2018-19 / AS A SENIOR
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Did not compete due to injury
• Served as an officer with the Boiler Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
2017-18 / AS A JUNIOR
• Competed in the 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and freestyle sprints
• Posted career-best times in the 100 breast (54.49) as well as the 50 (20.27) and 100 free (45.26) at the Big Ten Championships
• Ranks 10th in program history in the 100 breast
• Scored in the C final of the 100 breast at Big Tens and also raced as part of the 200 free relay team
• Won the 200 IM at Miami (Ohio) and the 100 breast vs. Michigan State
• Qualified for the C final of the 100 breast and 100 fly at the Purdue Invitational
• Served as an officer with the Boiler Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
2016-17 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Competed primarily butterfly events and 100 breaststroke
• Posted season-best times in the 100 fly (48.60), 100 breast (54.73), 200 IM (1:49.41) and 100 free (45.11) at the Big Ten Championships
• In 2016-17, ranked second on the team in the 100 fly, third in the 100 breast and fifth in the 200 fly
• Qualified for the C final of the 100 breast at Big Tens to account for three team points
• Took third in the B final of the 100 breast at Virginia Tech's H2Okie Fall Invitational to account for six team points
• Swam the breaststroke leg on the victorious 200 medley relay team in the dual meet win vs. Miami (Ohio)
• Won his heat of both the 100 and 200 fly at the Big Ten Triple Duals
2015-16 / AS A FRESHMAN
• Competed primarily in the breaststroke events and 200 IM
• Posted season-best times in the 100 breast (54.78) and 200 IM (1:48.75) along with the 50 (21.02) and 100 free (45.24) at the Purdue First Chance meet to earn one of the final spots on the roster for Big Tens.
• Competed in the breaststroke events and 200 IM at Big Tens, posting a season-best time in the 200 breast (2:02.31)
• Ranked second on the team in the 100 breast in 2015-16, posting the eight-fastest time in program history and accounting for two team points at Big Tens by finishing seventh in the C final of the event
• Accounted for three team points at the Purdue Invitational by qualifying for the B final of the 100 and 200 breast
• Won the 100 breast and 100 free at the Purdue First Chance meet
• Won his heat of the 100 breast at the Indiana Intercollegiates
• Swam the leadoff leg on Purdue's victorious 400 free relay team in the dual meet win vs. Miami (Ohio)
HIGH SCHOOL
• Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Matthew Pavlovich at Munster High School in Northwest Indiana
• Four-year conference and sectional champion, setting sectional and team records in the 100 breast and 200 IM
• Two-year All-American in the 100 breast and 200 IM as was as the 200 medley and 400 free relays
• Two-time Indiana state qualifier, finishing sixth in the 100 breast as a junior
• Three-year team MVP and team captain
• Pride and hustle award and Munster Swim Club John Jespsen leadership award recipient
• Senior class foreign language award honoree
PERSONAL
• Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
• Full name is Joseph Thomas Gardner
• Born in Munster, Indiana
• Parents are Craig and Jean Gardner
• Family also includes older brothers Danny and Ryan
• His mother and brother Ryan are Purdue Calumet alumni
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite Coach: Cathy Wright-Eger
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): IU Natatorium
Swimmer He'd Like to Race Against: Caeleb Dressel
Most Exciting Event to Watch at a College Meet: 400m Medley Relay
Favorite Marquee Event: Stanley Cup
Would Like to Have Dinner With: My Grandparents
Unique Skill: Can speak backwards
In His MP3 Player: Chris Young
Last Concert He Attended: Foster Horses Country Music Festival
Musician He'd Love to See Play Purdue: Chris Young
Last Book He Read: The Shack
Favorite Multimedia App: Netflix
Favorite Actor, Actress & Director: Liam Neeson, Sandra Bullock & Quentin Tarantino
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: Saw
Favorite Super-Heroes: The Flash
Favorite TV Show: Blacklist
Favorite Month: November
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
Favorite Food: McDonald's Chicken Nuggets
Favorite Dessert: Munster Donuts
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Boating
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Sand Volleyball
Favorite Purdue Building: Lyles-Porter Hall
Favorite Purdue Athletic Venue (Besides Aquatic Center): Ross-Ade Stadium
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Chicago
Country He'd Like to Visit: Coatia
Favorite Thing About the Boilermaker Aquatic Center: The Hot Tub
Most Memorable Moment at Purdue: Marat Amaltdinov winning 200 Breast at 2016 Big Tens
Best Thing About Being a Boilermaker: The Opportunites and Leadership Experiences
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Georgia Malandraki, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
Furry Friend: Chance, Doberman-Chocolate Lab Mix