Guyanese Swimming star makes waves at SUNY Oneonta after mid-season transfer

Jan 19, 2025 Sports

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SUNY ONEONTA highlights Tyrell in student profile

 DELROY TYRRELL

Kaieteur Sports- In a remarkable display of resilience and athletic excellence, (Guyanese born) Trinidad and Tobago native Delroy Tyrrell has emerged as a dominant force in SUNY Oneonta’s swimming programme. In his debut season, he broke pool records and earned multiple SUNYAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week honors.

Tyrrell, a professional swimmer and Junior Sports Ambassador to Guyana found himself at a crossroads when The College of Saint Rose in Albany announced its closure in 2024. Despite receiving offers from institutions nationwide, a fortuitous connection with a former competitor led him to SUNY Oneonta’s doorstep.

“The transition could have been devastating for any athlete, but Tyrrell has turned it into a triumph,” said Oneonta swim coach Chris Schuler, whose leadership played a pivotal role in attracting the Caribbean standout to the programme.

The Sport Management major has wasted no time making his mark, particularly at December’s Cortland Snow Flurries Invite, where he shattered pool records and demonstrated why he was a coveted recruit. His international experience, including competing in the 2022 Pan American Age Group games, has brought a new level of excellence to Oneonta’s swim programme.

“I can’t imagine a better group of friends than I have right now,” says Tyrrell, whose journey from Trinidad to Oneonta reflects the increasingly global nature of collegiate athletics. When not attending classes, he maintains a rigorous training schedule between the pool and gym, building upon a swimming career that began in Guyana before flourishing in Trinidad and Tobago.

Despite the challenges of being an international student-athlete, including transportation and currency differences, Tyrrell has found strong support through Oneonta’s Office of Global Education and his teammates. His dual passion for sports and business led him to pursue Sports Management, a field he believes offers “a lot of open doors.”

As the 2026 graduate continues to break records and collect accolades, his success story serves as a testament to the resilience of student-athletes and the inclusive environment at SUNY Oneonta. With multiple SUNYAC Swimmer of the Week honors already under his belt this season, Tyrrell’s journey from the Caribbean to central New York is proving to be more than just a change of lanes – it’s a leap toward excellence.

Favorite Classes? Public Speaking with Kathleen Dwyer. It didn’t feel like a typical classroom; it felt like we were in an open panel discussion. I enjoyed being in class with other majors, like political science, and learning from them. I also loved a Sports Management class I took with Matt Hazzard. He has great relationships with his students, and everyone loves him. We’re able to talk about things I’m interested in: sports, scores, the latest football team, all of that.

Plans, Goals, Dreams Well, I want to make it the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. But swimming won’t be forever. I actually am fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, so I think I want to start a sports agency, and possibly tie in some kind of language tutoring.

Beyond the pool, Tyrrell is making the most of his academic journey at Oneonta. He particularly thrives in Professor Kathleen Dwyer’s Public Speaking course, which he describes as more of an “open panel discussion” than a traditional classroom. The diversity of perspectives from students across different majors has enriched his learning experience. His enthusiasm extends to Sports Management classes with Professor Matt Hazzard, where his passion for sports analysis and current events finds an academic outlet.

Looking ahead, Tyrrell’s ambitions span both athletic and professional realms. His sights are set on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but his vision extends beyond competitive swimming. Armed with fluency in Spanish and Portuguese, he plans to leverage his linguistic skills and sports expertise to establish a sports agency, potentially incorporating language tutoring services. It’s a unique combination that reflects Tyrrell’s diverse talents and his understanding of sports’ global nature.

From breaking records in the pool to building a foundation for an innovative career in sports management, Tyrrell exemplifies the modern student-athlete: accomplished, adaptable, and ambitious. His journey from the Caribbean to SUNY Oneonta continues to inspire, proving that sometimes the most unexpected turns can lead to the most promising paths forward.

(Editor’s note: This article was first carried on SUNY Oneonta’s web page)

(Guyanese Swimming star makes waves at SUNY Oneonta after mid-season transfer)

(Guyanese Swimming star)

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• athletic excellence, Delroy Tyrrell, Dominant Force, Resilience, Trinidad and Tobago

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