We proceed our conventional recruiting protection with our “Manner Too Early” ranks of the upcoming season’s highschool junior class. Since prime recruits have began giving their verbal commitments earlier and earlier, we’ve moved up our rankings to assist in giving higher context to large recruiting bulletins.
Earlier than we run over our conventional rating methodology, we must always head off just a few counterarguments on the cross:
- Isn’t this too early to have learn on expertise? Aren’t 16-year-old youngsters nonetheless enhancing? Perhaps. Alternatively, coaches are clearly discovering roster spots for teenagers who verbally commit this early. And if we and our readership need to have essentially the most correct image of how the recruiting season is enjoying out, it’ll be helpful to have some type of rating – even one nonetheless very a lot in flux – to discuss with as big-name swimmers commit.
- However recruiting ranks don’t matter. It’s the fast-dropping swimmers and diamonds within the tough that basically have the largest NCAA impression. Not true. There are all the time fast-rising swimmers who shortly become NCAA stars. However there are far much less of them than there are elite highschool prospects who develop into high-impact NCAA swimmers. All of us love the Cinderella tales, the unranked recruits who flourish into dominators. However even these rags-to-riches tales aren’t as fleshed out in the event that they don’t have a clearly outlined setup. These ranks assist present us who’s probably to develop into NCAA standouts… but in addition contextualize the place the eventual breakout stars initially rated in comparison with friends. If you happen to, your favourite swimmer or your son/daughter isn’t ranked, don’t get mad – see it as the place to begin to your/their rise to stardom.
- How correct can these be with two-plus years of improvement to go earlier than any of those swimmers compete within the NCAA? Who is aware of? Predicting the longer term by no means has a 100% hit charge. For these ranks, we’re rather less involved with precise NCAA scoring occasions than we’re in our junior/senior ranks, and doubtless marginally extra eager about “ceilings” – large occasion ranges, versatility, and so forth. However as with all rating, these are in the end nothing greater than a snapshot in time: what the highest of this recruiting class seems like within the second, with full admission that plenty of these ranks can and can change by the point they end their senior years.
THE METHODOLOGY
Our aim in these rankings is to replicate what school coaches search for in recruits, based mostly on a few years of conversations and protection.
We focus solely on American-based athletes, just because there’s a lot uncertainty with worldwide recruits – if they arrive to the USA, after they’ll come to the States and with what graduating class they need to be ranked. Projecting worldwide recruits usually turns into extra of a dialogue of when they’ll first be part of a school program and never which program they’ll be part of.
Just a few different components that weigh closely in our rankings:
- Relay Worth – Relay factors depend double in school swimming, and any program wants a robust secure of high quality sprinters to fill out all 5 relays with stars. Clearly, a particular distance swimmer can simply rank forward of an excellent 100 freestyler, however school swimming usually values a dash freestyler over a distance swimmer, all different components being equal.
- Enhancements – Precise occasions carry essentially the most weight by an extended shot. However we additionally keep watch over a swimmer’s trajectory, particularly in deciding between two swimmers with comparatively even occasions.
- Brief Course over Lengthy Course – whereas each membership and each swimmer can have a unique steadiness of focus between brief course and lengthy course swimming, the NCAA competes briefly course yards, and that’s going to be the principle issue thought-about in these rankings. Lengthy course occasions are one other information level for consideration, however we primarily view them by the lens of what a giant lengthy course swim might imply for an athlete’s future briefly course.
- NCAA scoring skill – NCAAs are the large present for faculty groups, so we’ve weighted NCAA scoring potential very extremely. Swimmers who have already got NCAA scoring occasions wind up principally filling out the highest our of rankings. Since school athletic administrators – and by extension coaches – additionally place excessive worth on convention championships, scoring skill at convention meets can also be a think about our rankings.
- Relative depth within the NCAA and recruiting class – a wealth of elite depth nationwide in a single stroke or self-discipline makes a giant distinction in what occasions are thought-about extra useful in that occasion. Occasions rise at totally different charges within the NCAA, however when one occasion will get extraordinarily deep and quick on the school degree, it makes highschool prospects in these occasions rather less useful, comparatively, with a number of different veteran choices. In the identical means, a recruiting class stacked with swimmers in butterfly, for instance, would make every butterflier rather less sought-after out there, with a number of different recruiting choices capable of present comparable manufacturing.
After all, there’s no method to predict the longer term, and essentially the most concrete information we have now to go on are chilly, arduous occasions. These rankings by no means imply that every one of those 20 swimmers shall be NCAA standouts, they usually definitely don’t imply that no swimmer left off this record will make large contributions on the NCAA degree.
THIS CLASS
- Robust 100-200 freestyle class, with loads of potential within the 50
- Low on distance freestylers
- Aggressive group of backstrokers
- An absence of pure breaststrokers
- Dash-oriented class— notably evident in fly with elite 100ers however lack of 200ers
- Loads of creating medley swimmers (a number of with 200s that shall be #3 choice)
TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2026
**The 1000 free isn’t an occasion on the Division I NCAA Championships, however is swum as a substitute of the 1650 in lots of Division I twin meets and is a part of the NCAA program in Division II.
With that out of the way in which, let’s get to our rankings.
Disclaimer: there are a lot of highschool sophomores within the nation, and no actually good, full, 100% correct itemizing of all of them. If you happen to don’t see your favourite swimmer on the record, be at liberty to politely level them out within the feedback. There’s an opportunity that we disagree along with your evaluation of their spot within the prime 20, and as long as it’s executed civilly, there’s no downside with variations of opinions. There’s additionally an opportunity that we’ve merely missed a no brainer (we’ve taken each precaution to keep away from that), and if that occurs, we need to make sure that we right it.
BEST OF THE REST
Some further names that got here up in our analysis. For the needs of area, we received’t embrace each prime occasion for these athletes, however just some of their standouts. Verbal commitments are listed the place they’ve been reported. Every of those athletes remains to be an especially high-level recruit:
The place noteworthy, lengthy course greatest occasions included in italics.
- Dash free:
- Elizabeth Eichbrecht (23.0/49.8/1:47.2/4:47.6, 54.2 FLY, 2:01.7 IM)
- Isabel Wolk (23.6/50.4/1:47.4, 2:00.9/4:18 IM)
- Ella Gaca Thiele (22.9/50.0/1:50.8, 55.8 FLY)
- Lanie Tietjen (23.2/50.4/1:47.7, 54.9 FLY)
- Anna Shnowske (23.2/50.2/1:48.2, 55.1/2:00.3 FLY)
- Jaylee Hager (23.6/50.6/1:47.5)
- Libbi McCarthy (23.0/50.6)
- Distance free:
- Clare Custer (1:50.9/4:50.8/9:51/16:29, 8:53.2/16:49 LCM FR)
- Iris Kim (1:48.8/4:47.3/9:57/16:39, 4:17 IM)
- Emory DeGuenther (1:48.0/4:49.0, 55.4/1:59.5 BK)
- Lillyana Caples (4:51/10:07/16:44)
- Backstroke:
- Breaststroke:
- Butterfly:
- IM:
- Rylee Hutchinson (2:03.1/4:14, 1:50.2/4:50 FR, 2:00.8 FLY)
- Brooke Bennett (2:01.9/4:16.6, 1:50.3/4:49.6 FR, 2:16.8 BR)
- Angela Kadoorie (4:18.1, 1:04.3/2:14.6 BR)
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Paring the record down to twenty all the time looks like pulling tooth. This isn’t an exhaustive record of others we thought-about, however the prime few left off the record who made the selections on 18-20 very tough.
Zetta Bartee – SwimMAC Carolina – Windfall Day Faculty – Charlotte, NC
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 fly: 1:58.11
- 100 fly: 53.89
- 200 free: 1:48.09
- 100 free: 50.64
- 50 free: 23.71
- 200 IM: 2:02.10
Bartee broke by at Winter Juniors – East in December, breaking 2:00 for the primary time within the 200 fly by a large margin, clocking 1:58.11. That efficiency ranks her seventh within the class within the occasion, and she or he received her 100 fly sub-54 in late March (53.89) whereas enhancing throughout the board in freestyle at 23.7 within the 50, 50.6 within the 100 and 1:48.0 within the 200. The SwimMAC product has additionally been making strides of late within the 200 IM, however the two butterfly occasions and the 200 free are her three greatest races as we head into her junior yr.
Brynn Lavigueur – Sarasota Sharks – Riverview Excessive Faculty – Sarasota, FL
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 again: 53.41
- 200 free: 1:47.76
- 100 free: 49.89
- 50 free: 23.05
- 200 again: 1:57.82
- 200 IM: 2:02.77
Coaching out of the Sarasota Sharks squad that features triple Olympic champion Summer time McIntosh, Lavigueur is a robust freestyler with some backstroke pedigree. Her 53.41 100 again greatest time places her within the higher echelon of swimmers on this class, and that {couples} along with her 23-low, 49-high, 1:47-high freestyle skill. Lavigueur can also be creating within the 200 IM, having positioned third on the FHSAA 4A state championships in 2:02.77, and set a PB of 1:57.82 within the 200 again in March so as to add that occasion to her repertoire. With the 200 free and 100 again arguably being her two greatest occasions, Lavigeur might find yourself having to do the Day 3 double at NCAAs, although there’s nonetheless loads of time to work out what her optimum program shall be.
Alyce Lehman – Jersey Wahoos – Bishop Eustace Prep Faculty – Haddonfield, NJ
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 fly: 1:56.79
- 100 fly: 53.89
- 200 IM: 2:02.16
- 200 free: 1:50.32
- 50 free: 23.88
Lehman is the second-fastest swimmer within the class within the 200 fly, having ripped a greatest time of 1:56.79 in February, racing head-to-head with teammate and age group phenom Audrey Derivaux at a house Jersey Wahoos meet. In April, Lehman certified for the U.S. Olympic Trials within the 200 fly (2:13.18), and after inserting twenty sixth in Indianapolis (2:13.26), introduced her PB all the way down to 2:12.11 on the Futures Championships in Austin. She falls simply shy of cracking the highest 20 as a result of her different occasions not being fairly on the similar degree because the 200 fly, although her 100 fly is shut at 53.89. Lehman noticed a giant drop this previous season within the 200 IM, getting all the way down to 2:02.16, making that her doubtless third occasion to associate with the butterfly races.
Taylor Klein – SwimMAC Carolina – Charlotte Nation Day Faculty – Charlotte, NC
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 fly: 1:57.81
- 200 again: 1:56.83
- 100 fly: 54.67
- 100 again: 55.24
- 200 free: 1:50.99
- 200 IM: 2:02.97
- 50 free: 23.78
- 100 free: 51.89
Considered one of three SwimMAC athletes making at the very least the Honorable Mentions on this class, Klein is a flexible backstroker and butterflier, with the 200s being her two greatest races. Klein is considered one of six swimmers below 1:58 within the 200 fly, having busted by the two:00 barrier in March, bringing her PB down from 2:02.12 to 1:57.81. She additionally dropped a number of seconds to clock 1:56.83 within the 200 again in December, inside 3% of the NCAA cutline (she’s inside 2% within the 200 fly). Klein’s additionally received some velocity with a 54.6 100 fly and 55.2 100 again, and carried over her brief course success into the summer season, setting quite a few greatest occasions in July on the Minneapolis Futures, together with 1:01.0 within the 100 fly and a couple of:14.2 within the 200 fly.
Sydney Schoeck – CSP Tideriders – Westminster Christian Academy – Chesterfield, MO
Greatest Occasions:
- 400 IM: 4:15.06
- 200 IM: 2:00.08
- 100 again: 54.07
- 200 again: 1:57.50
- 200 free: 1:48.88
- 100 free: 51.13
- 50 free: 23.97
Schoeck is a basic medley swimmer with intriguing backstroke greatest occasions. Her 400 IM greatest briefly course of 4:15.06 is from March 2023, however she’s coming off dropping an extended course PB of 4:47.39 in late July, successful the occasion on the NCSA Summer time Championships. Her 200 IM greatest of two:00.08 can also be comparatively sturdy—seventh greatest within the class—regardless of it being set in early 2023. Schoeck appeared to place extra of a deal with lengthy course this previous season and it paid off, as she additionally dropped a time of two:12.31 within the 200 again on the Columbia Sectionals in March, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials (she additionally made it within the 400 IM). Her backstroke yards occasions of 54.07 and 1:57.50 are strong, however she’s doubtless able to bringing these down after what she did within the large pool this yr.
TOP 20 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2026
20. Alyssa Sagle – Nation’s Capital Swim Membership – Battlefield Excessive Faculty – Gainesville, VA
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 again: 1:56.04
- 100 again: 53.17
- 100 fly: 55.73
- 50 free: 23.39
Nation’s Capital’s Sagle is a well-versed sprinter, however her greatest occasion is arguably the 200 again, having set a monstrous greatest time of 1:56.04 in early March after successful VHSL Class 6 (Virginia) state titles within the 50 free (23.43) and 100 again (53.17) in mid-February. She’s within the higher echelon of the category in each backstrokes, and is bolstered by having a 23.3 50 free to provide her three strong occasions. At NCSAs in March, Sagle additionally broke 25 seconds main off NCAP’s 200 medley relay, and wowed with a 1:01.1 LC 100 again efficiency to land a spot on the U.S. Olympic Trials.
19. Quinn White – Shawmut Aquatic Membership – Wellesley, MA
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 again: 1:55.52
- 100 again: 53.85
- 500 free: 4:49.79
- 200 free: 1:47.79
- 100 free: 50.10
- 50 free: 23.31
White is predominantly a 200 backstroker, with a number of 1:56s below her belt to associate with a greatest time of 1:55.52 from the New England Senior Championships in December, the place she was the runner-up to class of 2025 Honorable Point out Zuri Ferguson. White’s 1:55-mid makes her the third-fastest swimmer within the class, and the 200 again can also be the occasion through which she certified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, having clocked 2:12.57 within the lengthy course pool on the finish of Could. Just like her 200 again performances, White’s received plenty of 54-point swims surrounded by a PB of 53.8 from December (she broke 54 a second time in March on a relay lead-off: 53.99). Not like many backstrokers, White’s received a variety of freestyle skill to associate with it, highlighted by her 1:47.7 within the 200 and 4:49.7 within the 500, each inside 3% of the NCAA cutline. Her 23.3/50.1 additionally signifies she might be a future dash relay contributor.
18. Vera Conic – Palatine Park District – Rolling Meadows Excessive Faculty – Rolling Meadows, IL
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 again: 53.11
- 200 again: 1:55.96
- 100 free: 51.54
- 100 fly: 55.39
- 200 IM: 2:04.11
A backstroke specialist, Conic certified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in each again occasions, setting a brand new PB within the 200 again below the lights in 2:12.09 to put nineteenth general and are available inside hanging distance of a second swim. In brief course, she set a PB of 1:56.67 at Winter Juniors – West in 2022, after which dropped a scorching 1:55.96 within the ‘C’ remaining this previous December after lacking the mark within the prelims. She backed that swim up by going 1:56.20 on the Illinois Senior Championships in early March, the identical meet she set a 100 again lifetime better of 53.11 main off the Palatine Park District 400 medley relay. Conic is inside 2% of the NCAA cutline in each backstrokes, and remains to be working in the direction of creating a top-tier third occasion, although the 100 free and 100 fly are coming alongside. On the Illinois Senior Summer time Championships on the finish of July, she received the 200 and 400 IM in new greatest occasions (LC), so she could also be seeking to deal with the medley occasions shifting ahead.
17. Molly Workman – Nittany Lion Aquatic Membership – State Faculty Space Excessive Faculty – Port Matilda, PA
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 free: 49.31
- 50 free: 22.67
- 200 free: 1:51.15
- 100 fly: 55.01
Workman broke by on the PIAA 3A (Pennsylvania) state championships in February. After setting a private greatest of fifty.03 within the heats of the 100 free, she stepped up and delivered a 49.31 clocking within the remaining, successful the title over two others who additionally went sub-50 for the primary time. Workman had been below 23 just a few occasions coming into the meet within the 50 free, however dropped a 22.67 within the remaining to comb the sprints. Her apparent worth comes within the 50/100 free and the following relay boosts that include that, however she’s additionally progressing within the 200 free, 100 fly, and has a number of 25-point swims within the 50 again main off the 200 medley.
16. Paige Downey – Gold Medal Swim Membership – Gilbert, AZ
Greatest Occasions:
- 1650 free: 16:11.21
- 1000 free: 9:48.97
- 500 free: 4:49.65
- 200 free: 1:49.71
- 400 IM: 4:21.45
It’s tough to nail down how useful a pure distance freestyler is in school swimming as a result of lack of alternative they need to contribute. Within the Olympics, we now have an 800 and 1500 freestyle for girls, however in Division I of the NCAA, the 1000 is just contested in twin meets and different non-championship settings. Nonetheless, Downey is elite within the 1650, rating #2 within the class at 16:11.21. The time places her greater than three seconds below the NCAA cutline, making her considered one of eight swimmers within the class to have at the very least one reduce. It was her solely brief course mile of the 2023-24 season, however Downey made it depend at Winter Juniors – West in December, successful the title by almost eight seconds. Final summer season, she was third at U.S. Junior Nationals within the LC 1500 free (16:32.05), and in June, she set a PB of 8:42.56 within the 800 free on the Olympic Trials to put seventeenth—she and Kayla Han (twenty eighth) had been the youngest swimmers in all the subject. In brief course, Downey can also be on the come-up within the 500 free (4:49.65) and 200 free (1:49.71) with a creating 400 IM.
15. Clare Watson – Bellevue Swim Membership – Mercer Island Excessive Faculty – Mercer Island, WA
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 fly: 1:57.56
- 100 fly: 53.32
- 50 free: 22.93
- 100 free: 51.08
- 200 free: 1:49.86
- 400 IM: 4:19.99
Watson initiatives as a 100/200 butterflier in school with a number of choices for her third occasion. Notably, Watson has Canadian sporting citizenship however trains within the U.S. She raced at each the Canadian Olympic Trials and U.S. Summer time Nationals in 2024, which got here on the again of competing on the World Junior Championships for Canada within the fall of 2023. This maybe led to much less of a brief course focus this previous season, along with her greatest occasions within the 100 fly, 200 fly and 50 free all stemming from her freshman yr of highschool, although she is coming off setting a brand new PB within the lengthy course 100 fly (1:00.31). At 1:57.5, she’s third-fastest within the class within the 200 fly, and is up there along with her 53.3 100 fly and sub-23 50 free. At World Juniors, she was a finalist within the 200 fly (2:11.64 in prelims) and a semi-finalist within the 50 fly, and she or he’s additionally proven improvement within the backstroke occasions of late within the large pool, although the occasions have but to translate into yards.
14. Riley Anderson – West Hartford Aquatic Workforce – Manchester Excessive Faculty – Colchester, CT
Greatest Occasions:
- 50 free: 22.49
- 100 free: 49.12
- 100 fly: 54.68
- 100 again: 55.18
A well-rounded sprinter, Anderson was already below 23 seconds within the 50 free as a highschool freshman, and continued her development this previous season by getting her PB all the way down to 22.49, good for fifth within the class. After cracking 50 seconds for the primary time within the 100 free in December, she blasted a brand new better of 49.12 on the Windfall Sectionals in March, making her the third-fastest swimmer within the class. The multi-time CIAC (Connecticut) state champion additionally has pedigree in backstroke and butterfly, giving her choices for her third occasion within the collegiate postseason. Anderson’s enchancment curve continued into the summer season, setting 5 lengthy course bests on the ISCA Summer time Senior Blast in late July.
13. Eliza Wallace – Mecklenburg Swim Affiliation – Ardrey Kell Excessive Faculty – Charlotte, NC
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 breast: 59.67
- 200 breast: 2:15.82
- 50 free: 23.14
- 100 free: 50.30
- 200 free: 1:50.41
- 200 IM: 2:03.64
Wallace is really elite within the 100 breast. Since we began doing the Manner Too Early recruit ranks in 2020, the one swimmers quicker than Wallace’s 59.67 have been Alex Walsh and Kaitlyn Dobler (2020), Raya Mellott (2023), and Molly Sweeney (2024). Wallace’s PB places her below the NCAA cutline and inside a half-second of scoring, and confirmed some consistency by breaking 1:00 for the primary time in November (59.96) after which backing it up by successful the NCHSAA 4A state title in February in 59.67. Wallace {couples} her dash breaststroke skill with a strong freestyle, holding 23.1/50.3 greatest occasions and having cut up 49.8 on a relay. She’s nonetheless creating within the 200 breast, although it’s not raced in highschool competitors and thus doesn’t seem to have been a prime focus of late.
12. Caden Martin – Razorback Aquatic Membership Aquahawgs – Haas Corridor Academy – Fayetteville – Fayetteville, AR
Greatest Occasions:
- 50 free: 22.21
- 100 free: 49.22
Martin is a drop-dead sprinter. At this age, anybody sub-23 within the 50 free is on the trail to being aggressive within the NCAA, however Martin is a step above, having been 22.2 a number of occasions and having cracked 23 an unbelievable 11 occasions since November. Within the 100 free, Martin broke 50 seconds for the primary time in February and some weeks later received all the way down to 49.22, rating her 4th within the class (she #2 within the 50 free). If the Arkansas native continues to enhance in these two occasions, it stands to motive that she might transfer up these rankings given the elevated priority we give to relay worth. Nevertheless, with two seasons of highschool nonetheless to return, a number of the extra versatile swimmers have an edge on Martin—for now—with arguably extra room for enchancment. We’ll have to attend and see if she develops a 3rd occasion to enhance her sprinting prowess.
11. Emerson Callis – Quest Swimming – Monacan Excessive Faculty – Richmond, VA
Greatest Occasions:
- 400 IM: 4:12.81
- 200 IM: 1:59.55
- 200 fly: 1:58.40
- 200 free: 1:47.48
- 500 free: 4:48.26
- 200 breast: 2:13.08
- 100 fly: 53.59
- 100 again: 54.87
- 50 free: 23.31
- 100 free: 50.61
- 1650 free: 16:46.87
Callis can do all of it, from the 50 free to the 100 again to the 200 breast and naturally, the 400 IM. The Quest Swimming product closed out her 2023-24 brief course season with a bang, successful VHSL Class 4 state titles within the 500 free (4:48.62) and 200 IM (1:59.55) in mid-February after which following up with 9 private bests two weeks later on the VSI Senior Champs, together with her 4:12.81 within the 400 IM, 1:58.40 within the 200 fly and 53.59 within the 100 fly. Callis is notably considered one of simply 4 swimmers within the class with six occasions inside 3% of the NCAA cutline. Given how strong she is at every little thing, it’s too early to say the place her focuses shall be within the NCAA, however the medley occasions are on the prime of the record, with the 200 fly being a pure third choice (the 200 fly was additionally her solely occasion on the Olympic Trials). Her 1:47-mid 200 free, alongside having produced a 49-mid relay cut up, make her relay choice as properly.
10. Virginia Hinds – All Star Aquatics – Bethesda Chevy Chase Excessive Faculty – Chevy Chase, MD
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 again: 52.87
- 200 again: 1:55.95
- 200 free: 1:47.61
- 100 free: 49.78
- 50 free: 23.50
Hinds is considered one of solely two swimmers on this class with sub-53/sub-1:56 backstroke greatest occasions, and she or he backs that up with sturdy freestyle bests throughout the board. The reigning MPSSAA (Maryland) state champ within the 100 free and 100 again, Hinds’ PB within the 100 again, alongside along with her 24.8 within the 50 again, boosts her worth due to what she will be able to carry to a medley relay, and a sub-50 100 free and 1:47-mid 200 free make her an asset to the free relays as properly. Individually, it stays to be seen what Hinds’ #3 occasion shall be together with the backstrokes. To keep away from a scheduling battle, it could find yourself being the 50 free, although 200 free/100 again doubles aren’t unparalleled.
9. Roos Rottink – Memphis Thunder Aquatic Membership – Houston Excessive Faculty – Germantown, TN
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 again: 1:55.26
- 100 again: 53.21
- 100 fly: 53.96
- 200 fly: 2:00.12
- 50 free: 23.29
- 100 free: 50.13
- 200 free: 1:48.10
- 200 IM: 2:03.63
Rottink is a swimmer whose greatest occasions come within the 100 again, 200 again and 100 fly, but in addition has the flexibility to be a contributor to the free relays. The second-fastest 200 backstroker within the class, Rottink went 1:55.26 at Winter Juniors – East in December, making the ‘A’ remaining. At 53-low within the 100 again and 53-high within the 100 fly, she’s received the potential to be a future scorer in each races if she continues on her enchancment trajectory. At first look, her freestyle occasions may not leap off the web page, however 23.2, 50.1 and 1:48.1 are all very strong, and she or he’s higher than the numbers point out, having cut up 22.5 and 49.2 on relays on the TISCA State Championships in February.
8. Ella Antoniewski – Waukesha Categorical Swim Workforce – Waukesha Excessive Faculty – Waukesha, WI
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 free: 1:46.52
- 500 free: 4:44.60
- 1650 free: 16:33.81
- 100 free: 49.72
- 50 free: 23.10
- 100 again: 53.61
- 200 again: 1:57.86
- 100 fly: 54.74
- 200 fly: 2:00.53
- 200 IM: 2:01.71
Antoniewski is an all-around freestyler, with occasions inside 2% of the NCAA cutline within the 200, 500, and 1650. She’s second-fastest within the class within the 500 free at 4:44.60, and is third within the 200 free at 1:46.52, having set each PBs at Winter Juniors – West in December. The Waukesha Categorical Swim Workforce member has the uncommon skill to be aggressive within the sprints, backstroke and butterfly whereas additionally being a robust distance swimmer. She’s received the dash accolades (23.1/49.7) to be a relay contender for her future NCAA house, whereas 53.6/1:57.8 backstrokes and a 54.7 100 fly make these occasions all choices shifting ahead.
7. Avery Klamfoth – SwimMAC Carolina – Myers Park Excessive Faculty – Charlotte, NC
Greatest Occasions:
- 400 IM: 4:10.90
- 200 IM: 1:57.61
- 100 breast: 1:00.43
- 200 breast: 2:11.27
- 200 fly: 2:01.27
- 1650 free: 16:45.14
- 200 free: 1:51.43
- 100 free: 50.91
- 50 free: 23.73
Because the second-fastest 400 IMer within the class, it’s no shock that Klamfoth brings a flexible skillset to the desk. The SwimMAC Carolina product is inside two-tenths of the NCAA cutline within the 400 IM, having notched a private better of 4:10.90 in February. Klamfoth can also be inside hanging distance of the cutline within the 200 IM at 1:57.61, and is among the greatest breaststrokers within the class with 1:00.4/2:11.2 greatest occasions. Klamfoth’s important focus shall be on IM—she certified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in each medley occasions—but in addition initiatives to be aggressive within the NCAA within the 200 breast, assuming that’s her #3 occasion. She’s additionally proven some dash free potential.
6. Mena Boardman – Portland Aquatic Membership – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH) – Portland, OR
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 fly: 51.62
- 100 again: 52.93
- 50 free: 22.22
- 100 free: 49.37
Boardman ranks on this class’s prime three within the 100 fly, 100 again and 50 free, and she or he’s additionally proper up there within the 100 free. Evidently, she’s a pure sprinter, a specialty that reaps rewards in school swimming. She logged her greatest occasions within the 100 fly (51.62) and 50 free (22.22) in late February en path to successful NEPSAC state titles, with the 100 fly time making her considered one of two within the class below 52 seconds and placing her below the NCAA cutline (51.88). Boardman parlayed that brief course success by qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials in lengthy course just a few weeks later, clocking 59.37 within the 100 fly on the Speedo Sectionals in Federal Manner. After having seismic drops in her 4 main occasions as a sophomore, it is going to be fascinating to see how Boardman continues to progress as a highschool junior this season.
5. Kelsey Zhang – Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics – Saratoga Excessive Faculty – Saratoga, CA
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 fly: 1:53.51 (greatest at school)
- 100 fly: 52.08
- 200 IM: 1:57.26
- 200 free: 1:48.38
- 100 again: 54.10
- 100 breast: 1:01.85
- 500 free: 4:48.16
- 100 free: 50.46
- 50 free: 23.11
At this level in her younger profession, Zhang is quicker within the 200 fly than the top-ranked recruit within the class of 2025, Alex Shackell, was final yr. Shackell in fact is coming off making the Olympic remaining within the occasion, so you possibly can say Zhang is in good firm. The reasoning behind the comparability is as an example how sturdy Zhang is within the occasion relative to most swimmers popping out of their sophomore yr of highschool. She’s at 1:53.51, and the next-fastest on this class is…1:56-high. Zhang is greater than a second faster than the cut-off for the NCAA comfort remaining in 2024, and inside hanging distance of creating the ‘A’ remaining. She’s received three sturdy occasions with the 100 fly (52.08) and 200 IM (1:57.26) each simply shy of the NCAA cutline, and her versatility is on full show with aggressive bests within the 200 and 500 free and 100 breast.
4. Ava De Anda – Riverside Aquatics Affiliation – Riverside Poly-tech Excessive Faculty – Riverside, CA
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 free: 48.27
- 50 free: 22.44
- 200 free: 1:45.98
- 200 IM: 2:01.61
- 100 fly: 55.30
- 100 again: 56.66
De Anda is considered one of simply two swimmers below the 49-second threshold within the 100 free, essentially the most useful occasion in school swimming, and shall be flirting with the 48 barrier this season after ripping a 48.27 en path to successful the CIF state title in Could. This class solely has eight swimmers who’ve an NCAA reduce from 2024, and De Anda’s comes within the 100 free. The Riverside product received the 200 free with a PB on the similar meet, going 1:45.98 to make her additionally considered one of two sub-1:46 swimmers within the class. She owns a blistering greatest time of twenty-two.44 within the 50 free, and has cut up as quick as 22.06 with a flying begin—drop-dead velocity given she nonetheless has two seasons of highschool left.
3. Molly Sweeney – Carmel Swim Membership – Carmel Excessive Faculty – Carmel, IN
Greatest Occasions:
- 200 IM: 1:54.58 (greatest at school)
- 200 breast: 2:07.49 (greatest at school)
- 100 breast: 59.47 (greatest at school)
- 400 IM: 4:12.06
- 100 fly: 52.24
- 200 free: 1:47.09
- 100 free: 49.76
- 50 free: 23.00
- 100 again: 55.54
It’s uncommon to see a really elite breaststroker be equally pretty much as good (and even higher) within the 200 IM. The 200 IM is often the tack-on third occasion they swim to finish their particular person schedule—and possibly scratch when NCAAs roll round—however that isn’t the case for Sweeney. An integral piece of Carmel Excessive Faculty’s continued dominance within the IHSAA, Sweeney boasts NCAA scoring occasions within the 200 IM (1:54.58) and 200 breast (2:07.49), having set each PBs at Winter Juniors – East in December en path to successful each titles. She additionally set her elite greatest time within the 100 fly (52.24) there, and produced notable freestyle relay splits of twenty-two.57/49.39/1:46.55. Sweeney can also be the highest 100 breaststroker within the class at 59.47, set in successful the IHSAA title this previous February. As a scoring breaststroker who may contribute to the free relays, Sweeney’s NCAA worth can’t be overstated.
2. Kayla Han – La Mirada Armada – La Mirada, CA
Greatest Occasions:
- 400 IM: 4:06.20 (greatest at school)
- 500 free: 4:38.12 (greatest at school)
- 1000 free: 9:41.05 (greatest at school)
- 1650 free: 16:00.74 (greatest at school)
- 200 IM: 1:58.03
- 200 fly: 1:57.68
- 200 free: 1:47.00
- 100 fly: 54.16
- 200 breast: 2:14.97
Amongst this class, Han has an unparalleled mixture of high-end skill and flexibility. She’s been making historical past since she began swimming, together with turning into the youngest U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 2021 (on the age of 12) and setting quite a few NAG Data alongside the way in which, together with nonetheless proudly owning the 13-14 mark within the women’ 400 IM (4:06.95). After creating at La Mirada Armada, Han lately spent a yr coaching at Carmel Swim Membership, however lately returned to her roots after an up-and-down yr out east—which included inserting 4th on the Olympic Trials within the 400 free (4:08.21). Han’s return to California was rooted in that she wished to get again to the bottom coaching that developed her into an elite distance freestyler and 400 IMer, and that’s the place her strengths lie. Already quick sufficient to attain within the NCAA within the 500 free, 400 IM and 1650 free, these three races determine to make up her future NCAA postseason schedule, and her versatility throughout each 200 makes her extremely worth for any program in twin meets. She’s additionally a future member on the 800 free relay.
1. Charlotte Crush – Lakeside Swim Workforce – Sacred Coronary heart Academy – Louisville, KY
Greatest Occasions:
- 100 again: 49.53 (greatest at school)
- 200 again: 1:50.55 (greatest at school)
- 100 fly: 50.19 (greatest at school)
- 50 free: 21.88 (greatest at school)
- 100 free: 47.86 (greatest at school)
- 200 free: 1:45.33 (greatest at school)
- 200 IM: 1:56.44
- 200 fly: 1:57.67
The undisputed prime swimmer within the class, Crush is already quick sufficient to be an NCAA ‘A’ finalist in three occasions and rating in a fourth. The NAG file holder for 13-14 women in each backstrokes, Crush, at 15, broke the 15-16 NAG Document within the 100 again in December, almost cracking the 17-18 mark as well. Final season, solely Katharine Berkoff was quicker than Crush’ 100 again PB on the NCAA Championships, and Crush’s PBs additionally would’ve positioned third within the 100 fly, sixth within the 200 again and 14th within the 50 free. A superb comparability for Crush is Claire Curzan, along with her three greatest occasions being the 100 again, 200 again and 100 fly, but in addition being able to be top-of-the-line within the nation within the 50 and 100 free, making her an ace within the gap for a crew’s relays. Crush is an actual “franchise participant” in sporting phrases.
BONUS LOOKBACK:
Feeling nostalgic? Right here’s a glance again at our historic recruiting class rankings, plus our retrospectives of these courses after 4 NCAA seasons:
