Ben Hesen
Encyclopedia
Personal
Benedict Hesen (born February 15, 1986) is an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimmer from Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
. He is the son of Ben and Cheryl Hesen. Has one brother, Andrew Hesen. Attended Jeffersonville High School
Jeffersonville High School
Jeffersonville High School, home of the red devils, was founded in 1871-1872. Originally located in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the early 1970s a new, larger campus was constructed on the outer eastern edge of the city...
and grew up swimming for Keith Gast at Pacesetter Aquatics. Hesen is the current US Open record holder in the 50M backstroke. He is a member of the U.S. National Team in the 100M backstroke.
Career
PrepA small town guy from right on the border of Indiana and Kentucky, Ben Hesen proved that he was much more than a little fish in a big pond. Swimming started at an early age for Ben, who began taking lessons at the age of five. Quickly escalating into a full-time commitment, Ben was passionate about swimming, but never saw much opportunity in it until a meteoric rise between his freshman and sophomore year at Jeffersonville High School
Jeffersonville High School
Jeffersonville High School, home of the red devils, was founded in 1871-1872. Originally located in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana, in the early 1970s a new, larger campus was constructed on the outer eastern edge of the city...
in Indiana. Eventually, he ended up winning three-straight Indiana High School Athletic Association
Indiana High School Athletic Association
The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
(IHSAA) state championships in the 100-yard backstroke from 2002-04 as well as the 100-yard butterfly at the 2004 IHSAA State Championships. He was also a 2002, 2003 and 2004 NISCA All-American in the 100 backstroke. Upon graduation, Ben was regarded as one of the nation's top high school backstrokers.
Indiana University
2005-2006
During his sophomore year at Indiana University, Ben tied for fourth in the 100 back at NCAAs and claimed a trio of All-America certificates during the NCAA Championships, including ninth-place finishes on both the 200 medley and 400 medley relays. The ninth-place effort in the 400 medley was the best for IU since 1980. Was member of the school and meet record setting Big Ten champion 200-yard medley relay unit. Helped set the school record in the 400-yard medley relay with a second-place effort at Big Tens and eclipsed the school record in the 100 back with his lead leg of 46.44 in the 400-yard medley. Earned Big Ten Swimmer of the Week once and concluded the season among IU's all-time top 20 in the 100 back (first), 200 back (fifth) and 100 fly (fifth).
2006-2007
During his junior year, Ben finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 100 back with a school-record time of 45.45 and took eighth in the 200 back to become the first IU swimmer since 1979 to reach the finals of two individual events at NCAAs. Earned first team All-America honors in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke and honorable mention accolades in both medley relays. Won the Big Ten championship in the 100 back, doing so in league-record time (45.52). Earned All-Big Ten first team honors, led Indiana with 24 event wins on the season, was named CollegeSwimming.com's National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 1, and went undefeated in the 100 back during the regular season. Placed third in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2007 U.S. National Championships, earning a spot on the U.S. National Team.
2007-2008
Set an American record at the 2008 US Olympic Trials in the 50 meter backstroke by going 24.70 for the 50 split of a 100 backstroke time trial. Won the NCAA Championship in the 100 backstroke with a school-record time of 44.72. Hesen's win is the first NCAA swimming title for the Hoosiers since Jim Montgomery captured the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle in 1976. Earned Indiana Male Athlete of the Year award. Named co-Big Ten Swimmer of the Year and Swimmer of the Championships after taking league titles in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 medley relay (1:25.85). At the BIG TEN Championships
Big Ten Championship
The title Big Ten Championship may refer to several sporting events that are sponsored by the Big Ten Conference.* Big Ten Football Championship Game crowns the champion of the Big Ten football season....
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ben took the 100 backstroke title in a time of 45.92, breaking the Canham Natatorium record of 46.48 set by Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
in 2005. Earned first team All-Big Ten and was the first IU swimmer to win three individual swimming titles since Chuck Sharpe in 1980.