Behrens signs NLI with McMurry University
On the October weekend Burnet senior swimmer Ryan Behrens visited McMurry University and was offered a scholarship, he committed.
On March 7, he made that commit official by signing a National Letter of Intent to swim for the War Hawks.
“I enjoy swimming still,” he said for his reason for wanting to swim on the next level, adding he’s been a competitive swimmer for nine years. “Swimming is something I enjoy doing.”
He credited his teammates for helping him improve, noting those friendships propelled him to overcome obstacles throughout the season.
He said his two best strokes are the breaststroke and the freestyle, though he wasn’t sure which races McMurry coaches would enter him. Behrens also is unafraid to work to improve. He spends 12 hours a week in the pool and practices twice a day.
“We take two to three weeks off maybe and then we’re back at it again,” he said.
One reason the son of Ross and Hallie Behrens chose McMurry is because the university has a pre-dental program. He plans to be an orthodontist.
During the ceremony, Burnet athletics director Kurt Jones noted that Behrens has “had an interesting senior season” because there was a coaching change a few weeks in. Former coach Stephanie Pegues became an assistant coach at Monmouth University in mid December. Still Pegues emailed a letter of congratulations to Behrens that Jones read. She noted Behrens has been part of record-breaking relay teams and squads that captured district and postseason medals.
“It’s been a joy watching him grow,” Pegues wrote. “I think one of the great things about being on a team is being a great teammate. I’m so proud of Ryan and can’t be more thrilled he’s decided to continue his swimming career.”
