Charles 'Bud' Howard Commits to University of Michigan: A Sprint Signal for the Wolverines

Charles 'Bud' Howard, an American swimmer from Tequesta, Florida, has verbally committed to the University of Michigan for the 2027-28 season. Howard is a senior at Jupiter High School and trains with the Jupiter Dragons Swim Team. He is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. The announcement appeared on SwimSwam's College Recruiting Channel, sponsored by Fitter and Faster Swim Camps. Howard was selected to the 2026-26 USA Swimming National Junior Team after placing third in the 100-meter butterfly at 2026 Ocala Futures in 53.31. He also set personal bests in the 100 free (51.56), 200 free (1:53.02), and 50 fly (25.07) at that meet. In fall 2026, he won the 200-yard free and placed runner-up in the 100-yard fly at the Florida Class 4A state meet with PBs of 1:37.16 and 47.00. At Winter Juniors East, he recorded a 100-yard free PB of 45.17 and won the B final of the 100-yard with 47.42. At Florida Gold Coast Senior Short Course Championships, he lowered his 50 free to 20.50, 100 free to 43.81 and 50 fly to 21.81. During the 2026 long course season he set PBs in the 50 free (23.91), 200 free (1:52.74), and 200 IM (2:09.48). He finaled at Summer Junior Nationals in the 100 free (12th), 50 fly (6th) and 100 fly (9th), with PBs of 23.89, 50.89 and 24.57. Howard will join the Wolverines with Anthony Dornoff, Boone Wilcox, Allen Gyang, Ben Luginski, Brody Reber and Henry Anstine. The value of his profile is consistent improvement across both short-course and long-course cycles. Michigan is adding a versatile sprint and butterfly piece rather than a one-distance specialist.