Union’s Enzo Constable makes history at the Toyota U.S. Open

Greensboro, N.C. - Union Commonwealth University's Enzo Constable recently competed at the Toyota U.S. Open.

Constable etched his name in Bulldog history as the first swimmer from the program to qualify for and compete in the prestigious Toyota U.S. Open. This elite event showcased world-class talent, including Olympic athletes, professional swimmers, top U.S. club teams, and standout NCAA Division I and II programs. 

Constable placed  25th in the 50 freestyle with a national "B" cut time of 20.42. In the 100 butterfly, he finished 4th with a national "A" cut time of 48.47, and secured 19th in the 100 freestyle with another "A" cut time of 44.64.

For a deeper dive into Constable's journey and experience in the Toyota U.S. Open, check out this exclusive Q&A with the Bulldog swimmer.

1.  How did you feel when you found out you had qualified for the Toyota U.S. Open? 

I was very excited, because it's a major competition in the United States.  I didn't know I would be able to swim in the meet because I am from France, and the times are very fast.  But I qualified in 3 events – 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and 100 Butterfly.

2. What was your mindset going into the Toyota U.S. Open? 

I didn't put a lot of pressure on myself because my coaches told me this kind of competition is meant for me to gain experience and prepare me for Nationals.  This level of competition was like nothing I had seen before.  Everyone was so fast!  There were Olympians at this meet, so it was exciting just to compete.

3. What lessons did you take away from competing at such a high level against top-tier athletes?

That you always need to train hard during practice.  Practices here in America have been very different. Coach Wiktor likes to do a lot of sets with quick sprints and resistance, which I like.  But, I can't take a set off or be lazy.  I think that has made me better and helped my times to drop.  The week before the meet was American Thanksgiving, so I didn't train at that same level.  When I went into my first event (my best event) I kind of messed up my turn.  I learned that training hard means that I am better prepared.  After that first little mistake, I had a much better meet, qualifying for finals in my last two events.

4. How has this experience influenced your goals moving forward in your athletic career?

I have so much more motivation now for the rest of the season.  Even though it was an extra meet and I was swimming by myself, seeing how well I swam and getting the opportunity to swim at this high of a level has really inspired me to finish the season strong.  I feel like I can accomplish anything.  I know I have automatic cuts for Nationals right now, so I am setting my goals to do the absolute best I can and see how high I can place in both conference and Nationals to help Union do well in both competitions.

 Outside of Union, I really hope this gives me some opportunities internationally with France and getting to swim for my home country at some competitions this summer.

We also sat down with Head Coach Ryan Winders for a quick Q&A to get his insights on the meet.

1. How does it feel to see one of your athletes qualify for the Toyota U.S. Open?

It is absolutely amazing to have a swimmer from Union qualify for this event.  It's a major championship – just like it is in Golf and Tennis, so the scale of it is enormous.  He was the only NAIA swimmer there (that I know of) competing against mostly Division I and II athletes.

 I'm very proud of Enzo, and where he has come as a swimmer this year.  He's really taken to our training and bought into what we are doing here – especially coming off of a year back home where he wasn't swimming as well because of an injury.  It's very impressive what he has done.

2. What qualities or strengths do you think helped him reach this level of competition?

First, I will say, it mostly isn't me.  As a sprinter, he works with Wiktor Perkowski daily in our sprint group.  The style of training Wiktor employs is exactly what I believe should be used for collegiate swimming.  Wiktor reads the athlete, trains specific needs, uses tons of race-pace training, resistance training, and quick sets.  This style of training has let Enzo thrive as a true sprinter. 

3. How does an accomplishment like this reflect on the overall program and its development?

 I'm extremely proud of the program and what we have accomplished.  It wasn't long ago that we only had 6 or so total swimmers on the roster, so the fact that we are now sending swimmers to National-level Championships is crazy to think about.  We have grown from those 6 to a group of about 30 this season.  In our midseason meet alone, we broke 12 team records, achieved 4 "A" cuts for nationals, 38 Provisional cuts, and 74 season best times.  The men's team is currently ranked 7th, while the women's team is 11th nationally. Talk about a change! We are more than just a singular team; we have grown into a program. 

 That full program now consists of the college team, which is part of the AAC and NAIA, and the club team (Bulldog Aquatics), which is part of USA Swimming.  Our coaches get to utilize Stivers Aquatic Center, the local 50-meter facility, to train both American and International Athletes and prepare them for all levels of competition.  Most schools don't have that ability, and we are very fortunate.

 So, to look back and see how far we have come, and to see how people locally have helped us grow and get to this point, I am beyond thankful – especially considering the time of year we are in.  We look forward to continuing that growth and incorporating young, local swimmers so the sport can grow in the area, while also growing the team to a size where we can compete year in and year out for conference, and hopefully one day, national titles.