ISL College Park: Exclusive Interviews with Emily Escobedo and Felipe Lima

By: Bryan McCann and Booker McCann

Emily Escobedo:

Emily spent her college years at UMBC, where as a freshman, she became the 3rd swimmer in program history to qualify for the NCAA’s. As a sophomore, she became the school’s first ever back – to – back NCAA qualifier and in both her junior and a senior year she finished 3rd at the Championships in the 200 yard breaststroke. In her senior year, she also scored in her other two events at NCAA’s, touching 12th in the 200 IM (1:55.13) and 9th in the 100 breast (58.48).

At the 2018 Summer nationals, Escobedo finished 4th in the 200 Breast (2:25.22), 16th in the 50 breast (32.23), and 54th in the 200 IM (2:18.48). For her placing in the 200 breast, she earned a spot on the World University Games roster. At the 2019 World University Games held this past July, she advanced to the finals of the 200 breast, where she placed 2nd overall. Her time 2:22.87 swum in prelims ranks 4th in the US behind Annie Lazor and Lily King and 10th in the World.

Felipe Lima:

Reach for the Wall correspondent Bryan McCann caught up with Brazilian superstar Felipe Lima and interviewed him in his native Portuguese. Felipe captured the Men’s 50 Breaststroke title at this meet, his time 25.92 is the second-best swim in that event across the ISL, just a tenth back of Adam Peaty’s league-leading 25.85. He also captured 2nd in the 100 Breaststroke at this event, swimming a 56.95, touching just behind the DC Trident Ian Finnerty. At the age of 34, Lima has focused on the short distance breaststroke events, placing 2nd at this year’s World Championships in the 50m Breaststroke in 26.66. Felipe swam his best time in the event in June at the Mare Nostrum meet where he set the Brazilian National record going 26.33.