By Charlotte Wells on SwimSwam
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Ohio high school state finalist Claudia Fernandez-Deardurff has announced her verbal commitment to swim for University of Maryland, Baltimore County beginning in the fall of 2026.
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic careers at UMBC! I would like to thank my family and friends for always being in my corner and helping me throughout this process! A huge thank you to Coach Andrew, Coach Holly, and all the rest of the Dayton Raiders for pushing me to be the best me in and out of the water. I would also like to thank Coach Matt for giving me this incredible opportunity, I cannot stress how excited I am!! Go Retrievers!!”
A senior at Carroll High School in Ohio, Fernandez-Deardurff competed for her school’s varsity swimming and diving team all four years. A versatile threat in the water, she currently trains year-round with the Dayton Raiders, where she excels at back, fly and IM.
Fernandez-Deardurff qualified for the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) state championships each year starting as a freshman. Her highest-placing performance came at the 2026 OHSAA Division II State Championship in February, where she placed 3rd in the 100 back (57.72). She also placed 12th in the 200 IM (2:15.06) and helped her team to a 17th-place finish in both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.
A few weeks later, Fernandez-Deardurff turned in a string of fast performances at the Tim Meyers SC Senior Champs. She placed 8th in the 50 back (26.91 – PB) and 100 back (57.06 – PB), 15th in the 200 back (2:04.91 – PB) and 29th in the 200 IM (2:16.38). She also contested the 50 fly (27.26) and 100 fly (1:00.01 – SB).
Fernandez-Deardurff still holds several lifetime best times from the 2024 MAKO Holiday Spirit Classic last season. At that competition, she logged personal bests in each of her events, including the 50 free (25.31), 100 free (55.37), 200 free (1:59.14), 100 fly (59.30), 200 IM (2:12.19) and 400 IM (4:46.27). All of those times still stand today except the 200 free, which now sits at 1:59.04.
Best Times SCY
100 back – 57.06 200 back – 2:04.91 100 fly – 59.30 200 IM – 2:12.19A Division I Mid-Major program, UMBC competes in the America East Conference, with the women’s team placing 4th at the 2026 conference championships. Based on the results from this season’s America East Conference Championships, Fernandez-Deardurff would have landed in the ‘B’ final in the 100 back and 200 back and the ‘C’ final in the 100 fly, setting her up to score some points right from the start.
On the team itself, Fernandez-Deardurff is currently poised to be the Retrievers’ top backstroker next season following the graduation of Alice Marini at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, although that does not account for the other incoming freshmen.
Joining Fernandez-Deardurff at UMBC in the fall will be Bella Lane, who specializes in free, back, fly and IM and should make for a strong training partner over the next four years.
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