UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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solobear said:

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Brinkleigh Hansen, 16 year old 2028 recruit, made the final in the 3KM event at the 2026 Open Water World Cup this weekend. I hope she chooses Cal.

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Would be fantastic if Brinkleigh Hansen was to join our Bears!
Speaking of loading up on sprint talent, a name to keep an eye on is in-state Gabi Brito (SoCal) who is co-ranked #1 in the *2028 Recruiting Class*, along with Mikayla Tan (East Bay) & Reina Liu (NC), according to swimcloud.

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Does Brito have a sister at USC? I believe there is a freshman this year by the name of Brito.

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Yes, Gabi Brito has an older sister Bella who placed 3rd in the 100 Breast with a 59.10 at this year's B1G Conference as a freshman, and 28th @ 2026 NCAAs for the Trojans. Bella was ranked #24 in the recruiting class of 2025 by swimcloud.

Chances are SC has an advantage in recruiting Gabi because of this family connection (just like we had perhaps with Rylee Erisman joining her brother Ryan here).

But I remain hopeful that the inspirational example from this year's National Championships of team bonding & spirit, of the Women's team's tight camaderie and support of each other, coupled with the Bears' overachievements @ NCAAs, their rapid upward trajectory which will put them in the conversation for the Top 3, stellar coaching, and naturally the academics at Cal, will all appeal to Gabi and mesh with her personal aspirations.

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Way Too Early Recruit Rankings: Girls' High School Class of 2028


TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2028

EVENT
SWIMMER
TIME

50 Free
Gabi Brito
21.66

100 Free
Gabi Brito
47.77

200 Free
Reina Liu
1:44.49

500 Free
Brinkleigh Hansen
4:38.51

1000 Free**
Brinkleigh Hansen
9:38.87

1650 Free
Zayda Miehl
16:08.79

100 Back
Reina Liu
51.00

200 Back
Daniela Linares Danzos
1:51.87

100 Breast
Mikayla Tan
59.04

200 Breast
Mikayla Tan
2:06.74

100 Fly
Gabi Brito
50.74

200 Fly
Ellie Clarke
1:53.62

200 IM
Gabi Brito
1:55.76

400 IM
Ellie Clarke
4:06.77


TOP 10 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2028

1. Gabi Brito - Beach Cities Alpha - Santa Monica High School - Santa Monica, CA
2. Reina Liu - TAC Titans - Raleigh Charter High School - Cary, NC
3. Mikayla Tan - San Ramon Valley Aquatics - San Ramon, CA *
4. Ellie Clarke - Carmel Swim Club - Carmel High School - Carmel, IN
5. Karina Plaza - Mecklenburg Swim Association - Myers Park High School - Charlotte, NC
6. Daniela Linares Danzos - Pleasanton Seahawks - San Ramon Valley High School - Danville, CA *
7. Shelby Hutchinson - South Jersey Aquatic Club - Haddon Township High School - Haddon Township, NJ
8. Brinkleigh Hansen - Saint Petersburg Aquatics - Saint Petersburg High School - Saint Petersburg, FL
9. Avery Daigle - Franco's Fins - Mandeville High School - Mandeville, LA
10. Emma Hussein - Canyon Aquatic Club - West Ranch High School - Stevenson Ranch, CA

* = Bay Area

Way Too Early Recruit Rankings: Boys' High School Class of 2028

TOP 20 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2027

1. Kai Joyner - Rochester Swim Club - Mayo High School - Rochester, MN
2. David Sammons - SwimMAC Carolina - Charlotte Latin High School - Charlotte, NC
3. Syunta Lee - West Coast Aquatics (WA) - Jackson High School - Mill Creek (WA)
4. Charlie Cancelmo - Seattle Metropolitan Aquatics Club - Lakeside High School - Seattle, WA
5. Wilson York - Lakeside Swim Team - Saint Xavier High School - Louisville, KY
6. Justin Shi - Eagle Swim Team- McDonagh School - Ellicott City, MD
7. Noah Stotler - Bolles School Sharks - Clay High School - Middleburg, FL
8. Peter Kovacs - Indiana Swim Club - Bloomington South High School - Bloomington, IN
9. Grant Bellin - King Aquatics Club - Curtis High School - University Place, WA
10. Jack Maddan - First Colony Swim Team - Strake Jesuit College Prep - Sugar Land, TX
11. Trevyn Krauss - University of Denver Hilltoppers - Regis Jesuit High School - Denver, CO
12. Isaiah Silver - Livermore Aqua Cowboys Club - Granada High School - Livermore, CA
13. Cullen Kahl - Magnolia Aquatic Club - Homeschooled - Sprint, TX
14. Eli Sweet - SwimMAC Carolina - Gaston Christian School - Belmont, NC
15. Owen Miklos - Nova of Virginia Aquatics - Deep Run High School - Richmond, VA
16. Parker Van Olst - New Wave Swim Team - Enloe High School - Raleigh, NC
17. Max Garbacz - Madison Aquatic Club - Madison West High School - Madison, WI
18. Josiah Collins - Carmel Swim Club - Homestead High School - Carmel, IN
19. Austin Chu - CSP Tideriders - Clayton High School - Saint Louis, MO
20. David Davis - Marlins of Raleigh- Ravenscroft School - Raleigh, NC

Thanks for getting this thread started!

Going through the rosters (and factoring in signees/verbals), some areas of need to be addressed for the team…
Women: both fly distances, both back distances, mid-distance free/IM. Another sprinter/two distance breaststroker wouldn't hurt
Men: both fly distances, both breast distances and multiple distance free/longer IM. Oddly enough I think all of our distance group is from the '25 class (minus incoming '27 recruit Colin Jacobs)

Additionally, I trust our coaches are doing due diligence in scouting recruits to find the best fit for the team. Both associate coaches are making their way around the top club teams across the country to observe/evaluate club practices as of about a month ago, many teams of which are home to these top 20 recruits.

Official visits for the Class of 2028 have kicked off this weekend.

#8 Brinkleigh Hansen and #20 Madelyn Petty are at Ohio State, while #4 Ellie Clarke made the trip to IU alongside #13 Maggie Dickinson. Dickinson was also at Northwestern

Big recruiting weekend for the men:

2028's #2 David Sammons, #3 Syunta Lee, #4 Charlie Cancelmo, and #5 Wilson York are on campus this weekend, decked out in the blue and gold at last night's game vs UCLA.

2027 verbals Khanh Seaton and Davis Jackson are also in Berkeley this weekend

swimmer19 said:

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Official visits for the Class of 2028 have kicked off this weekend.

#8 Brinkleigh Hansen and #20 Madelyn Petty are at Ohio State, while #4 Ellie Clarke made the trip to IU alongside #13 Maggie Dickinson. Dickinson was also at Northwestern

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Cheers swimmer19 for the heads up on recruiting for the Class of 2028 taking off!

Several highly ranked female recruits were seen on campus over this weekend:

#3. Mikayla Tan - San Ramon Valley Aquatics - San Ramon, CA
#6. Daniela Linares Danzos - Pleasanton Seahawks - San Ramon Valley High School - Danville, CA
#10. Emma Hussein - Canyon Aquatic Club - West Ranch High School - Stevenson Ranch, CA
#13. Grace Koenig-Song - NASA Wildcat Aquatics - Chicago, IL
#Honorable mention. Katrin Otaegi - San Ramon Valley Aquatics - Dublin, CA
#International. Noelle Benkler (German National Team)

There were also 2 other visitors who I was unable to identify...

swimmer19 said:

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Big recruiting weekend for the men:

2028's #2 David Sammons, #3 Syunta Lee, #4 Charlie Cancelmo, and #5 Wilson York are on campus this weekend, decked out in the blue and gold at last night's game vs UCLA.

2027 verbals Khanh Seaton and Davis Jackson are also in Berkeley this weekend

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#9 Grant Bellin and #12 Isaiah Silver are also in Berkeley. Silver's dad, Alex is the head coach of the Livermore AquaCowboys club and also swam at Cal.

I think we're in good shape with a few of these guys, based on what I've seen on social media and the word going around the swim community