TOWSON, Md.- At last month's Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship meet, Towson University swimmer Jed Garner won both breaststroke events and qualified for next week's NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta.

In the 200 breast, the junior erased Brian Benzing's name from the Towson record book, touching the wall in 1:52.45, .26 faster than Benzing's best time. Benzing is the most decorated men's swimmer in program history – a four-time time CAA Men's Swimmer of the Year and three-time Towson Male Athlete of the Year. As a senior in 2024, Benzing was an All-American after finishing as the national runner-up in the 100 breast. He also scored points at the NCAA's in 2022 and 2023.

Jack Saunderson also earned All-America status – after finishing seventh in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2019 NCAA championships. He made the consolation finals in multiple events in 2017 and 2018 – earning points.

"Knocking Brian's record off the board is special," Garner said. "To see my name up there with his and Saunderson is so cool."

Garner's journey to Towson was atypical. The Clarksburg, Maryland native spent two years swimming at the University of Tennessee – qualifying for the NCAA's in both breaststroke events last year – helping the Volunteers to a fifth place finish at the 2025 national championship meet.

After the House v. NCAA settlement last summer, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) established a roster limit of 22 athletes for men's swimming and diving teams, eight less than the NCAA allows. Garner's scholarship was not renewed, so a swimmer who finished 18^th in the nation in the 200 breast, was left without a home. In July, he entered the transfer portal, and three weeks before the 2025-26 school year started, he signed with Towson.

"Jed being from Maryland made this an easy connection," Towson swimming and diving coach Tony Bruno said. "I crossed paths with him as a high school kid at World Championship trials when Benzing was here. What also helped was his connection with Benzing, and it made it an easy transition. Since Brian had success, Jed knew he would still have the opportunities to do where he wants to go. He came here and got faster. We really helped support his dreams and big goals."

Garner thrived under Bruno's direction. At the US Open meet in December, he made the B final in all three breaststroke events (50, 100, 200) and set Towson's 200 breast long course record when winning the B final. He also exceled in events he did not at Tennessee – finishing second in the 200 IM and being part of the third place 200 medley relay team at the CAA meet.

Garner now heads into the NCAA meet with plenty of confidence – swimming his best times in both the 100 and 200 breast.

"When he came to campus on his recruiting visit, we joked about him beating Brian's records because we thought those records were going to stand for a while," Bruno added. "It is very impressive because Brian did it while scoring at the NCAA meet, so hopefully that can give Jed some confidence that he can score at NCAA's and continue the tradition."

"I know what I need to do and however it plays out, it will play out. Scoring points would be great for me and Towson," Garner added. "As much as time matters, getting my hand on the wall as quickly as possible is the main thing. If I get to the A Final but don't swim my best time would mean a lot more than if I swim my best time in the morning and don't make either the A or B final."

Benzing recently returned to Towson as Director of Operations for the swim and dive programs. His duties include supporting all areas of the program while also training as one of the 67 male swimmers on the USA National Team.

"Racing him before CAA's gave me confidence that I could go fast," Garner said. "He is really good and pushes me every day. I feel like the closer I can get to him, the better I am going to be. Being sharp is important. I am going to have to be at my best but am ready to compete with anyone."

"It is always a benefit when you have guys who have done it trying to help guys who are trying to figure out how to get it done, Bruno said. "I say to Jed all the time is that Brian had one of the fastest first 25's in the country, but his job is to have the fastest last 25 in the country. If that happens, we could have another Towson swimmer scoring at NCAA's."

Garner will compete in the 100-yard breaststroke on Thursday, March 26, while the 200-yard breaststroke will be Friday, March 27.

On the women's side, Meredith Budner (2009-11), Cari Czarnecki (2011) and Kaitlin Burke (2013-14) all scored points for the Tigers at the NCAA Championship. Budner finished second in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle as a senior in 2011.