Student-Athlete Profile: He’s Feeley Good! Men’s Swimmer Making History for Shoremen

Guest Post by David Gansell, Washington College Director of Athletic Communications

Baltimore County, Maryland native Andrew Feeley has been swimming since he was a baby.

Like many parents, Nancy and Michael Feeley believed that acquiring this life skill was critical for young Andrew, his older brother Michael and his twin brother Daniel. Little did the Washington College junior know that a certain graduate of Towson High School, Feeley’s alma-mater, would soon be turning the world of sports on its head. That famous graduate, Michael Phelps, would become an enormous inspiration for Andrew during his childhood.

Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all-time, became a household name during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz’s single Olympic Games mark by taking eight gold medals. An eight-year old Feeley was suddenly captivated, not only by Phelps, but by competitive swimming in general. “That’s what got me started in terms of my love for the sport,” Feeley stated. “He [Phelps} was literally from my own neighborhood and it was the first time I had paid any attention to the Olympics.”

Soon after, Feeley joined the Merrit Athletic Swim Club in Towson, where he trained for ten years. Despite Phelps’ rise to superstardom, Towson High did not offer the sport of swimming. Conceding to hitting a plateau in the water during his high school days, Feeley went on to be recruited by several schools, including Division I UMBC, an America East Conference power in the sport.

“I just loved everything about Washington College each time I visited the campus,” Feeley explained when discussing his college decision. “Swimming was secondary for me as my emphasis was on school first and foremost.”

But swimming is certainly how Feeley has made a name for himself in Chestertown. On February 23, 2020, Andrew became just the second Shoreman (John Evans, ‘2004) to win three Centennial Conference Championships in the same event, striking gold in the 200 backstroke at Gettysburg College. He is the first to accomplish the feat in three consecutive years and has a chance to re-write history in 2021.

“It’s unbelievable,” Feeley admitted. “Becoming a champion was always kind of a dream before I started my career here. I really only thought about winning a medal, however, the drive inside of me has been building. Once you get one you want more and I’m so close to winning a fourth that I can almost feel it.”

“It’s also a reminder that I have to keep working hard,” he continued. “I’ve already begun focusing on next season because I know that others are working just as hard to beat me. I have several goals but winning the fourth gold medal in the 200 back and competing at the NCAA Championships are at the top of the list.”

Feely explained that an improvement in the pool came soon after his arrival to Washington College. “Unfortunately, for me, swimming for a club was all about what you do as an individual. As a member of an NCAA team you never want to let down your teammates and that has been helpful.”

According to Feeley, his coaches have also been beneficial for his development in the pool. Current assistant coach Philip Quick worked with Andrew on his mechanics, sometimes even twice a day during the 2017-2018 campaign. He explained that first-year head coach Mark Hill has focused on very specific aspects of athlete’s strokes, has changed the strength and conditioning program as well as the warm-up routine. Hill also delivers a “pep talk” to Feeley before each race designed to keep the pressure to a minimum.

Feeley, who broke the school record in the 200 back with a time of 1:49.06 during the preliminary race at the conference championships, also holds Washington’s top mark in the 100 backstroke and earned a bronze medal in last February’s Centennial Championships. “I have always been more of a middle-distance swimmer,” Feeley stated. “You have to swim a little smarter and focus on your strokes in the 200 back versus the 100 back.”

The business management major is very appreciative of all of the support that he’s received, particularly from the alumni of the College. “There is a strong connection here which is so nice,” he said. I have received many text messages recently from former swimmers.”

He has also received nothing but encouragement and backing throughout his life despite the fact that he was discovered to be hard of hearing at the age of two. “It has taught me about who I am and what I can overcome in life.”

His mother was right there for him when he faced another obstacle this past season. After a bad turn, Feeley ripped open his heal at a meet in Richmond during the early season, an injury that required 14 stitches and forced him to miss nearly a month. “She encouraged me to remain positive, that all of my goals were still within reach at the end of the season.”

As for Phelps, Feeley hopes an encounter will occur sometime in the future. Feeley has met Michael’s mother and grandmother but acknowledged that it would be be amazing to meet his sports idol.

Feeley has certainly been amazing for the Shoremen.