Brent Holsten (2025) - Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame

Brent Holsten

Induction:
2025
Class:
1994

A local product from nearby Douglas Freeman High School, Brent Holsten traveled a short distance to the University of Richmond. Once there, he embarked on a long journey, becoming one of the most dominant and decorated Spider men’s swimmers in program history.

In his first year, he was the only freshman on a 400-meter relay team that won a Colonial Athletic Association title. As a junior, Holsten captured the 50-yard freestyle at the CAA Championships at UNC Wilmington. His time of 21.02 set a team record for a squad that established a program record for wins.

At the 1994 CAA Championships at East Carolina University, Holsten, a senior captain, accomplished a personal triple crown, winning the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events while shattering two school records. In the 50 free he became the first Spider to break the 21-second barrier, finishing with a time of 20.78. In the 200 free, his time of 1:41.72 in the finals secured a first-place finish and set a school record by half a second. Holsten’s third win was in the 100 free, in which he improved his personal best time by more than a second, winning the title with a time of 45.83.

Holsten completed his collegiate career by qualifying for the Eastern College Athletic Conference meet at Rutgers University. He placed third in the 50 Freestyle and second in the 100 Freestyle. He also swam the 100 Butterfly, where his time of 52.10 broke the UR school record.

A four-year letter winner, Brent captured five conference titles, set six program records and was named 1993-94 Spider Club Male Athlete of the Year. He served as volunteer assistant coach for the Spider women’s program for four seasons, winning four conference championships, including the 2004-05 team, which was inducted into the Hall of Fame as the Team of Distinction in 2012. He is just the second Spider men’s swimmer to be inducted into the University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame.