We've got two true lights-out sprinters at the top of a class that's ultimately built on distance swimmers with scary-good improvement curves.

WAY TOO EARLY NCAA RECRUIT RANKS: GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2021

THIS CLASS

• Not as good as last year's but that's hardly a fair comparison
• A few outstanding sprinters at the top
• Much more thin in backstroke than last year
• A good class for distance free particularly fast-rising talents
• Deep breaststroke class but who will be the top one?

This class isn't as dominant as last year's group but that's to-be-expected, considering the class of 2020 is easily the best recruiting class we've seen since the high school crew of 2014, and might even be the best we've ever ranked. This 2021 group does offer some great value, though, as its strengths complement the 2020 class very well.

Where the 2020 class is built on fly/back types who can also sprint in free, the 2021 class has two elite true sprint recruits at the top: Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske. Both are already sub-22 in the 50 free, and even considering we ranked most of these classes as juniors, we haven't seen a 21-second sprint prospect out of high school (through their junior year) since Abbey Weitzeil in the class of 2015. Huske is probably best in the 100 fly and Walsh a more true 50/100 free sprinter, but both are excellent through the relay distance freestyles and strokes.
On the other hand, it seems like most of the great backstrokers in this age bracket congregated together in the class of 2020. Beyond Walsh (a 51.5 backstroker) the backstrokes are relatively thin in this class, especially for true two-distance backstrokers. That's actually true of most strokes there aren't a lot of standouts in both the 100 and 200, but a lot of great times in one or the other, which suggests some ability to bring around either the speed or the endurance over the remaining two years of high school.

The 2020 class was also thin in distance free, and this class is the opposite. We've got two distance types in our top 5, and three more inside the top 20. A lot of the top distance talents are either relatively new to the mile, or have dropped significant time in the past year, so keep an eye on this class to potentially become historically good in the distances.

There's no clarity in breaststroke it's a deep class without one true standout. The class in general is better at the 100 breast than the 200, but there are still no sub-minute nor sub-2:10 breaststrokers as of yet. The door is certainly open for one of the current top talents to break out and take charge of the top breaststroker mantle, and the resulting bump in recruiting value.

TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2021
50 Free | #1 Gretchen Walsh | 21.82
100 Free | #1 Gretchen Walsh | 47.49
200 Free | #1 Gretchen Walsh | 1:44.91
500 Free | #4 Paige McKenna | 4:41.21
1000 Free** | #4 Paige McKenna | 9:35.99
1650 Free | #4 Paige McKenna | 15:48.07
100 Back | #1 Gretchen Walsh | 51.57
200 Back | #6 Riley Tiltmann | 1:54.18
100 Breast | #11 Asia Minnes | 1:00.61
200 Breast | #8 Brooke Zettel | 2:12.00
100 Fly | #2 Torri Huske | 51.29
200 Fly | #1 Grace Sheble | 1:54.18
200 IM | #3 Grace Sheble | 1:57.00
400 IM | #3 Grace Sheble | 4:06.35

TOP 20 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2021
1. Gretchen Walsh: Nashville Aquatic Club - Harpeth Hall High School - Nashville, TN
Best Times: 50 free 21.82, 100 free 47.49, 200 free 1:44.91, 100 back 51.57, 100 fly 52.23, 200 IM 1:58.15
It's the second straight year we've got a Walsh sister in our top two. Gretchen is the top value in this class, in part because she already has two times that would have made NCAA A finals this past year, and in part because of how valuable those two events the 50 and 100 free are in the NCAA format. Between her class-best 100 back and 200 free, Walsh is a three-event, four-relay powerhouse coming in the door, and should be a massive, massive recruiting pull for whichever program can sign her.

2. Torri Huske: Arlington Aquatic Club - Yorktown High School - Arlington, VA
Best Times: 100 fly 51.29, 50 free 21.95, 200 fly 1:56.18, 100 free 48.70, 200 free 1:46.66, 200 IM 1:58.13
Huske is another huge sprint talent in this class. She projects more as a two-distance flyer who could also cross over into freestyle perhaps a Kelsi Dahlia type. She's got the best 100 fly in the class by more than a full second, and her 50 free is only a tenth behind Walsh. As we noted above, 21-second freestylers are exceedingly rare out of high school, much less this early in their high school careers. Huske is also improving very fast her freestyles have dropped from 22.3/50.3/1:49.1 over the past year, and her 200 fly from 2:01.1.

3. Grace Sheble: NOVA of Virginia - James River High School - North Chesterfield, VA
Best Times: 200 fly 1:54.84, 400 IM 4:06.35, 200 IM 1:57.00, 200 free 1:46.88, 100 free 50.61, 500 free 4:45.26, 200 breast 2:15.32, 100 breast 1:01.75
Where Walsh and Huske handle the sprintier events, Sheble is the class's premiere mid-distance stroker and IMer. She's got times that would've already scored at NCAAs in the 400 IM and 200 fly, and is only about a second off of A final level in the IM. Sheble has remarkable versatility she should be an 800 free relay threat down the road, and could even fill in on medley relays as a breaststroker for a team really in a pinch. She's got a very natural NCAA event combo: 200/400 IM and 200 fly, and she's the best in her class in all three events.

4. Paige McKenna: Nation's Capital Swim Club - Easton, PA
Best Times: 1650 free 15:48.07, 1000 free 9:35.99, 500 free 4:41.21, 200 free 1:47.36
The top four in our rankings cover the top times in the class in 11 of 14 events. The three distance free events come courtesy of McKenna, a rare sub-16:00 miler out of high school. We haven't seen a junior go this fast in distance since Erica Sullivan in the class of 2018, and the sophomore McKenna is only seven tenths behind what Sullivan went when we ranked her junior class. She's got the class's best mile, 1000 and 500 frees, including a time in the mile that would've been 5th at NCAAs this year. She's about two seconds out of scoring range in the 500 free, and even has the range to contribute, eventually, on an 800 free relay. She's another very fast riser, dropping 48 seconds in her mile, 14 in her 500 and almost three in her 200 free over the past calendar year.

5. Ashley Strouse: Scottsdale Aquatic Club - Chaparral High School - Cave Creek, AZ
Best Times: 1650 free 16:01.20, 1000 free 9:40.58, 500 free 4:41.41, 200 free 1:45.44, 100 free 49.24, 50 free 23.32, 100 fly 54.89
49.2 to 16:01 that's some otherworldly range. Strouse could easily develop as a 100/200/500 type in the mid-distances, or specialize as a miler/500 freestyler who can come down to 800 and even 400 free relays. Strouse is a bit behind the top four in this class after putting up only moderate drops in her sophomore year, but has the event range to be a monster in the NCAA with even small improvements across the board the next two years. It's fair to say we haven't seen a true distance swimmer who can sprint this well since the great Katie Ledecky in the Class of 2015.

6. Reilly Tiltmann: Elmbrook Swim Club - Brookfield East High School - Brookfield, WI
Best Times: 200 back 1:54.18, 100 back 52.93, 100 fly 53.55, 100 free 49.54
The best true two-distance backstroker in the class, Tiltmann comes in within about a second of NCAA scoring level in both back events. She's also got a great 100 fly for event coverage, and has proven she can handle a 100 fly/100 back double she swam her lifetime-bests in both of those events on the same day of NCSA Juniors this spring. She's also on a massive improvement curve. At this time last year, Tiltmann was 55/2:03 in backstroke and 55 in fly. A 9-second drop in the 200 back has to bode well for a swimmer who is still relatively new to that event.

7. Annabel Crush: Lakeside Swim Team - Sacred Heart Academy - Louisville, KY
Best Times: 100 back 52.31, 200 back 1:55.50, 50 free 22.71, 100 free 48.97, 200 free 1:47.55, 200 IM 1:58.89, 400 IM 4:19.73, 100 fly 54.21
A great name that will give sportswriters everywhere so many headline possibilities. Crush has a wide event range and a good improvement curve pretty much exactly what you're looking for in a sophomore prospect. Her backstrokes are probably her calling card at this point (her 100 back is four tenths out of NCAA scoring range), but her freestyles are improving faster. Crush was 23.4/50.1/1:49.3 at this point last year. She's also got good IM speed and a nice butterfly, and no matter which way she develops event-wise, she'll be an NCAA factor early in her career.

8. Brooke Zettel: TAC Titans - Apex Friendship High School - Holly Springs, NC
Best Times: 200 breast 2:12.00, 100 breast 1:01.89, 400 IM 4:12.39, 200 IM 1:57.93, 200 free 1:47.73, 200 fly 1:58.20, 100 fly 54.81, 200 back 1:57.43, 100 back 54.40
The top 200 breaststroker in the class, Zettel maybe projects even better as an IMer. She definitely fits better in the 200/400 distances, but isn't in any way bereft of speed, with 54s in fly and back and a 1:01 breaststroke. Zettel gets a real versatility bump, with lots of avenues to NCAA contribution. She needs to develop one or two of these events into NCAA scoring range to push the three recruits ahead of her, and her events don't make it easy. (It took 59.5/2:08 to score in breaststroke last year and 1:56/4:08 in IM).

9. Letitia Sim: TNT Swimming - Spanish Fort High School - Montrose, AL
Best Times: 100 breast 1:00.65, 200 breast 2:13.34, 200 IM 2:01.34, 100 fly 54.50
Sim is a few hundredths out from being the best 100 breaststroker in the class, and she cracks the top 10 here despite having quite a ways to go to reach NCAA scoring levels. Why? Her improvement curve is off the charts. At this time last year, Sim was 1:03/2:18 in breaststroke. A year before that, she was 1:08/2:29. It's not a stellar class of breaststrokers yet, but Sim looks primed to take over as the class's top option in recruiting, especially if she can smash through a minute and 2:10 over the next year.

10. Ellie Waldrep: Baylor Swim Club Baylor School Chattanooga, TN
Best Times: 100 back 52.42, 200 back 1:56.76, 100 fly 53.87
Waldrep is one of the better fly/back types in this class, taking a bit after the recruiting class before her. Her 52.4 backstroke is right in the mix with Tiltmann and Crush, even if she doesn't yet have the 200 range to stick with them overall. Waldrep carries her speed out of the wall on breakouts very well, which makes her a tailor-made short course yards talent. She's also on a nice track of time drops, including from 1:59.1 to 1:56.7 in the 200 back and 53.5 to 52.4 in the backstrokes over the past year. Maybe more impressive is a 56.1-to-53.8 drop in butterfly that suggests Waldrep is starting to figure out how to use her walls and underwaters outside of backstroke.

11. Asia Minnes: Virginia Gators - Roanoke, VA
Best Times: 100 breast 1:00.61, 200 breast 2:16.70, 200 IM 1:58.65, 100 back 53.87, 100 free 49.97
Minnes is a Canadian national, but has done most of her age group swimming in the U.S., between the Virginia Gators and Swim Neptune in Arizona. She's the best 100 breaststroker in this class, with a shot to be under a minute in short order. Minnes has a lot of work to do in the 200 breast, but a good 200 IM (1:58.6) suggests she's got the endurance to excel there. She's made some massive time drops in short course, but that feels more a product of a focus on long course than overall improvements in her speed. Sprint freestyles are a nice bonus for Minnes, who could pull overtime with some free relay legs at the college level with a few years of improvements.

12. Ella Bathurst: Greater Tampa Swimming Association - H.B. Plant High School - Tampa, FL
Best Times: 200 free 1:46.82, 100 back 53.72, 100 free 49.81, 200 back 1:58.09, 100 breast 1:01.75, 200 breast 2:14.67, 200 IM 1:59.76
I have absolutely no idea where Bathurst projects as a college swimmer. But she catches our eye in these ranks through a combination of versatility and rapid improvement that would suggest a high ceiling, or at least plenty of scoring opportunities in the NCAA format. Right now, the 1:46.8 200 free is most eye-catching, and that's dropped from 1:48.7 over the past year. Bathurst has also gone from 55.8/2:03.7 to 53.7/1:58.0 in backstroke and 2:07 to 1:59 in IM. Maybe 200 IM/200 free/200 back would be a good NCAA combo for a 200-yard specialist? She's also just fine swimming crowded event lineups she logged 16 swims at NCSA Juniors this spring across four days.

13. Amy Tang: Pacific Dragons Swim Team - Lakeside High School - Bellevue, WA
Best Times: 100 back 52.75, 200 back 1:57.82, 200 free 1:46.88, 100 free 49.04, 50 free 22.90, 100 fly 54.18
Tang has a 100 back that would challenge a lot of the top 10 recruits, and she's got outstanding range into the relay-distance freestyles. That makes her a prime relay recruit in any of the five relay races. The only slightly worrisome piece is that Tang went mostly backwards as a sophomore her season-bests were 53.5/1:59.5 in back and 23.0/49.5 in free. She also put up that huge 1:46.8 in the 200 free in December of 2017, but hasn't logged a swim in that event since March of 2018. At this age, it's not worth putting too much stock into peaks and valleys, as there's still a lot of time to overcome an off season, but the down year is why Tang is ranked 13th and not in the top 10. She's still an outstanding prospect with massive relay value, and she's good in long course, too, going 55.9 in the 100 free in-season this April.

14. Mackenzie McConagha: Nation's Capital Swim Club - Briar Woods High School - Broadlands, VA
Best Times: 100 back 53.73, 200 back 1:56.65, 100 fly 53.50, 200 fly 1:58.86, 200 IM 2:02.44
Another good fly/back type with good range. McConagha hit her lifetime-best 100 fly and 100 back times in a high school state meet double with a 200 free relay in between, showing good toughness. Her backstroke has shown solid improvements from 54.4/1:59.0 a year ago. She doesn't project as a free relay type yet, but could have good medley relay value if her 100 fly and 100 back keep improving. She's also had a good spring in long course, moving to 1:01 in 100-meter fly.

15. Olivia McMurray: Swim Florida - Fort Myers High School - Fort Myers, FL
Best Times: 1650 free 16:12.25, 1000 free 9:38.72, 500 free 4:44.60, 200 free 1:47.35, 100 free 50.81, 200 fly 1:58.51, 100 fly 54.60, 400 IM 4:14.59, 200 IM 1:59.99
This is a really good class of distance swimmers, and McMurray just adds to that depth. In fact, McMurray is roughly comparable to the best distance swimmer in the class of 2020 when we ranked them as sophomores. She's not too far out of scoring in the mile, and is on a rocket ship of a trajectory there. A year ago, McMurray was 16:47 in the mile and 4:46 in the 500 she's cut more than 30 seconds in the mile, 13 in the 1000 and two in the 500 in a year. McMurray also has nice range down to the 200 free, and adds some intriguing times in the 200 fly and 400 IM for a program that wants to complement her free speed with some endurance training in other strokes.

16. Mia Kragh: Rancho San Dieguito - Torrey Pines High School - San Diego, CA
Best Times: 100 fly 53.32, 200 free 1:48.89, 100 free 50.08, 50 free 23.11
Kragh makes this list after a massive sophomore year of time drops. Most impressive is her cut from 57.86 to 53.32 in the 100 fly. Kragh only broke a minute for the first time in early 2017, and has gone from there to one of the best flyers in this class in just over two years. Kragh doesn't have a lot of supporting events yet. But we expect that to change. She's dropped from 1:54 to 1:48 in the 200 free over the past year, and from 51.9/23.9 to 50.0/23.1 in the sprint frees. Kragh just made most of her time drops in March, and has California's high school postseason yet to come later this month.

17. Micayla Cronk: Blue Dolphins - Flagler Palm Coast High School - Port Orange, FL
Best Times: 200 free 1:46.42, 100 free 49.43, 50 free 23.16
Cronk is another relay-type talent who jumps onto the end of our list with an intriguing time and time drop or two. She went from 1:49.40 to 1:46.42 in the 200 free since last spring, finally bringing that swim more in line with her 49-speed in the 100 free. Her 50 still doesn't seem quite on par, but there's time for that to come around. Cronk is also 55 in the 100 back, with a chance to be a pretty good two-stroke sprinter.

18. Rachel Stege: Fox Valley Swim Team - Neuqua Valley High School - Naperville, IL
Best Times: 1650 free 16:21.50, 1000 free 9:43.09, 500 free 4:43.24, 200 free 1:47.62, 100 free 50.22
Yet another phenom of a miler rising fast. Prior to 2019, Stege had never swum a 1650 free. She went 17:08 in her first attempt (January 2019) and has cut it to 16:21 in the four months since then. Over the last year, she's cut 43 seconds from her 1000 (from a 10:26), 16 from her 500 free (from a 4:59) and 6 from her 200 free (from a 1:53). She's got nice range down into the 100/200 free for future relay value, too.

19. Kate Morris: NW Dupage YMCA - Glenbard West High School - Glen Ellyn, IL
Best Times: 200 free 1:46.75, 100 free 49.83, 50 free 22.81, 100 fly 54.68
Morris is a great value through the relay-distance freestyles, and like Cronk and Bathurst, powers her way onto the list with a big 200 free drop. For Morris, it's from 1:48.1 to 1:46.7, which puts her among the better in the class. Morris had a moderate drop of a tenth in the 50 free and pretty much matched her 100 free time during her sophomore year.

20. Mariah Denigan: Northern Kentucky Clippers Swimming - Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning - Erlanger, KY
Best Times: 400 IM 4:12.09, 1650 free 16:26.45, 1000 free 9:46.30, 500 free 4:44.25, 200 free 1:48.66, 200 IM 2:01.63
Every year, there's a swimmer in the mix who gets ranked way below what their name recognition should call for. Usually we see a lot of disagreement with their rank, and usually we can tell exactly who it's going to be before we publish our ranks. This time around, it's going to be Denigan, who had an awesome long course summer and actually made the U.S. senior travel team for Pan American Games. It's hard to tell right now if Denigan, like many of the other "too-low!" swimmers over the years, is a swimmer whose talent doesn't adequately transfer to the NCAA's sprint-based, short course format, or if Denigan has just put her focus mainly on long course over the past few years. There's no doubt that her 4:40 long course 400 IM time is one of the top few swims of this entire class, but her short course equivalent (put up in November) is still almost four seconds away from NCAA scoring. She's 16:19, 8:28 and 4:12 in long course freestyle, but the corresponding yards events are still behind plenty of others in this class. For now, Denigan is an extremely high-ceiling swimmer, but it remains to be seen if she'll make the leap in short course, or if she'll remain a much better "swimmer" than an "NCAA recruit."

ONES TO WATCH
We're throwing in one more short list a handful of swimmers who piqued our interest. They didn't yet have the full complement of times to make our top 20, but seemed to have enough intrigue that we've earmarked them as names to keep an eye on over the next year, where they could develop into top threats for one reason or another.

• Samantha Tadder (Tide Swimming / First Colonial High School / Virginia Beach, VA) Oh, another fast-dropping miler? How many of these can we fit into our top 20? Tadder is 16:35/9:41/4:46/1:48 still firmly behind the Steges and McMurrays of the world, but she's also dropped from 17:24/9:58/4:55/1:50 over the past year. She's also 4:11 in the 400 IM. Great value here for some distance-oriented program.
• Summer Smith (Bluefish Swim Club / Agawam, MA) A little bit better than Tadder in the mile (16:21), but not as good in the 200 or 500. Smith projects better as a mile/400 IM combo, as she's 4:13.6 in the latter. Has also dropped tons of time in the last year, including from 4:22 in the 400 IM and 17:08 in the mile.
• Meghan Lynch (Greenwich YWCA Dolphins / Greenwich High School / Greenwich, CT) an age group standout in the breaststrokes, Lynch has one of the class's best 200 breaststrokes (2:12.29) and also a good 4:12.0 400 IM. She doesn't have enough breaststroke speed (she's 1:02 in the 100) to crack the list yet, but could get there by improving her 1:59.0 200 IM.
• Annika McEnroe (Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club / Spartanburg High School / Spartanburg, SC) Another distance breaststroker (2:12.43) and IMer (4:12.94) who also has pretty good fly times (1:58.2/53.9). Those don't all fit together great in an NCAA lineup, but the versatility has to be intriguing to college coaches.

Brill stuff, bearz012, appreciate all your diligent research & thoughtful insights!

Every significant NCAA swim programme's naturally all over the top recruit in this class (leading sprint free & back worthy of NCAA A finals, plus a quick sprint fly - what's not to like?! :p). #1 Gretchen Walsh (#1 Nat, #1 TN) will hopefully be exploring all her options by taking her 5 official visits, rather than defaulting to the Hoos, as GW does appear to be competitive with her high profile sibling Alex (2020 verbal to UVa), with whom she's close.

As another board member has enthused lol, GW is the "Golden Ticket" and worthy of a full scholly & more, but realistically the competition for her commitment will be massive (understatement much?! ). Cal is definitely on GW's short list and she projects to be a brill academic & team fit here on top of all her athletic prowess...will have to see how it will all play out, hopefully in favour of Bears!

Like bearz012, I was massively impressed by #13 Amy Tang (#14 Nat, #1 WA)'s heroics @ 2019 World Jr Champs, and reckon she'd fit right in there with Teri's classic mould of a key sprint relay piece with versatile range. Great back talent there with sprint to mid-sprint free skills - may not have progressed much in SCY recently, but AT looks to parlay her notable long course drops into tangible results in the little pool.

In line with Bears' projected needs in sprint free/back/fly, would reckon it'd be strongly in our interests to woo the likes of McKenna Stone (#28 Nat, IL #2) - sprint free/fly ... #10 Ellie Waldrep (#38 Nat, TN #2) - back/fly. Neither are currently in NCAA scoring territory, but both show quite a bit of developmental promise. Fast rising #7 Annabel Crush (#17 Nat, KY #2) has a lot of backstroke promise with some free potential, though not sure if she has an interest in Cal?

Another talent to watch - Abby Kapeller (#43 Nat, #1 MN) - sprint to mid free, sprint back/fly, who had made her mark with a remarkable relay free split earlier this year - 21.84 anchor on the 2019 NCSA Jr 200 FR champions Aquajets relay squad! (2020 Cal commit Isabelle Stadden had led off their relay in 22.71)

Wouldn't completely overlook #2 Torri Huske (#2 Nat, #1 VA) either :p - TH could bolster our relays in a big way after our Bears' relays likely taking a massive hit in the sprint free & fly areas following Dubs' & Madds' graduations 2 classes earlier (well, unless 2019 froskis such as Ayla, Eloise & Emma develop way ahead of schedule?). Huske however could end up in the Furdette or Hoos camp going by some speculation, as with mid-distance freestyler #5 Ashley Strouse (#7 Nat, #1 AZ).

Not really up to speed with this class at this point TBH, but when it comes to the slightly "lower profile" prospects, #16 Mia Kragh (#44 Nat, #1 CA) should be our #1 in-state target. Primarily a sprint flyer, but has also shown a wicked progression curve in her mid-sprint free as of late. With further progress in those areas to round out her event range, could contribute to the team early.

Looking further afield (poaching from the East ), might be a good thing to balance out the class with more breast & distance-oriented prospects, do really like Ellie Andrews (#12 Nat, #1 OH) - promising breaststroke specialist on the National Junior Team who could become a worthy successor to Ema.

Then there's HM Annika McEnroe (#34 Nat, SC #1) - distance breast/IM, some fly ... Abby McCulloh (#26 Nat, GA #1) - mid to distance free ... also high-profile #4 Paige McKenna (#11 Nat, PA #1) - distance free, but Paige could be destined elsewhere?

bearz012 said:

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Many of the top programs have already hosted their 2021 recruits

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Hmm, sightings @ Charlottesville this weekend of #1 Gretchen Walsh, #2 Torri Huske, #3 Grace Sheble, #4 Paige McKenna, #5 Ashley Strouse, #7 Annabel Crush, #15 Olivia McMurray, #20 Mariah Denigan are already trickling in...


#2 Torri Huske, #7 Annabel Crush, #15 Olivia McMurray, #4 Paige McKenna, #3 Grace Sheble, #5 Ashley Strouse, #1 Gretchen Walsh, #20 Mariah Denigan

Massively impressive group of the cream of the crop to be sure - but bleeding heck, WTH is Todd DeSorbo going to find the schollies for all these high-end prospects after his record haul for 2019 & 2020??!!

In stark contrast, I have the feeling from past recruiting trips that Teri's style is less flashy, i.e. she will tend to send out feelers to promising prospects who project to be a good match for the team & school even if they are (relatively) lower profile in terms of their swimming - building on good team spirit & fit rather than just going after all the top ranked athletic recruits (now if both those criteria line up, all the better !)...

However, keeping my fingers crossed that Teri & Dani will buck tradition in this instance to remain competitive with some of these "rising threat" schools who are aggressively leveraging the early recruiting now permitted by the NCAA rule changes...

• UPDATES =>

Hope Teri has plans to host some heavy hitting 2021 recruits who are good fits with the team & school, alongside our 2020 Baby Bears, during this season's main recruiting weekend - possibly 27 Sept @ the ASU game? After all, our FB team's actually 4-0 to date, wot?! Instead of scheduling official trips from 2021 visitors in the early spring of 2020 in keeping with past practice. Another potential window would be the Homecoming weekend on 19 Oct when alumni and several past championship teams will be celebrated.

Note that the #1 recruit of the class of 2021, Gretchen Walsh, has already visited LSJU (unofficial, after Nationals...along with a group of other top flight prospects), as well as Texas & Virginia at this early stage of the game...

Official recruiting weekends and/or individual trips have already been held by several Division I programmes: NCSU, IU, AU, Duke, UF...to name but a few.

On top of that, UVa & UT have each hosted large groups of ranking visitors on 2 separate occasions within the past 3 weeks.

Well, an international recruit did visit Cal at the tail end of her whirlwind tour of several top end American unis (UVa, NCSU, UM?, Cal), hanging out with our Golden Bears prior to their trip down to SLO for Queen of the Pool... Although she probably falls in the 2020 recruiting class.

Anyway, do look very much forward to bearz012's pending post of "Which 2021 Recruits are Visiting Which Schools?" tracker...

Some recent Texas visits....

Weekend One:

Kyanh Truong (#97), Greer Pattison (#68), HM Annika McEnroe, #1 Gretchen Walsh, Skyler Smith (#126), #15 Olivia McMurray, HM Samantha Tadder, Serena Gould (#312)

Weekend Two:


Back: Ellie Andrews (#12), #5 Ashley Strouse, Allison Bernier (#127)
Front: Kate McCarville (#30), Morgan Brophy (#55), #3 Grace Sheble

Other recruiting trips include Auburn, and Stanford from a while back:


Back: #17 Micayla Cronk, Anna Auld (#80), Katie Rauch (#66), #10 Ellie Waldrep
Front: Rebekah Hamilton (#58), Abby McCulloh (#26), Elizabeth Sowards (#61)


McKenna Stone (#28), #13 Amy Tang, #8 Brooke Zettel, #5 Ashley Strouse, #1 Gretchen Walsh, #15 Olivia McMurray, Abby McCulloh (#26), #7 Annabel Crush


Back: Caroline Sheble (#45), Georgia Bates (#393), Elise Bauer (2020 - commit)
Front: #18 Rachel Stege, #8 Brooke Zettel, Mary Kate Kelley (#151)

Looks like #1 Gretchen Walsh, #2 Torri Huske, #5 Ashley Strouse, and HM Meghan Lynch visited LSJU today with the 2020 commits......

https://instagr.am/p/B3AJahjHwwV

Regan Smith, #5 Ashley Strouse, #1 Gretchen Walsh, #2 Torri Huske

A slew of top recruits in Raleigh as well...


Back: #7 Annabel Crush, #8 Brooke Zettel, #4 Paige McKenna, #18 Rachel Stege, #12 Ella Bathurst
Front: Rebekah Hamilton (#58), #3 Grace Sheble, Ellie Andrews (#12), #10 Ellie Waldrep, Sara Stotler (#53)

More visitors in Ann Arbor...

Back: McKenna Stone (#28), #15 Olivia McMurray, Elsa Fretz (#33), #16 Mia Kragh
Front: Gigi Sasseville (#24), Greta Fantz (2020)


Jess Geriane (#89), Greta Gidley (#113), Natalie Bercut (#74), Katie McClintock (#82), #4 Paige McKenna, Megan Hartlieb (#152)

Some early verbals already....

Micayla Cronk: Born into a family that bleeds orange and blue, my dream has always been to become a Florida Gator. I can now say, that dream has come true. After nine years of swimming, I am more than happy to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Florida to further my academic and swimming career. I want to thank all of my coaches that have paved the road to this amazing destination, all of my teammates who have stood by my side during the ups and downs, and the greatest of all, my family, who has been there every step of the way to love and support me. I also want to thank the colleges that took an interest in me, I am both honored and humbled. Go Gators!

FLORIDA JUMPS INTO 2021 RECRUITING WITH VERBAL FROM #17 MICAYLA CRONK


(#18 Nat, #2 FL) // SwimSwam #17

bearz012 said:

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A slew of top recruits in Raleigh as well...


Back: #7 Annabel Crush, #8 Brooke Zettel, #4 Paige McKenna, #18 Rachel Stege, #12 Ella Bathurst
Front: Rebekah Hamilton (#58), #3 Grace Sheble, Ellie Andrews (#12), #10 Ellie Waldrep, Sara Stotler (#53)

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Grace Sheble: I am so honored and excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at NC State University!! Thank you to my friends, family, coaches, and everyone else that has helped me get to where I am today! I can't wait to be a part of the pack!

#3 FROM CLASS OF 2021 GRACE SHEBLE GIVES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO NC STATE


(#6 Nat, #2 VA) // SwimSwam #3

Update =>

TWOFER FOR THE WOLFPACK: CAROLINE SHEBLE SENDS VERBAL TO NC STATE FOR 2021-22


(#45 Nat, #7 VA)

bearz012 said:

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Back: #17 Micayla Cronk, Anna Auld (#80), Katie Rauch (#66), #10 Ellie Waldrep
Front: Rebekah Hamilton (#58), Abby McCulloh (#26), Elizabeth Sowards (#61)

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Ellie Waldrep: I have absolutely DREAMED of this day since I was a little girl, so without further ado... It is with a FULL heart and EXTREME excitement that I announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Auburn University!! I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of my family members, coaches, teachers, teammates, and friends for constantly pushing me to be the best I can be, both in and out of the pool. Each and everyone one of you mean the ABSOLUTE WORLD to me. So excited to finally take my place on the Plains!! #WAR EAGLE!!!!

CLASS OF 2021 #10 RECRUIT ELLIE WALDREP GIVES VERBAL TO AUBURN TIGERS


(#38 Nat, #2 TN) // SwimSwam #10

bearz012 said:

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WAY TOO EARLY NCAA RECRUIT RANKS: GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2021

ONES TO WATCH
We're throwing in one more short list a handful of swimmers who piqued our interest. They didn't yet have the full complement of times to make our top 20, but seemed to have enough intrigue that we've earmarked them as names to keep an eye on over the next year, where they could develop into top threats for one reason or another.

• Summer Smith (Bluefish Swim Club / Agawam, MA) A little bit better than Tadder in the mile (16:21), but not as good in the 200 or 500. Smith projects better as a mile/400 IM combo, as she's 4:13.6 in the latter. Has also dropped tons of time in the last year, including from 4:22 in the 400 IM and 17:08 in the mile.

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Summer Smith: I am beyond honored and excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming journey at the University of Tennessee!!! I want to thank my coaches, family, friends and teachers for their support along the way. Sooo proud to be a part of the Volunteer family!!

NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAMER SUMMER SMITH (2021) VERBALLY COMMITS TO TENNESSEE



(#16 Nat, #2 MA) - SwimSwam HM

2021 CLASSES

#1 Stanford: #2 Torri Huske, #8 Samantha Tadder, BOTR Meghan Lynch (3)
#2 Cal: #9 Mia Kragh, HM Alicia Henry, BOTR Annika McEnroe, BOTR Shelby Suppiger, BOTR Melanie Julia, Fanni Fabian*, Lea Polonsky*, McKenna Stone, Elizabeth Cook, Ella Mazurek, Jessica Davis, Stephanie Akakabota (12)
#3 Michigan: #10 Lindsay Flynn,16 Letitia Sim, Greta Gidley, Abbey Ketslakh (4)
#4 Louisville: Madie Hall, Abby Karl, Fernanda Celidonio*, Adry Kasemets (4)
#5 Texas: HM Ellie Andrews, BOTR Olivia McMurray, Morgan Brophy, Ava Collinge, Riley Courtney, Channing Hanley (6)
#6 Virginia: #1 Gretchen Walsh, #12 Reilly Tiltmann, #18 Ella Bathurst, BOTR Kate Morris, Abby Kapeller, Caroline Pennington (6)
#7 NC State: #3 Grace Sheble, #11 Annabel Crush, BOTR Caroline Sheble, Kaylee Hamblin (3)
#8 Tennessee: #20 Asia Minnes, BOTR Summer Smith, BOTR Josephine Fuller, BOTR Kate McCarville, Cory Shanks, Sara Stotler, Lauren Wetherell*, Summer Eaker, Amber Myers (9)
#9 Indiana: #13 Mariah Denigan, Brearna Crawford*, Anna Peplowski, Elyse Heiser, Sydney Turner, Kabria Chapman (6)
#10 USC: Gigi Sasseville* (1)
#12 Auburn: #14 Rebekah Hamilton, #19 Ellie Waldrep, HM Abby McCulloh, BOTR Lexie Mulvhill, Avery Bargeon, Jenna Smith, Lucy O'Neill (7)
#13 Texas A&M: Meredith Brown, Sarah Holt, Shannon Bagnal (3)
#15 Kentucky: Sydney Stricklin, Madeline Wenig, Maddie Welborn, Megan Ciezczak, Annie Galvin, Kaelan Daly, Emma Hermeston (7)
#16 Wisconsin: #5 Paige McKenna, HM Mackenzie McCongha, BOTR Sophie Fiske, BOTR Katie McClintock, Natalie Bercutt, Abby Carlson, Ally Silvestri (7)
#17 UCLA: HM Eva Carlson, Gizem Guvenc*, Mia Chang, Joanie Cash, Morgan Hawes, Ana Jih-Schiff, Kathryn Lundh, Paige MacEahern, Ashley Stenstrom, Taylor Schaffer (10)
#18 Georgia: #15 Rachel Stege, Dune Coetzee*, BOTR Mia Abruzzo, BOTR Elsa Fretz, BOTR Eboni McCarthy, Lily Gardner, Mary Martin (7)
#20 Arizona State: Izabella Adame, Hana Edwards*, Ange Harris (3)
#23 Duke: McKenna Smith (1)
#24 Florida: #6 Micayla Cronk, #17 Brooke Zettel, HM Olivia Peoples, Anna Auld, Mary Kate Kelley, Georgia Bates, Molly Golding (7)
#25 Ohio State: Teresa Ivan, Mia Rankin, Malia Rausch, Gwen Woodbury, Nyah Funderburke, Mackenzie DeWitt, Paige Hall, Mairin O'Brien, Allie Fenska (9)
#27 Northwestern: #7 Ashley Strouse, Justine Murdock, Emily Trieschmann, Kenisha Gupta (4)
#34 Alabama: BOTR Krista Wheeler, Kailyn Winter, Anna Ogren, Sophia Garrison, Kasia Norman (5)
#41 Notre Dame: BOTR Sophia Karras, Madeline Menkhaus, Ana Herceg, Maggie Graves, Jess Geriane, Mary Cate Pruitt, Madison Feehery (7)
#42 UNC: BOTR Greer Pattison, Olivia Nel*, BOTR Skyler Smith, BOTR Katie Rauch, Elizabeth Sowards, Madeline Singletary, Georgia Nel*, Kylie Yoder (8)

School rankings are based on finishes at 2018 NCAAs, and recruit rankings are based on SS's latest class of 2021 rankings.

* = international commit

Last Updated: 7/6/20

Paige McKenna: "I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches. Without you all I wouldn't be where I am today! So excited to be a Badger! On Wisconsin"

#4 IN 2021, NATIONAL JR TEAMER PAIGE MCKENNA, VERBALLY COMMITS TO WISCONSIN



(#11 Nat, #1 PA) // SwimSwam #4
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Asia Minnes: "I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to University of Tennessee! I want to thank my coaches, friends and mostly my family for all the support and belief in me. I am honored to be part of the Vol family!"

#11 ASIA MINNES MAKES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO LADY VOLS FOR 2021



(#32 Nat, #5 VA) // SwimSwam #11

https://swimswam.com/pan-ams-silver-medalist-mariah-denigan-2021-verbally-commits-to-indiana/

On mobile, but another top recruit on the women's side announcing her commitment.

"Walton, Kentucky-native Mariah Denigan has announced her verbal commitment to the Indiana University class of 2025, writing on social media:

I am beyond excited and blessed to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at Indiana University! I would not be here today without the constant support of my family, friends, and coaches! I cannot wait to be a part of such an amazing team! GO HOOSIERS

Denigan is the #20 recruit on our Way Too Early list of top-20 girls from the high school class of 2021."

Brooke Zettel: I'm so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at The University of Florida!! Thank you so much to my coaches, family, and friends who have helped me get here! Go Gators!!



(#19 Nat, #1 NC) // SwimSwam #8

I see that the tracker has been updated already, but:

NORTHWESTERN LANDS GAME-CHANGING 2021 VERBAL FROM #5 ASHLEY STROUSE



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Huge get for Northwestern. Has to be the biggest profile recruit that the 'Cats have gotten (ever?). Thought the Hoffer/Bilquist pull from Scottsdale might assist a little, but alas.

Second note: Her visit to Northwestern was yesterday. Glad she fell in love with the school & program so quickly! Wow.

HBear said:

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NORTHWESTERN LANDS GAME-CHANGING 2021 VERBAL FROM #5 ASHLEY STROUSE

Huge get for Northwestern. Has to be the biggest profile recruit that the 'Cats have gotten (ever?). Thought the Hoffer/Bilquist pull from Scottsdale might assist a little, but alas.

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NU's on a veritable recruiting roll indeed under Jeremy Kipp & his coaching staff!

The Cats had already previously snagged top distance prospect Lola Mull (#22 Nat, #2 MI) in the 2020 recruiting class.

Both Strouse & Mull were recruited by Meehan & Slusser having taken trips to the Farm, with DeSorbo also taking a strong interest in Ashley following her visit to Hoosville.

Strouse has really impressive range in her freestyle hence her Top 5 ranking in the class and would be a valuable asset to any top programme, but OTOH I hadn't got any sense that Cal was necessarily one of the schools that interested AS?

Teri has already put together a relatively deep corps of middle to distance freestyle specialists in our 2019 & 2020 freshie classes, so Strouse (who would always be welcome here if there was a great fit and mutual interest) may not have been reckoned as high a recruiting priority as say, a sprint free/fly specialist for Bears' particular needs in that timeframe...

At any rate, Strouse's verbal to Northwestern comes with the bonus of possibly having taken some of the wind out of LSJU & UVa's recruiting sails

bearz012 said:

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#4 IN 2021, NATIONAL JR TEAMER PAIGE MCKENNA, VERBALLY COMMITS TO WISCONSIN



(#11 Nat, #1 PA) // SwimSwam #4

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Speaking of recruiting momentum, Yuri does it again, courtesy of the NCAP pipeline...#14 Mackenzie McConagha joining #4 Paige McKenna in Madison!

• UPDATE ->

14TH-RANKED RECRUIT MCCONAGHA SENDS VERBAL TO WISCONSIN FOR 2021 SEASON

bearz01 said:

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Kyanh Truong (#97), Greer Pattison (#68), HM Annika McEnroe, #1 Gretchen Walsh, Skyler Smith (#126), #15 Olivia McMurray, HM Samantha Tadder, Serena Gould (#312)

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Olivia McMurray: "I'm so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my swimming and academic career at the University of Texas! From the second I stepped on the campus, I knew it was the place that I would be happy to call home. Thank you so much to my family, friends, coaches, and supporters who have helped me get here! HOOK EM!"


(#13 Nat, #1 FL) // SwimSwam #15

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#7 Annabel Crush -> NCSU

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Rachel Stege: "I am extremely excited to announce my commitment to swim and study at the University of Georgia!! I want to thank my coaches, friends, and family for helping me get here! GO DAWGS!!!#committotheg"


(#4 Nat, #1 IL) // SwimSwam #18

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Reilly Tiltmann: "I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Virginia!! Thank you to my coaches, parents, and teammates for the endless support and encouragement that has gotten me to where I am today! GO HOOS #shift2021 #wahoowa"


(#15 Nat, #1 WI) // SwimSwam #6

Many a commitment post today:

NC STATE CONTINUES TO WORK MAGIC: GETS VERBAL FROM #7 ANNABEL CRUSH (2021)

#18 RACHEL STEGE ANNOUNCES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO GEORGIA FOR 2021

#15 OLIVIA MCMURRAY VERBALLY COMMITS TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

And cheers to Jack on the men's side for his commitment to Cal today. Go Bears!

ANOTHER 2021 VERBAL FOR UVA: WISCONSIN'S ABBY KAPELLER ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT

CANADIAN WORLD JR CHAMPS SEMIFINALIST BAILEY HERBERT VERBALLY COMMITS TO UCLA

Another for Texas:

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST ANNA ELENDT VERBALLY COMMITS TO TEXAS

and for UVA:
OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER, #12 ELLA BATHURST COMMITS TO VIRGINIA

Third top-20 commit for 'Hoos on the women's side:

#19 KATE MORRIS (2021) MAKES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO UVA

HBear said:

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Third top-20 commit for 'Hoos on the women's side:

#19 KATE MORRIS (2021) MAKES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO UVA

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Still puzzle after the fantastic four recruiting year, I had thought we would have done better with recruiting, perplexed !

bearz012 said:

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tedbear said:

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Welcome McKenna! Let's bring the fab four all to Berkeley!

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Congrats McKenna! We're so happy to have you here

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A mite late to the warm welcoming party for our very first 2021 Baby Bear commit :p

...this verbal made the ever sweeter upon McKenna sharing that Cal has always been her dream school! (had also taken recruiting trips to several other academic-swim powerhouses such as LSJU, UVa & UM)

• UPDATE =>

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Olympic Trials Qualifier McKenna Stone Verbally Commits to Cal for 2021

The University of Cal, Berkeley has received their first verbal commitment for the 2021-22 season and beyond from talented sprinter McKenna Stone of Naperville, Ill.

Stone does her club swimming with Fox Valley Swim Team and owns the Olympic Trials cut in the 50m free with six additional Summer Juniors standards.

A current junior at Metea Valley High School, Stone is already a four-time Illinois State Championship finalist.

She has also earned NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors for her efforts.

In SCY, her best times include:

• 50 fly 24.45
• 100 fly 54.16
• 50 free 22.61
• 100 free 49.50
• 200 free 1:49.04
• 200 IM 2:02.22

In LCM, her best times include:

• 50m fly 27.48 (Olympic Trials cut)
• 100m fly 1:01.24
• 50m free 25.81
• 100m free 56.31
• 200m free 2:05.24
• 200m IM 2:19.87

Stone will make an immediate impact both individually and on relays when she suits up for the Bears as a member of the class of 2025. She would've scored in the B-final of the 50 free as well as the C-final of the 100 free and 100 fly at the 2019 Pac-12 Championships.

Even with just under two years of club swimming still to go, her best times in the 50 free and 100 free are already fast enough for the 2019-20 NCAA "B" standards. She'll have two years of overlap with current Cal Bears Eloise Riley, Isabel Ivey, and Emma Davidson.

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Slight correction. 1 year with Isabel Ivey who started a year earlier.

Swimswam's just-published writeup on McKenna's commitment to Bears:

22.6/49.5 SPRINTER AND IHSA RUNNER-UP MCKENNA STONE VERBALS TO CAL

Stone is one of the best sprinters in the high school class of 2025.

Cal is graduating one of the best sprinters in history, Abbey Weitzeil, after this season, along with key sprinter Maddie Murphy. Incoming freshman Isabelle Stadden is the best 50 freestyler heading to campus next fall at 22.71, while Nicole Oliva has been as fast as 49.95 in the 100, and Stone will bring important pure sprint speed to the Bears in the fall of 2021 (especially considering 2024 sprinter Gracie Felner recently changed verbal commitments from Cal to Alabama).


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Swimming World Presents "Up & Comers: Fox Valley Swim Team's McKenna Stone"



Sixteen-year-old McKenna Stone of Fox Valley Swim Team (Naperville and Aurora, Ill.) understands the hard work and dedication it takes to become a successful swimmer. At age 12, after completing her first select camp, she set a goal to make it to the 2020 Olympic Trials.

Four years later, she accomplished her goal at the NCSA Summer Championships in Indianapolis, Aug. 6-10, with a 25.81 50 meter freestyle.

"She's a tenacious racer," says her coach, Dave Krotiak. "When she goes in, she's so determined. The bigger the meet, the better."

This race-first mentality helped Stone and her teammates nearly topple the girls' 15-16 400 meter freestyle relay national age group record, also at the NCSA Summer Champs. Stone, Tiffanie Ruan, Rachel Stege and Megan Ciezczak posted a 3:48.63 for an NCSA record and only 35-hundredths off the 3:48.28 NAG mark set in 2014 by Carmel (Ind.) Swim Club.

To read more about Up & Comer McKenna Stone, check out the November issue of Swimming World, out now!

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Looking further afield (poaching from the East ), might be a good thing to balance out the class with more breast & distance-oriented prospects, do really like Ellie Andrews (#12 Nat, #1 OH) - promising breaststroke specialist on the National Junior Team who could become a worthy successor to Ema.

bearz012 said:

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Which 2021 Recruits are Visiting Which Schools? (rankings based on 2019 NCAA finish)

• I'll be using SS rankings if they have them, otherwise I'll use CS rankings (up to top 200 ranked recruits, otherwise this list would be too long - I will try to mark all the committed recruits to a school, though, even if they are not ranked in the top 200)
• If a recruit visited a school but committed to another, they'll be crossed out.

#2 Cal: #1 Gretchen Walsh, #16 Mia Kragh, Ellie Andrews (#12), McKenna Stone (#28), Izabella Adame (#76)

Last Updated: 10/20/19

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Quartet of bear-y talented visitors over the weekend...

#1 Gretchen Walsh, #16 Mia Kragh, Ellie Andrews (#12), McKenna Stone (#28)...

Go Bears!

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TEXAS ADDS 2021 VERBAL COMMITMENT FROM NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAMER ELLIE ANDREWS

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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bearz012 said:

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Locally, #16 Mia Kragh had a massive sophomore year, dropping loads of time. In the past year, she went from a 58 100 fly last October to a 52.26 at CIFs this last season. She lacks other events, but her 50/100 frees have potential.

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Not really up to speed with this class at this point TBH, but when it comes to the slightly "lower profile" prospects, #16 Mia Kragh (#44 Nat, #1 CA) should be our #1 in-state target. Primarily a sprint flyer, but has also shown a wicked progression curve in her mid-sprint free as of late. With further progress in those areas to round out her event range, could contribute to the team early.

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Quartet of bear-y talented visitors over the weekend...

#1 Gretchen Walsh, #16 Mia Kragh, Ellie Andrews (#12), McKenna Stone (#28)...

https://instagr.am/p/B35yMYQFsxv

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Well, let the idle speculation commence anewhehe...taking a bit of a stab in the dark :p, would reckon the commit referred to below may or may not turn out to be #16 Mia Kragh (#45 Nat, #1 CA)...

...with #1 Gretchen Walsh (#1 Nat, #1 TN) waiting in the wings, pretty please?

https://instagr.am/p/B5J6ZFkg9yt

Our mystery 2021 Baby Bear however could be someone else entirely lol ... here are some other wild guesses that were thrown out there on the 2020 recruiting thread a week ago:

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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tedbear said:

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Thanks for posting! Looking thru their resume, no fly or breast in this group. As someone mentioned earlier with Ivey & Bayer graduating in 2021 it would be nice to bring in another flyer to add to our future. Are there any other recruits still available..maybe another international swimmer?

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Don't worry OBear. This is the Class of 2020. Teri is looking at multiple Flyers and Breaststrokers for the Class of 2021.

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Well, at a glance, we'd be bidding a sad farewell to seniors Dubs (free), Keeks (back/im/free), Madds (fly/free), Coco (back/im), Aisy (back/free), Alexa B (breast/im) after 2020 NCAAs.

Would naturally be fab to reload with a *FLY* stud in this 2020 class to make up for Maddie's loss...but meanwhile we still have versatile Izzy to call upon, with potential depth in the guise of Cass, Elise, Dani in the sprint fly dept, and Cass, Rachel, Ashlyn, Sarah in the longer distance butterfly - assuming suitable development + recovery from injuries all around.

As tedbear had pointed out, Teri & Dani K are already look ahead to the 2021 class to recruit a suitable top fly talent, i.e. #1 Gretchen Walsh (well #2 Huske would be a top candidate too if she wasn't looking more & more like a Furdette or Ivies lean), supported by in-state Cal visitor Mia Kragh, and Cal commit McKenna Stone (with further improvements, freestyle being her primary stroke).

Another impactful flyer if we were to scout north of the border would be Gigi Sasseville (#26 Nat, #2 ON) who holds a promising sprint fly best of 59.76.

Closer home, relatively lower profile (outside of SS' Top 20) but talented butterfly prospects may include Morgan Brophy (#56 Nat, #2 AZ), Lily Gardner (#90 Nat, #2 OR) for consideration...assuming academics, team fit & mutual interest are a go.

Bears probably won't be graduating any NCAA scoring *BREASTSTROKERS* after this season (other than Abbey who's much more valuable in her primary stroke ) - Ema & Ali will still be around (with Emma in the developmental stages). So less of an urgent need to nail down a breast stud for 2020...although Cal visitor & 2020 Bruins commit Bailey Herbert (#20 Nat, #2 BC) would have been a nice catch.

As for the 2021 class... sprint breast candidates who have yet to commit may include Berkeley visitor Ellie Andrews (#12 Nat, #1 OH), Kiwi Brearna Crawford (#24 Nat), SJ local Skyler Smith (#134 Nat, #13 CA).

A good distance breast prospect would be HM Annika McEnroe (#34 Nat, SC #1) , who's quite versatile with strengths additionally in both flys & the longer IM.

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Jessica Davis (#120 Nat, #9 CA) => Cal

"I'm super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at UC Berkeley! Thank you so much to my family, teammates and coaches for supporting me. GO BEARS!!"

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Welcome to the Cal family, Jessica!

Developing backstroker from locally (Carondelet HS).

Same club as Maddie Murphy & fellow 2021 commit Jacob Soderlund (Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks)

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Jessica Davis (#120 Nat, #9 CA) => Cal

"I'm super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at UC Berkeley! Thank you so much to my family, teammates and coaches for supporting me. GO BEARS!!"



Welcome to the Cal family, Jessica!

Developing backstroker from locally (Carondelet HS).

Same club as Maddie Murphy & fellow 2021 commit Jacob Soderlund (Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks)

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I'm assuming Jessica is the committed recruit mentioned in the previous posting. Jessica
.welcome to the Cal family.