Bean uses height to excel in pool

VERMILLION, S.D. – Charlie Bean stands out, in more ways than one, while standing on the swimming pool deck.

The 6-foot-7 inch Bean, a South Dakota senior, is easily recognizable for his height, but is also quickly recognized for the talented swimmer that he is once he finishes a race.

Bean, the school record holder in the 100 freestyle as well as being a member of school record free relays, uses that long reach and lanky frame to glide through the water.

“Everyone asks me ‘you must play basketball’,” said Bean of his height. “Sometimes I will say no, I do swimming.

“When I was younger, I worked tirelessly on my stroke, just all the length of my stroke to try and take advantage of my height. Once I got that down, that’s when I really started to excel.”

He will be part of the Coyote men’s team that looks to defend its league title when the four-day Summit League Championships get underway Wednesday inside the Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo, North Dakota. 

Bean, the Summit League champion in the 100 free last winter, was a key force in the Coyotes claiming the school’s first-ever Summit League title in swimming and diving. He earned All-Summit League honors in six events (two individual, four relays). 

Bean is one of 12 seniors (academically) on this year’s squad as the team aims for back-to-back league titles for the first time in school history. The school had claimed North Central Conference titles during its NCAA Division II days in 1997 and 1999.

The son of Dave and Jodi Bean swam on a pair of Summit League championship winning relays last year, the 200 free and 400 free. He also finished second in the 200 free and sixth in the 50 free while participating on a second-place 400 medley relay and a third-place 800 free relay.

Sitting second on the Coyote Top 10 list in the 50 free and 200 free, the youngest of three siblings, all boys, Charlie is a career 11 time All-Summit League honoree.

“Just kind of rolling off what we did last year,” said Bean of his Summit expectations. “All the guys are so hyped about it. 

“For me, it’s kind of being in that top spot, I don’t think I’m going in seeded like I want to be, I’m kind of chasing this year. I have something to defend this year, it’s kind of chasing everyone else, swimming fast. I’m excited to swim fast.”

The tallest of the three siblings, oldest brother Levi played football at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, while middle brother Tommy went to school at South Dakota State. 

Bean, though, got his swimming pedigree from his mother, the former Jodi Schirmers, a two-time All-American and four-time Big Ten Champion at Minnesota (1985-88). 

Bean, who is on pace to graduate in May with a degree in sustainability, credits academic advisor Darin Hochstein with keeping him on track through the few changes in majors he has made during his four years at South Dakota.

“He helps me so much with that,” said Bean. “It was hard to find my path my freshman and sophomore years but now I’m really enjoying school.”

Bean, who has already landed a job back near his hometown of Waverly, Minnesota, doing water corrections, also credits finding balance between being a student and student-athlete to help in his academic studies.

“Swimming and school, it has definitely kept me on track, the whole team aspect of it,” he said. “Swimming has pushed me in the classroom a ton, being on that schedule.”