WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Aran Bissett won the 100 freestyle and contributed to a Boilermaker victory in the 100 medley relay in his collegiate debut, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after helping Purdue Men’s Swimming & Diving outscore Florida State in Tallahassee.
Bissett posted top-10 times in team history in both 100 (43.14, 7th) and 200 free (1:35.50, 8th) while finishing no worse than second in any of his six events at the 22-event Seminole Fall Classic.
Bissett joins classmate Caroline Mallard as Boilermakers to be recognized as Big Ten Freshman of the Week after Purdue’s season-opening meets. Purdue Swimming & Diving has produced both a male and female Big Ten Freshman of the Week in October for the first time since 2019. Mallard swept the butterfly events and contributed to the Boilers’ victorious 400 free relay in the women’s Oct. 2 dual meet win at Illinois.
Keelan Hart (in 2019) was the Purdue men’s last Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree after a season-opening meet. Janis Dzirkalis and Biko Hooper-Haviland teamed up for a combined four Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades last season. Both sophomores joined Bissett among the 15-athlete travel party in Tallahassee as Purdue outscored No. 23 FSU in the two-day outdoor meet.
Chris Bartmess, Bissett and Dzirkalis were the three Boilermakers to win an individual event and contribute to a relay winner at Florida State. Individually, Bissett was the runner-up in the 100 individual medley and 200 free, both contested on Friday. He came back Saturday with his victory in the 100 free plus further demonstrating his versatility by swimming the breaststroke leg on the victorious 100 medley relay.
Head coach Alex Jerden said he believed it was possible Bissett’s time of 47.81 in the 100 IM could have been a team record, in part because he posted the mark in a non-traditional NCAA event.
Bissett also raced as part of Purdue’s top relay teams in both freestyle relays.
The Boilermakers’ three freshmen that earned spots among the travel squad for the Seminole Fall Classic all contributed to the team victory. Tom Jhang won the 100 breaststroke Saturday after teaming up with Charles Lee for a 2-3 finish in the 200 breast Friday. Luca Scampicchio swam the leadoff backstroke leg on both victorious medley relays. Individually, he was Purdue’s top finisher in three events – the 50 and 100 butterfly as well as the 50 back.
The Boilermakers return to action Saturday, Oct. 24 when they host the Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate. The annual in-state showcase serves as the home opener at the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center this year.
Been enjoying Fall Break on campus. Thanks to @BoilerFuel & SNIP fellow Anna Schlosser. #BoilerUp #FoodDemo https://t.co/ST7Cv6h8Js
— Purdue Men's Swimming & Diving (@PurdueMSwimDive) October 13, 2026