson. "Each of these men come in ready to score points at the Big Ten Championships based on their current times. They have a hunger to help grow our program to be nationally ranked and have the tenacity and talent to do so."
This is the first recruiting class for Robinson, who was promoted to Director of Swimming and Diving in June, and her staff.
Tyler Lu (Kirkland, Wash.), Graysen Bernard (Toronto, Ontario) and Alex Ispas (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) will join a program that is coming off an impressive season, earning their highest finish in the Big Ten Championships since 2007.
Full bios for each student athlete can be found below:
Tyler Lu
Kirkland, Washington / Bellevue High School
Robinson on Lu: "Tyler is a talented and versatile swimmer with times in multiple events that would immediately score big points at the Big Ten Championships. His four years as a Wildcat will lift our team to new heights nationally and we see him blossoming an extremely successful collegiate swimmer and beyond."
Before Northwestern: Currently ranked 6th in the 2021 recruiting class ... A National Age Group record holder in the 400 IM and a member of three NAG relay records ... Champion in the 200 IM and runner-up in the 200 back at the 2019 Winter Juniors West .... He also placed 4th in the 100 back and 9th in the 400 IM ... At the 2020 Washington Open, won the 200 breast and finished in the top-4 in the 50 free, 500 free, and 100 fly ... Currently already holds two Olympic Trials cuts ... Member of Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club team for two years … Parents are Ruobo and Eliza Lu … Anticipated major is Computer Science … Chose Northwestern over USC, Notre Dame, and Princeton.
Top Events (Best Time)
200 IM SCY (1:44.87)
400 IM SCY (3:48.14)
200 Back SCY (1:42.97)
100 Back SCY (47.34)
50 Free SCY (20.41)
100 Free SCY (44.60)
200 Free SCY (1:37.43)
200 Breast SCY (1:59.05)
200 Fly SCY (1:49.25)
Graysen Bernard
Toronto, Ontario / Riverdale Collegiate Institute
Robinson on Bernard: "Graysen's strength in the IM events will fill a need to help make our team one of the best in the Big Ten. He is a true team player and a burning desire to get stronger and faster for the entirety of his swimming career."
Before Northwestern: An up-and-coming member of the Canadian Junior National Team ... Placed second in the 100 back at the 2019 Canadian Swimming Championships and went on to Budapest to compete at the 2019 World Junior Championships, where he finished, 22nd, 37th and 45th in the 400 IM, 100 breast and 50 fly, respectively ... Ontario Junior International Champion in both the 200 IM and 50 Back in December of 2019 ... Swam for Toronto Swim Club for 13 years … Two-time National Age Group record holder (Canada) … Parents are Jennifer Jones and Ray Bernard … Anticipated major is Biology.
Top Events (Best Time)
200 IM SCM (2:00.71)
400 IM LCM (4:26.79)
100 Breast SCM (1:01.33)
100 Back SCM (54.12)
200 Back LCM (2:05.19)
Alexandru Ispas
Corona Del Mar, California / Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Robinson on Ispas: "Alex is from one of the highest performing distance club programs in the country and is deeply committed to being the best he can be both in the pool and classroom. His strength in the distance events will make him an asset to our team right away."
Before Northwestern: Earned 14th place at the 2018 Winter Junior Champs in the mile event ... Represented Austria at the 2019 World Junior Championships and 2019 European Junior Championships ... Recorded a high-finish of 31st in the mile event at World Juniors ... Finished 13th in the mile, 15th in the 800 free and 24th in the 400 free at Euro Juniors, while also claiming best times in each of these events. ... Earned three varsity letters swimming at Santa Margarita Catholic High School … Swam for Mission Viejo Nadadores for three years … Honor roll student … Parents are Anca and Mihai Dan Ispas … Chose Northwestern over Yale … Anticipated major is Economics.
Top Events (Best Time)
400 Free LCM (3:59.01)
800 Free LCM (8:14.39)
1500 Free LCM (15:48.08)
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