By James Sutherland on SwimSwam
It’s time to rank the top 20 girls in the high school class of 2027 after their junior year.
As college recruiting has reached earlier and earlier into high school classes, we’re continually expanding our recruiting ranks and coverage. Last spring, we ranked out the then-sophomore class. This is essentially a re-rank of that class, taking into account a year of improvements. Stay tuned to our recruiting channel for more additions to our yearly recruiting coverage:
Girls (this article) & boys ranks for current juniors – high school class of 2027 (updated rankings from our “Way Too Early” rankings last spring) Way Too Early ranks for current sophomore girls & boys – high school class of 2028 Re-Rank of outgoing senior girls & boys – high school class of 2026Further reading:
Way Too Early NCAA Recruiting Ranks: High School Girls Class of 2027 (as ranked last spring)So without further ado, let’s take a look at this class as a whole, then review our ranking methodology and get into our rankings.
THIS CLASS
Lost its two generational-level recruits, Audrey Derivaux and Rylee Erisman, to the class of 2026, but saw some other names elevate themselves towards the top of the rankings in their place. Relatively weak sprint freestyle class, with no one sub-22 or sub-48, though several are closing in after big seasons. Decently strong mid-distance free class, including three different swimmers owning NCAA qualifying times in the 500. The 1650 is a little thinner—a few swimmers have potential in this race, and Daisy Collins has an NCAA scoring time, but the event wasn’t focused on much by anyone in this class last season. The 100 back has no true standouts, but plenty of depth, while the 200 back has Sadie Buckley as an NCAA scorer and two more girls closing in on NCAA qualifying. Some very good single-event breaststrokers—three girls have an NCAA qualifying time in one breaststroke event, but their other distance isn’t at the same level. Very strong fly class with one NCAA scoring 200, three NCAA qualifying 200s, and two NCAA qualifying 100s. A total of 14 sub-1:59 in the 200 shows good depth. Outside of Buckley, who is incredible, this class is developing in the medleys. There are 11 sub-2:00 in the 200, which is decent, but Buckley is the fastest in the 400 by eight seconds, with no one else sub-4:11.5.TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2027
EVENT SWIMMER TIME 50 Free Khanh Seaton 22.02 100 Free Adalynn Biegler 48.18 200 Free Alyssa Ton 1:44.12 500 Free Vivienne Zangaro 4:39.70 1000 Free** Vivienne Zangaro 9:36.66 1650 Free Daisy Collins 16:02.94 100 Back Carly Afanasewicz 52.55 200 Back Sadie Buckley 1:51.59 100 Breast Bianca Nwaizu 59.05 200 Breast Kaidy Stout 2:08.72 100 Fly Nikki Nixon 51.54 200 Fly Nikki Nixon 1:54.04 200 IM Sadie Buckley 1:54.84 400 IM Sadie Buckley 4:03.07**The 1000 free isn’t an event at the Division I NCAA Championships, but is swum instead of the 1650 in many Division I dual meets and is part of the NCAA program in Division II.
With that out of the way, let’s get to our rankings.
Disclaimer: there are a lot of high school sophomores in the country, and no really good, complete, 100% accurate listing of them all. If you don’t see your favorite swimmer on the list, feel free to politely point them out in the comments. There’s a chance that we disagree with your assessment of their spot in the top 20, and so long as it’s done civilly, there’s no problem with differences of opinion. There’s also a chance that we’ve simply missed a no-brainer (we’ve taken every precaution to avoid that), and if that happens, we want to make sure we correct it.
BEST OF THE REST
In the Best of the Rest section, we outline a few standouts who didn’t quite crack the top 20 or an Honorable Mention spot. Verbal commitments are listed where they’ve been reported. Each of these athletes is still an extremely high-level recruit:
Sprint free: Blakely Hammel (22.9/49.4/1:45.6/4:47.0, 54.9 FLY, 2:03.9 IM) **Florida** Charlotte Milkie (23.4/49.8/1:46.4/4:49.1, 56.2/2:01.1 BK, 55.7/2:03.1 FLY) **USC** Jenna Fernstrom (22.8/49.1/1:47.0, 54.3 FLY, 2:02.4 IM) **Ohio State** Delaney Barbee (22.6/50.1/1:50.9, 56.2 FLY) **Arizona State** Aria Grossenbach (22.7/49.1/1:47.6, 55.0 FLY) **Louisville** Sofia Oliveira (23.0/50.1/1:47.4, 55.3/1:58.5 BK, 1:03.8 BR, 54.6 FLY, 2:01.7 IM) **Duke** Bree Smith (22.7/49.4/1:48.9 FR, 56.2 BK, 55.4 FLY) **Stanford** Addy Gebhart (22.7/49.7/1:48.7, 55.5 FLY) **Indiana** Distance free: Chloe Teger (4:50.0/9:47/16:32) **NC State** Shannon Conway (22.9/49.9/1:47.6/4:48.7/9:48/16:32, 54.4/1:59.9 BK, 54.1/2:00.4 FLY, 2:00.0/4:17.8 IM) **Ohio State** Jane Wheeler (1:47.9/4:47.6/16:46, 55.5/1:59.2 FLY) Kate Guenther (23.3/49.8/1:47.8/4:49.1/9:58/16:40, 55.5/1:58.1 BK, 55.1/2:01.9 FLY, 2:01.2/4:15.6 IM) **Duke** McKenzie Vasquez (1:49.1/4:48.8/9:55/16:37, 2:01.3/4:17.7 IM) **Texas A&M** Maddy Brennan (1:49.0/4:49.8/9:52/16:33) **Louisville** Malia Groen (1:50.6/4:49.1/9:51/16:35) **Alabama** Mia Eubank (1:48.7/4:48.9/9:54/16:29, 2:00.1 BK, 4:19.5 IM) **Kentucky** Isabella Muir (51.1/1:47.9/4:45.7, 2:02.1 FLY) **Princeton** Leila Stafford (50.7/1:48.0/4:47.3/9:51) **Michigan** Backstroke: Lily Andruss (54.2/1:55.6, 49.6/1:47.2/4:48.2 FR, 54.2/2:01.4 FLY) **Ohio State** Kate Fetters (53.1/1:55.2, 22.9/49.2/1:48.2 FR, 2:03.8 IM) **Indiana** Nora McCarthy (53.5/1:56.5 BK, 23.4/50.9 FR, 55.0 FLY, 2:01.9 IM) **Princeton** Ava Eddy (24.9/53.5/1:56.1, 23.4/51.2/1:51.6 FR, 55.4 FLY) **Arizona State** Camryn Siegers (24.8/53.3/1:57.2, 22.7/49.4/1:49.0 FR, 2:03.7 IM) **Alabama** Emma Young (54.5/1:56.5, 23.3/50.7/1:51.3 FR, 1:01.9/2:16.0 BR, 2:00.4 IM) **Alabama** Breaststroke: Bryce Winzenread (1:00.6/2:09.8, 2:01.9/4:17.2 IM) **Indiana** Kate Canales (1:00.0/2:15.4, 49.7/1:48.8 FR, 53.9 FLY, 2:00.2 IM) **Florida** Mallory Ferguson (1:01.3/2:16.8, 54.9 FLY, 2:04.3 IM) **Indiana** Marni Kraemer (1:04.3/2:13.0, 1:51.2 FR, 55.8/2:01.3 BK, 2:00.9/4:16.5 IM) **Minnesota** Grace Pereira (1:01.7/2:12.8, 2:01.7 IM) **Auburn** Butterfly: Faith Gorey (53.5/1:58.1, 23.1/49.6/1:46.8 FR, 2:00.6 BK, 2:00.7/4:20.1 IM) **Alabama** Emma Liebler (53.8/1:58.3, 23.6/51.2/1:51.8 FR, 55.6 BK) **Texas A&M** Alba Arnall (54.0/1:58.5, 23.3/50.7/1:49.9 FR, 54.5/1:57.4 BK, 2:04.2 IM) **Cal** Serena Dickey (54.6/1:58.9, 51.4/1:49.2 FR, 2:02.4/4:20.9 IM) **Illinois** Aibhy King (24.4/53.2/2:03.7, 23.8 FR, 56.2 BK) **Georgia Tech** Greta Myers (53.9/1:59.2, 23.3/50.6/1:47.8 FR, 4:21.6 IM) **Princeton** Cadence Johnson (53.8/2:01.1, 50.6/1:50.4 FR, 54.3/2:02.0 BK, 2:00.2 IM) **UCLA** IM: Ava Jochims (2:00.0/4:13.8, 51.0/1:49.9 FR/4:50.4/16:29 FR, 1:03.0/2:13.1 BR, 2:00.4 FLY) Maren Byrne (1:59.5/4:14.6, 23.2/50.6/1:47.2 FR, 55.8/2:00.2 BK, 1:02.1/2:15.8 BR, 55.6/2:00.8 FLY) **UNC** Annabeth Town (2:01.2/4:12.5, 1:49.3/4:49.0/10:00/16:40 FR, 2:16.0 BR, 55.9/2:00.7 FLY) **Northwestern** Sloane Barr (2:00.3/4:13.7, 1:47.9 FR, 1:59.9 BK, 2:16.7 BR, 56.3 FLY) **UNC** Nola Meekins (2:00.1/4:15.1, 1:50.2/4:49.5 FR, 55.0/1:58.2 BK, 2:03.1 FLY) **Duke** Savannah Bowers (1:59.9, 23.1/49.4/1:48.4, 1:01.9 BR, 55.9 FLY) **Ohio State**HONORABLE MENTIONS
Paring the list down to 20 always feels like pulling teeth. This isn’t an exhaustive list of others we considered, but the top few left off the list who made the decisions on 18-20 very difficult.
Isabel Wu (Previous Rank: 16)– Santa Clara Swim Club – Archbishop Mitty High School – Sunnyvale, CA **Committed to Princeton**
Best Times:
200 IM: 1:58.39 400 IM: 4:12.14 200 fly: 1:59.28 100 fly: 53.83 200 free: 1:49.65 100 free: 50.29 50 free: 23.88 200 back: 2:00.91 100 back: 56.81 100 breast: 1:04.45Wu is coming off a strong junior year, resetting best times across all of her best events outside of the 400 IM. She knocked one second off her personal best in the 200 IM, bringing it down to 1:58.39 en route to a runner-up finish at the CIF State Championships to come within 1% of the NCAA cutline. At the Speedo Sectionals in Roseville at the end of February, Wu hit new PBs in the 200 free (1:49.65), 50 fly (25.11) and 200 fly (1:59.28), winning the title in the latter, and she also set a season-best of 4:15.00 in the 400 IM. Her butterfly really progressed last season across the board, having also set a PB of 53.83 in the 100 in April, knocking half a second off her previous best. Most recently, she hit long course lifetime bests in the 100 fly (1:01.16) and 200 fly (2:14.52) at U.S. Nationals, giving her some momentum heading into her senior year. The Santa Clara Swim Club product will be spearheading a solid recruiting class for Princeton in 2027-28. In the NCAA, the 200 fly projects as her third event to go along with the IMs.
Rowyn Wilber (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Clovis Swim Club – Clovis North High School – Fresno, CA **Committed to USC**
Best Times:
200 IM: 1:59.72 400 IM: 4:14.67 200 back: 1:55.21 100 back: 54.84 500 free: 4:49.14 200 free: 1:48.67 100 free: 51.67 1000 free: 10:00.47Wilber joined the sub-2:00 club in the 200 IM this past season, helping push her into Honorable Mention territory after she was a “BOTR” recruit last year. In December, Wilber set best times en route to making ‘A’ final appearances in the 200 back (1:55.38) and 400 IM (4:15.54) at Winter Juniors – West, and then followed up by setting four more best times, including re-lowering her 200 back PB (1:55.21), at the Speedo Sectionals in Walnut later that month. The Clovis Swim Club member cracked 2:00 in the 200 IM for the first time at the Oceanside Sectionals in February, clocking 1:59.91 while also bringing her 400 IM best time down to 4:14.67. She carried that momentum into the high school season, putting up another best time of 1:59.72 in the 200 IM at the CIF Central Section Championships before placing 5th at the state meet. Wilber also made strides during the 2026 long course season, highlighted by placing 2nd in the 200 back (2:11.83) and 3rd in both the 200 IM (2:17.08) and 400 IM (4:47.83) at Junior Nationals earlier this month. The new NCAA event order aligns perfectly for Wilber, as she can swim the 200 back on Day 2 and then take on the IMs during the back half of the meet.
Lexi Byrn (Previous Rank: NR) – Flatiron Athletic Club – Fairview High School – Boulder, CO **Committed to USC**
Best Times:
200 fly: 1:55.65 100 fly: 53.60 200 free: 1:50.35Byrn was one of the biggest risers over the course of last season, quickly evolving from someone who failed to crack the BOTR ranks to one of the select few in the class with an NCAA-qualifying time. In the 200 fly, she finished her sophomore year of high school with a best time of 2:01.17, and then last year, she dropped all the way down to 1:55.65, a swim she unleashed en route to victory at Winter Juniors – West in December. She also set a best time in the 100 fly at that meet, winning the ‘C’ final in 53.79, and then got down to 53.60 en route to a victory at the Four Corners Speedo Sectionals in March. Coming into the season, her best time stood at 55.27. Byrn is a pure butterflier, no doubt, but made impressive strides last year in the freestyle events, bringing her 200 down to 1:50.3 (from 1:56) and producing 23.6/51.2 relay splits in the 50 and 100. Her 200 fly best time really jumps off the page, ranking third in the class and sitting just over six-tenths shy of what it took to score at NCAAs last season (1:54.99). Continuing to develop in the 100 fly and the freestyle events will be the key to pushing her into the top 20 next year.
Izzy Riva (Previous Rank: 14) – Saint Petersburg Aquatics – Shorecrest Prep Academy – Saint Petersburg, FL **Committed to Stanford**
Best Times:
1650 free: 16:20.69 1000 free: 9:49.52 500 free: 4:46.22 200 free: 1:48.85 200 back: 2:01.66 100 back: 56.30 100 fly: 56.61Riva knocked two and a half seconds off her best time in the mile last season, placing 3rd at Winter Juniors – East in 16:20.69 to rank her 2nd in the class and pull her within two seconds of an NCAA qualifying time. The Saint Petersburg Aquatics product was just shy of her best times in the other free events, clocking 1:48.96 in the 200 free, 4:46.78 in the 500 free and 9:51.27 in the 1000 over the course of the season. Riva figures to be a pure distance freestyler in college who focuses on the 500 and 1650—and 1000 in dual meets—but also races the 200. She’ll be a key addition to a Stanford team that didn’t have any scorers in the mile last season.
Sofia Szymanowski (Previous Rank: HM) – Irvine Novaquatics – Corona Del Mar High School – Newport Coast, CA **Committed to Michigan**
Best Times:
100 breast: 59.51 200 breast: 2:11.59 200 IM: 2:01.61 500 free: 4:52.85 200 free: 1:49.44 100 free: 50.60 50 free: 23.32Szymanowski improved across the board last season, highlighted by her dipping under the 1:00 barrier in the 100 breast. Entering her junior year with a best time of 1:00.66, Szymanowski went 1:00.21 in early November and then threw down a time of 59.97 at Winter Juniors – West in December, earning a 3rd-place finish while also placing 4th in the 200 breast in a PB of 2:12.09. After resetting her best times in the 50 breast (27.84) and 200 breast (2:11.59) at the Speedo Sectionals in February, Szymanowski roared to the CIF state title in the 100 breast in dominant fashion in May, clocking 59.51 to put her under the NCAA cutline by a tenth and rank #2 in the class. Her 200 breast time also ranks 5th in the class, and the progress she made in the 200 IM (dropping over a second last season in 2:01.61) and the free events (new PBs in the 50/100/200/500) is a real positive, as breaststrokers can at times have limited versatility. Coming off an impressive summer that included winning the Junior National title in the 100 breast (1:09.28) earlier this month, Szymanowski will be a massive addition for a Michigan team that lost its top breaststroker, Letitia Sim, last year to graduation.
Sloane Whelehan (Previous Rank: 17) – TAC Titans – Green Hope High School – Cary, NC **Committed to Tennessee**
Best Times:
200 free: 1:45.74 100 free: 49.42 50 free: 22.81 200 back: 1:55.86 100 back: 54.19 100 fly: 54.36 400 IM: 4:16.31 200 IM: 2:00.71 500 free: 4:54.39Whelehan is well-rounded with one of the few sub-1:46 200 frees in the class while also owning PBs within 3% of the NCAA cutline in the 200 back and both IMs. Her biggest improvement last season came in the 200 free, where she improved her best time by eight-tenths early in the season in 1:46.17, and then at the Cary Sectionals in March, popped off for a time of 1:45.74 while also splitting 1:45.76 on the TAC Titans’ 800 free relay. She also went 49.42 in the 100 free twice last season, bettering her previous best of 49.49, and was four one-hundredths shy of her PB in the 50 free in 22.85. Her versatility stands out for someone who’s trending towards being a 50/100/200 freestyler, as her 54.1/1:55.8 backstroke times are competitive in this class—there are only four girls sub-1:55 in the 200—and her new PB of 54.36 in the 100 fly is very solid. She really didn’t race the IMs much at all last season despite owning 2:00.7/4:16.3 best times. Set to join the Lady Vols in 2027 alongside Alyssa Ton and Adalynn Biegler, Whelehan gives them a trio that could make up three-quarters of their 800 free relay for years to come.
Adrienne Schadler (Previous Rank: NR) – Club Wolverine – Ann Arbor Skyline High School – Ann Arbor, MI **Committed to Arizona State**
Best Times:
200 free: 1:45.61 100 free: 48.60 50 free: 23.16 500 free: 4:47.23 200 fly: 2:01.00 200 IM: 2:03.16 400 IM: 4:19.63Schadler is coming off a breakout season, becoming one of the top 100/200 freestylers in the class. Entering the campaign with best times of 50.28/1:48.61, her junior campaign kicked into high gear in November, setting a PB of 1:47.10 in the 200 free early in the month before sweeping the MHSAA Division 2 State titles in both the 200 (1:46.85) and 500 free (4:48.50) with new best times. Her best meet of the season came at the Four Corners Sectionals in March, where she soared to victories in the 100 free (48.60) and 200 free (1:45.61) with two more monstrous best times while also hitting PBs in the 500 free (4:47.23), 200 fly (2:01.00) and 200 IM (2:03.16). Her 200 free time ranks #2 in the class, while her 100 free sits 5th, and both times are just shy of being within 1% of the NCAA cutline. If she can continue to improve next season, she should be right around the NCAA qualifying times sooner rather than later. Headed to Arizona State, Schadler’s future value expands well beyond her individual point projections, as her 100 and 200 free abilities lend directly to the relays. She’s also shown progress in the 50 of late, hitting a PB of 23.16 in a rare July SCY meet, and she also produced multiple sub-23 relay legs last season. Most recently, Schadler is coming off a standout showing at Junior Nationals in long course, earning a runner-up finish in the 200 free (2:00.22) and placing 3rd in the 400 free (4:15.76).
TOP 20 SWIMMERS FROM THE CLASS OF 2027
20. Jordyn Glassley (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Fort Wayne Swim Team – Carroll High School – Fort Wayne, IN **Committed to Georgia**
Best Times:
200 IM: 1:57.72 200 fly: 1:58.37 100 fly: 52.99 200 free: 1:47.78 100 free: 50.29 50 free: 23.71 400 IM: 4:18.07 200 back: 2:00.38 100 back: 56.07Glassley had a big junior year that saw her make meaningful drops in the majority of her best events, headlined by the 200 IM, where she went from being a 2:00.4 swimmer to going 1:57 multiple times. After setting a best time in the 200 free (1:47.78) at Winter Juniors in December, Glassley, who went 2:00.4 in the 200 IM at the same meet, threw down a massive best time of 1:57.72 at the IHSAA Sectionals while representing Carroll High School. She also broke 53 in the 100 fly for the first time at the meet (52.99), and followed up by placing 2nd in the 200 IM (1:57.85) and 3rd in the 100 fly (53.33) at the IHSAA State Championships. A member of Fort Wayne Swim Team, she went on to win three individual golds at the Indiana Senior Championships in March, including setting best times in the 200 fly (1:58.37) and 400 IM (4:18.07). The new NCAA event order works perfectly for Glassley, who will have the 200 fly and 200 IM on Days 2 and 3, and then on the last day, she’s likely going to be racing the 100 fly, though the 200 free is there as an option.
19. Kaidy Stout (Previous Rank: 15) – GSA – West Forsyth High School – Lewisville, NC **Verbally committed to Tennessee**
Best Times:
200 breast: 2:08.72 (best in class) 100 breast: 1:01.51 200 IM: 2:03.39 400 IM: 4:19.72Stout was the fastest 200 breaststroker in the class in last year’s rankings, and she maintains that distinction after knocking over a second off her lifetime best. After winning bronze in the 200 breast at last summer’s World Junior Championships, Stout put up a time of 2:08.72 last December at Winter Juniors – East, placing 3rd and improving on her previous PB of 2:09.82. Not only does that put Stout comfortably under the NCAA cutline (2:09.21) from last year, but it’s just 37 one-hundredths shy of what it took to score (2:08.35). She was 1:01.84 in the 100 breast last season, shy of her 1:01.51 best time from March 2025, but was consistent with nine separate swims 1:02.7 or faster. The Tennessee commit represented the U.S. for the second straight summer earlier this month, placing 4th in the 200 breast (2:28.00), 6th in the 100 breast (1:09.57) and 12th in the 50 breast (33.20) at Junior Pan Pacs, setting new LCM best times in the two latter events.
18. Sarah Paisley Owen (Previous Rank: 6) – Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club – Midtown High School – Atlanta, GA **Committed to Notre Dame**
Best Times:
200 free: 1:46.19 100 free: 48.47 50 free: 22.21 100 fly: 53.30Paisley Owen is a sprint freestyler who made a big jump in the 100 fly last season, giving her four very strong events. She was ranked all the way up at #6 last year after dropping best times of 22.21 in the 50 free and 48.47 in the 100 free, which ranked her 2nd in the class behind Rylee Erisman, who has since reclassified. Paisley Owen didn’t quite match those PBs as a junior, but did drop big in the 200 free (1:46.19) and 100 fly (53.30), setting PBs en route to winning the GHSA 4A state titles in both races. She broke 49 once early in the season in the 100 free (48.99), and then churned out a bunch of 49s, though she did hit a 48.09 relay split at the state championship meet. In the 50 free, she went sub-22.8 seven times last season, culminating with a 22.41 showing at NCSAs in March, which earned her a runner-up finish behind fellow Class of 2027 recruit Adalynn Biegler by one one-hundredth. Paisley Owen’s ability across the 50, 100 and 200 will make her a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s free relays throughout her NCAA career, and the upcoming season will be key for her to lower her best times in the 50 and 100 to carry momentum into college.
17. Carolin He (Previous Rank: 12) – TAC Titans – Cary Academy – Cary, NC **Committed to Stanford**
Best Times:
200 IM: 1:57.76 400 IM: 4:15.51 200 breast: 2:11.28 100 breast: 1:00.99 200 free: 1:47.77 500 free: 4:47.88 100 fly: 54.32 100 free: 50.68 50 free: 23.55 100 back: 55.29 200 back: 2:01.16He is one of the most versatile swimmers in the class, with her specialties ranging from the 200 IM and 200 breast to the 200 and 500 free. On paper, her best event by a decent margin is the 200 IM, having improved from the 1:58.99 she produced as a sophomore down to 1:57.76 this past December, ranking her 4th in the class and just over three-tenths shy of the NCAA cutline. In addition to that swim, He also put up a new best time of 2:11.28 in the 200 breast at the TAC Titans’ Jingle Bells Meet just a few days before Christmas, putting her within 2% of the NCAA cutline. In the new year, she set best times of 4:47.88 in the 500 free and 1:00.99 in the 100 breast, both within 3% of the NCAA cutline, and also hit a PB of 54.32 in the 100 fly and notched a season-best of 4:15.78 in the 400 IM. As a breaststroker/IMer, He is a perfect fit for a Stanford team that has had success with similar swimmers such as Lucy Bell and Caroline Bricker in recent years. The 200 breast and 200 IM will surely be in her lineup in a future NCAA Championship meet, while the 100 breast is the likely third, though she’s also competitive in the 200 free, 100 fly and 400 IM, which are also on Day 4.
16. Daisy Collins (Previous Rank: 8) – North Carolina Aquatic Club – Woods Charter School – Chapel Hill, NC **Committed to Texas**
Best Times:
1650 free: 16:02.94 (best in class) 1000 free: 9:42.78 500 free: 4:45.36 200 free: 1:47.92 200 fly: 2:02.08 400 IM: 4:20.65Collins is the fastest miler in the class *by a mile*, having clocked 16:02.94 back in March 2025, which would’ve finished 11th at the 2026 NCAA Championships. She only raced the event once this past season, going 16:22.22 at Winter Juniors – East in December, where she also neared her 500 free best time in 4:45.47. The North Carolina native went on to win NCHSAA 1A/2A/3A state titles in the 200 free (1:50.42) and 500 free (4:51.10) in February, but hasn’t raced since one week after that, so her current form is a bit of a question mark. Collins projects as a future top-eight scorer in the 1650, with a chance to push for points in the 500, and potentially contribute to the Longhorn 800 free relay in the future, if she returns to top form this coming season and is able to lower her best times.
15. Mia Su (Previous Rank: 20) – Santa Clara Swim Club – Archbishop Mitty High School – Sunnyvale, CA **Committed to Cal**
Best Times:
200 breast: 2:09.21 100 breast: 1:00.64 400 IM: 4:14.71 200 IM: 2:01.07 500 free: 4:50.40Su reset her breaststroke times last season, making a particularly big drop in the 200 breast to become one of just three girls in the class under 2:10. At Winter Juniors – West, Su shattered her best time (2:12.25) by over three seconds in 2:09.21, earning a runner-up finish while hitting the 2026 NCAA cutline on the number and ranking #2 in the class. She also set a new best time in the 100 breast (1:00.64) at the meet, moving into the top five in the class, and had her best-ever 500 free (4:50.40) by over four seconds. She’s strong in the 400 IM with the 4:14.7 she produced in early 2025, but her fastest showing last season was 4:18.6. The Cal commit will focus on the breaststrokes in college, making the 200 IM a natural third event selection. Entering the 2026-27 season, one thing to keep an eye on is the fact that Su surprisingly scratched out of the 200 breast at U.S. Nationals in July, only contesting the 400 and 800 free.
14. Bianca Nwaizu (Previous Rank: 11)– Irvine Novaquatics – Calvary Chapel High School – Irvine, CA **Committed to Texas**
Best Times:
100 breast: 59.05 (best in class) 200 breast: 2:12.15 100 fly: 54.35 200 IM: 2:03.70 50 free: 23.65 100 free: 50.99 200 free: 1:51.50Nwaizu remains the fastest 100 breaststroker in the class after chopping nearly seven-tenths off her best time last season in 59.05, which earned her a runner-up finish at Winter Juniors – West last December behind Mikayla Tan by one one-hundredth. Nwaizu, who entered 2025-26 with a PB of 59.73, was sub-1:00 an incredible nine times last season, including topping the field at the CIF-SS Champs in 59.44 and then winning the state title one week later in 59.87. Her personal best is just seven one-hundredths shy of what it took to score last season at NCAAs (58.98), so by the time she starts her college career, it’s easy to see her pushing the ‘A’ final threshold, which is currently a blistering 57.9. Nwaizu also improved in the 100 free (50.99) and 100 fly (54.35) last season, and was only three-tenths off her best time in the 200 breast at the Oceanside Sectionals in 2:12.35. Coming off setting long course best times in the 100 breast (1:09.47) and 200 breast (2:34.38) at U.S. Nationals, Nwaizu is riding some momentum into her senior year, and if she can lower that 200 breast PB—potentially into the sub-2:10 range—to become an eventual scoring threat at the NCAA level in two events, she’s likely in the top 10.
13. Zara Kocak (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Excel Aquatics – Station Camp High School – Gallatin, TN **Committed to Indiana**
Best Times:
200 fly: 1:55.49 100 fly: 53.48 400 IM: 4:13.96 200 back: 1:56.56 1650 free: 16:56.73 500 free: 4:51.73 200 free: 1:50.74 100 free: 50.53 50 free: 23.66 100 back: 56.39Kocak announced herself as an elite butterflier at U.S. Nationals in late July, throwing down a massive best time in the prelims of the 200 fly (2:09.36) before placing 2nd in the junior final (2:10.07) behind Audrey Derivaux. That performance, which earned her a spot on the Junior Pan Pac roster, came after a breakout short course season which saw her lower her 200 fly best time by two and a half seconds while also making meaningful improvements in the 200 back and 400 IM. In the 200 fly, Kocak set a best time of 1:57.72 at the Southeastern Championship Meet at the end of February, and then followed up by unleashing a time of 1:55.49 at NCSAs three weeks later, ranking her 2nd in the class and putting her under the NCAA cutline (1:56.31). Her 200 back took a four-second leap last season down to 1:56.56, while in the 400 IM, she dropped six seconds to go 4:13.96. Though she didn’t approach her 53.4 100 fly best time last season, Kocak is coming off setting a PB of 59.73 in the long course event at Junior Pan Pacs, winning the bronze medal, which should give her some momentum to push the 53 barrier in 2026-27. Headed to Indiana, Kocak will make for a natural training partner to Alex Shackell as a 200 fly specialist.
12. Vivienne Zangaro (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Long Island Aquatic Club – Long Beach High School – Long Beach, NY **Committed to Georgia**
Best Times:
1000 free: 9:36.66 (best in class) 500 free: 4:39.70 (best in class) 200 free: 1:46.71 100 free: 51.09 200 fly: 1:59.53 200 back: 1:59.28 200 IM: 2:03.85Like Kocak, Zangaro had a big performance at U.S. Nationals, earning her a spot on the Junior Pan Pac team. She put up a big best time of 4:10.31 in the 400 free at Nationals, placing 3rd in the junior final, and then stepped up her game even further at Junior Pan Pacs, winning gold in the 400 free in a lifetime best of 4:09.81—24th all-time in the 15-16 age group. She also led off the gold medal-winning 4×200 free relay and placed 4th in both the 200 and 800 free, giving her some valuable international experience. In terms of her short course season, Zangaro won the NYSPHSAA state titles in the 200 free (1:48.18) and 500 free (4:44.60) in November, setting a best time in the latter, and then re-lowered that PB down to 4:43.61 in December. Her 500 free progression continued into the new year, going 4:42.75 in mid-February before ultimately peaking at NCSAs in March, winning the event in a three-second best time of 4:39.70. That puts her clear of the next-fastest swimmer in the class by over two seconds and pulls her within half a second of what it took to score at the 2026 NCAAs. At the same meet, the Long Island Aquatic Club product also notched PBs in the 100 free (51.09), 200 free (1:46.71) and 1000 free (9:36.66), the latter ranking her #1 in the class by six seconds. After making the Junior Pan Pac team at U.S. Nationals in July, she checked in for Junior Nationals the following week and dropped a big best time of 8:39.42 in the 800 free. Interestingly, Zangaro has never raced the 1650 free in short course yards, though she did have a successful long course 1500 debut in June in 16:57.67. Given her abilities from the 200 up to the 1000, it seems likely she gives the 1650 a good crack this season. It would bolster her NCAA scoring potential greatly given that the 1000 isn’t a championship event.
11. Khanh Seaton (Previous Rank: NR) – Golden State Aquatics – Castro Valley High School – Castro Valley, CA **Committed to Cal**
Best Times:
50 free: 22.02 (best in class) 100 free: 48.18 100 fly: 54.80 100 back: 55.32 200 IM: 2:04.00Seaton had a breakout season in 2025-26, culminating with a pair of CIF state title victories in the 50 and 100 free. Entering her junior year with respective PBs of 23.24 and 50.84 in the 50 and 100 free, she cracked the 23 and 50-second barriers during the first meet of the season (22.73/49.84) and never looked back. The California native went on to place 6th at Winter Juniors – West in the 50 free (22.47) after setting a best time of 22.40 in the prelims, and then followed up by going 22.30 in an early May high school meet before unleashing another big lifetime best at the CIF North Coast Section Championships in 22.02. That time ranks her #1 in the class and is within a tenth of the 2026 NCAA cutline (21.94). One week later, she claimed the CIF state title in a time of 22.22. In the 100 free, Seaton went sub-49 for the first time at the North Coast Section Championships in 48.58, and then followed up by dominating the CIF state final en route to the title in 48.22. That ranks her 2nd in the class, just four one-hundredths shy of Adalynn Biegler, and is less than three-tenths shy of what it took to qualify for NCAAs last season (47.95). In addition to her impressive individual performances, Seaton also has a pair of 21.83 relay splits on her resume. She also took a big step in the 100 fly last season, dropping from 58.4 to 54.8, making it a viable third event. After her explosive season, becoming the best sprinter in the class with Rylee Erisman reclassifying, Seaton is a massive get for Cal, where she’ll train alongside Erisman in 12 months.
10. Abby Chan (Previous Rank: 13) – Huntsville Swim Association – Bob Jones High School – Madison, AL **Committed to Florida**
Best Times:
100 fly: 52.10 50 free: 22.25 100 free: 49.45 50 back: 24.42 100 back: 52.66 200 back: 1:56.94 200 fly: 1:59.41 200 free: 1:49.10Chan is a versatile sprinter whose best event is the 100 fly but is also elite across the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back. After being primarily looked at as a backstroke sprinter in last year’s rankings, Chan made a big jump in the 100 fly last season, knocking more than a second off her previous best of 53.22 while going sub-53 on six separate occasions. That included placing 4th at Winter Juniors – East in December in 52.20, and then dropping down to 52.10 en route to winning the NCSA title in March. She was also 3rd at Winter Juniors in the 50 free (22.25), 5th in the 100 back (52.76) and 13th in the 100 free (49.98), and at NCSAs, claimed gold in the 50 fly (23.42), took 2nd in both the 100 free (49.45) and 50 back (24.42), and added a 5th-place finish in the 200 fly (1:59.41). Chan now ranks 3rd in the class in the 100 fly and is just seven-one hundredths off the NCAA cutline, while she’s also 3rd in the class in the 100 back and sits 4th in the 50 free. A proven championship performer, Chan is coming off winning the 100 free, 50 fly and 100 fly at the NCSA Summer Championships in the long course pool, and she also accrued some international experience at the AP Race London International in May, where she set best times in everything she raced. A future NCAA lineup for Chan certainly includes the 50 free and 100 fly, and then on the other full day of racing, it’s likely the 100 free, though the 200 back and 200 fly could also be options. On relays, she can contribute to the 200 and 400 free, and could take on either back or fly on medleys when she gets to Florida.
9. Ines Arnall (Previous Rank: 19) – Westchester Aquatic Club – Convent Of The Sacred Heart (NY) – New York City, NY **Committed to Stanford**
Best Times:
200 back: 1:53.62 100 back: 52.82 50 back: 24.69 200 fly: 1:57.44 100 fly: 53.50 50 free: 22.83 100 free: 49.53 200 free: 1:47.68 200 IM: 2:03.58Arnall made significant improvements across the board last season, highlighted by the 200 back, where she vaulted into #3 in the class after dropping a time of 1:53.62 at the Cary Sectionals in March. Coming into the season with a best of 1:55.44, Arnall went 1:54.42 in November, dominated the ‘B’ final at Winter Juniors – East in 1:54.09, and then progressed down to that 1:53-mid swim three months later. In the 100 back, Arnall went sub-53 four times last season after entering the campaign with a PB of 53.30, with her 52.82 PB ranking 4th in the class. She also evolved from a 54.0/1:58.9 butterflier to 53.5/1:57.4, the 200 time putting her within 1% of the NCAA cutline. Arnall also established herself as a strong sprint freestyler last season, going sub-23 (22.83) and sub-50 (49.53) for the first time in the 50 and 100, and knocking a half-second off her 200 time to boot (1:47.68). Sure to be a key relay player for Stanford in future seasons, the NCAA schedule likely leaves Arnall with the 50 free as her #3 event to go along with the backstrokes.
8. Sutton Forbis (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Bellevue Club Swim Team – Sammamish High School – Seattle, WA **Committed to NC State**
Best Times:
200 back: 1:54.35 100 back: 52.62 50 back: 24.61 100 free: 48.84 50 free: 22.70 100 fly: 53.21 200 fly: 1:58.74 200 IM: 2:00.44 200 free: 1:48.10Forbis is very comparable to Arnall, and though she’s a tick slower in the 200 back, Forbis edges her out in the ranking thanks to her sprint free—specifically the 100—being a step ahead. A Best of the Rest backstroker in last year’s rankings, Forbis rewrote her personal record book last season, knocking a full second off her best time in the 100 back and more than two in the 200 back to become one of the fastest in the class. Coming into 2025-26 with a 100 back PB of 53.63, Forbis went 52-point four times last season—three of them on relay lead-offs—that culminated with a 52.62 clocking at the BC Premier Invitational in March. Her best meet over the first half of the season came at the Washington State Senior SCY Championships in December, where she set new best times en route to victories in the 200 back (1:54.35), 100 fly (53.46), 200 fly (1:58.74) and 200 IM (2:00.44) while also setting PBs in the 50 back (24.65) and 100 back (52.73) on relay lead-offs. She brought her 100 fly best down to 53.21 in January and then at the BC Premier Invitational, in addition to lowering her 100 back best time, she also set new PBs in the 50 free (22.70), 100 free (48.84) and 50 back (24.61). On paper, the 200 back is her best event, sitting within 1% of the NCAA cutline, but she’s one of the top six in the class in the 100 free, 100 back and 100 fly, and her times in the 50s indicate that she might be more of a sprinter than a 200 swimmer. Headed to NC State, Forbis is of a similar mould to Leah Shackley and Erika Pelaez as a versatile backstroker/butterflier who can also be a big contributor in the free relays. Forbis has a lot of different schedule possibilities for future postseason meets, as the 200 back/100 free and the 100 fly/100 back both coincide on the NCAA Championship program.
7. Carly Afanasewicz (Previous Rank: 9) – Phoenix Aquatic Club (NY) – Pearl River High School – Pearl River, NY **Verbally committed to Georgia**
Best Times:
100 back: 52.55 (best in class) 200 back: 1:53.40 400 IM: 4:11.63 200 IM: 1:59.47 100 fly: 53.71 50 back: 24.61 50 free: 23.75 100 free: 50.45 200 free: 1:48.87 500 free: 4:51.16 1650 free: 16:54.01Afanasewicz takes over as the top 100 backstroker in the class following both the reclassification of Rylee Erisman, having dropped over a second last season in 52.55, a swim she produced in winning the event at the Senior Mets Winter Championship in February. Afanasewicz slowly rounded into form last season—she didn’t set any PBs at Winter Juniors in December, instead peaking in February and March, which is what you have to do in college as well. In addition to the 100 back, she set new bests in the 200 free (1:48.87), 200 back (1:53.40), 200 IM (1:59.47) and 400 IM (4:11.63) at the Senior Mets meet in mid-February, and then followed up with another strong showing at the Ithaca Sectionals in March, sweeping the backstroke events and adding a fourth gold in the 400 IM, with a PB coming in the 50 back at 24.61. Despite sitting atop the class in the 100 back, Afanasewicz’s best event has to be considered the 200 back, as her 1:53.40 best time is just five one-hundredths outside the NCAA cutline. Georgia is bringing in a solid recruiting class this season with Maya Schweikert, Maddie Thornton and Virginia Hinds all strong backstrokers—an area of need in 2025-26—and Afanasewicz will add to that in 12 months. Her 4:11.63 400 IM also ranks #2 in the class, making it a viable event she could focus on in college, though it clashes with the 100 back on the NCAA schedule. She could shift to the 200 IM, where she’s one of 11 in the class sub-2:00.
6. Alyssa Ton (Previous Rank: 4) – Irvine Novaquatics – Fountain Valley High School – Fountain Valley, CA **Committed to Tennessee**
Best Times:
200 free: 1:44.12 (best in class) 500 free: 4:43.39 100 free: 49.05 50 free: 22.91 200 IM: 1:58.65 400 IM: 4:12.35 200 fly: 1:57.48 100 fly: 53.81 200 back: 1:57.89 100 back: 53.68Ton distanced herself from the rest of the class last year in the 200 free (outside of Rylee Erisman) during the CIF postseason, clocking 1:44.50 at the Sunset League Championships at the end of April before dropping a time of 1:44.12 one week later at the Southern Section D1 Championships. With Erisman’s reclassification, that time ranks her #1 in the class by a second and a half, and is comfortably under the 2026 NCAA cutline (1:44.43). However, Ton wasn’t quite at the same level this past season, though she did go 1:45-point six times, with her fastest showing of 1:45.15 still faster than anyone else in the class. She also split 1:44.75 in the 800 free relay at the Oceanside Sectionals in February. In the 100 free, she was just five one-hundredth off her best time this past season in 49.10, while she was within a second of her 500 PB in 4:44.26. Beyond her freestyle abilities, Ton is versatile, sitting within 2% of the cutline in the 200 fly (1:57.48), 200 IM (1:58.65) and 400 IM (4:12.35), setting her new PB in the former event at the Oceanside Sectionals. Coming off a summer that saw her set long course best times in the 200 and 400 free, and earn ‘A’ final appearances in the 200 free (4th) and 100 free (7th) at Junior Nationals, it will be interesting to see if Ton can carry that momentum into her senior year and lower the PBs she set as a sophomore. Once she arrives at Tennessee, it stands to reason Ton will focus in on the 100, 200 and 500 free, along with the relays, but she’s certainly not limited to those with her wide-ranging skillset.
5. Adalynn Biegler (Previous Rank: 10) – Edina Swim Club – Monticello High School – Big Lake, MN **Verbally committed to Tennessee**
Best Times:
50 free: 22.16 100 free: 48.18 (best in class) 200 free: 1:46.48 100 fly: 53.04 100 back: 54.15 200 IM: 2:00.40 400 IM: 4:20.79Clearly one of the best drop-dead sprinters in the class last year, Biegler took big steps in the 100 free, 200 free and 100 fly in 2025-26, allowing her to move up into the top five. She was a force throughout the season, beginning with a dominant showing at the MSHSL Class A State Championships in November, where she won individual titles in the 200 free (1:46.93) and 100 fly (53.48) with new best times while also swimming the two fastest 50 frees of her career (22.16, 22.24) on relay lead-offs for Monticello High School. She continued to roll at Winter Juniors – West in December, earning runner-up finishes in the 50 free (22.28) and 100 free (48.18), placing 5th in the 200 free (1:47.50), 6th in the 100 fly (53.04), and setting a new 200 free PB on the 800 free relay (1:46.48). Adding to her impressive meet, Biegler was 22.2 in the three 50 frees she swam (22.29 in prelims, 22.23 on relay lead-off) and was 48-point in the prelims of the 100 free (48.55) and split 48.18 on the 400 free relay. At NCSAs in March, she nabbed title victories in the 50 (22.40) and 100 free (49.34) while adding new best times in the 100 back (54.15) and 50 fly (24.47). Closing out her incredible season, Biegler won the Junior National title in the 100 free in early August in 55.73. As the fastest swimmer in the class in the 100 free, 2nd in the 50 free and 6th in the 100 fly, Biegler has the makings of a star sprinter in college, with the ability to serve as a cornerstone of the Lady Vol relays throughout her career.
4. Emily Wolf (Previous Rank: 7) – Fishers Area Swimming Tigers – Fishers High School – Fishers, IN **Committed to NC State**
Best Times:
200 fly: 1:56.76 100 fly: 52.66 200 free: 1:45.72 500 free: 4:41.98 1000 free: 9:42.65 1650 free: 16:23.05 200 back: 1:55.19 100 back: 54.76 100 free: 50.10 50 free: 23.97Wolf is an all-around talent who made big improvements last season, taking her already elite 200 fly to the next level while having a breakthrough of sorts in the freestyle events. At Winter Juniors – East in December, she dropped more than two seconds in the 500 free, getting down to 4:41.98 to put her under the 2026 NCAA cutline, while in the 200 fly, she cracked 1:57 for the first time in 1:56.76, putting her within half a second of the cutline. In the class, she ranks 3rd in the 500 free and 6th in the 200 fly, while in the 1000 free, her time of 9:42.65 from Winter Juniors also sits 3rd. In the 200 free, Wolf came into the season with a best time of 1:49-flat, but quickly took that down, going 1:48.4 in November, 1:47.2 in December, and then clocking 1:46.51 at the IHSAA Hamilton Southeastern Sectionals. That led into the IHSAA State Championships, where Wolf blasted her way to a new best time of 1:45.72 in the prelims before winning the final in 1:45.84. She also won the 500 free title (4:43.25) and recorded 22.78/48.41 50/100 free splits for Fishers High School at the meet. That momentum carried into the long course season, with Wolf breaking 2:00 in the 200 free for the first time at U.S. Nationals (1:59.67) before winning the Junior National title one week later in 2:00.08. She also placed 10th in the 200 fly at Nationals in 2:13.08, and then at Junior Nats, took 3rd in the 1500 free (16:51.10), 5th in the 100 free (56.41) and 800 free (8:45.95), and 8th in the 200 back, showing incredible range. The 200 fly on Day 2, 500 free on Day 3 and 200 free on Day 4 make for a perfect NCAA schedule for Wolf as it stands, but her versatility is so wide ranging she could go in several different directions. We haven’t even touched on the 1650 free, which she swam for the first time in a year and a half in March and dropped 22 seconds in 16:23.05, vaulting her into 3rd in the class. After her success in the 1500 at Junior Nationals, could the mile become more of a focus? It’s a possibility.
3. Nikki Nixon (Previous Rank: 5) – TAC Titans – Cardinal Gibbons High School – Raleigh, NC **Committed to Georgia**
Best Times:
200 fly: 1:54.04 (best in class) 100 fly: 51.54 (best in class) 200 IM: 1:59.43 400 IM: 4:13.85 200 free: 1:48.80 100 free: 50.43 50 free: 23.05 100 back: 53.89 200 back: 1:59.38 200 breast: 2:15.57 100 breast: 1:03.16Nixon takes over the mantle as the top butterflier in the class with Audrey Derivaux reclassifying. After inching under her 200 fly best time (1:54.91) en route to a runner-up finish at Winter Juniors – East in December in 1:54.87, Nixon had a dominant showing at the North Carolina Senior Championships in February, winning all three of her events including the 200 fly. The TAC Titan fired off a time of 1:54.04 in the final, which would’ve finished 12th in the 2026 NCAA prelims, eight-tenths outside of an ‘A’ final swim. She also won the 100 fly in a new lifetime best of 51.54, dropping three-tenths to pull within 21 one-hundredths of an NCAA scoring time. Nixon’s third victory came in the 100 back, where she matched the best time she set one week prior on the number at 53.89. Headed to Georgia, Nixon is a double scoring threat in the butterfly events, with the pedigree to walk in and earn ‘A’ final appearances right from the jump, and she showed how well-rounded she is by posting a very respectable 4:13.8 400 IM in January. Her third event could end up being the 100 back, which would mean taking on the double with the 100 fly, but the 200 IM also makes sense as someone who has been 1:59 multiple times and probably has untapped potential there.
2. Lucy Velte (Previous Rank: BOTR) – Empire KC Swim Club – Blue Valley North High School – Overland Park, KS **Committed to Northwestern**
Best Times:
200 IM: 1:55.69 100 fly: 51.95 200 fly: 1:55.68 50 free: 22.31 100 free: 48.53 200 free: 1:48.35 500 free: 4:47.24 50 back: 24.67 100 back: 53.93 200 back: 2:01.76 100 breast: 1:04.26No one rocketed up the rankings this year more than Velte, who was listed as a BOTR backstroker in the Way Too Early article 12 months ago but took giant steps forward in a variety of events in her junior year. Incredibly, she now has NCAA cut times in three different events, none of those being in backstroke. In the 200 IM, she dropped six seconds over the course of the season, first cracking 2:00 in November (1:58.70) before unleashing a time of 1:55.69 at the Columbia Sectionals in March, winning gold, moving into a clear-cut #2 in the class and putting her well under what it took to score at the 2026 NCAAs (1:56.43). Those Columbia Sectionals were truly a breakout meet for the Northwestern commit, as she also won the 50 fly (23.60), 100 fly (51.95) and 200 fly (1:55.68), and took 2nd in the 50 free (22.31) and 100 free (48.53), setting new best times in every event. She also anchored the Empire 800 free relay in 1:46.80, well under 200 free PB of 1:48.35. In addition to her scoring time in the 200 IM, both her butterfly PBs are NCAA-qualifying times, and then her 50 and 100 free bests are also sitting right near the top of the class. She also had an impressive long course season, placing 3rd in the junior final of the 100 fly at Nationals (59.58) before taking 2nd in the 200 IM (2:15.77) and 3rd in the 100 free (56.00) and 100 fly (59.75) at Junior Nats. Velte will be a massive addition for Northwestern, which hasn’t had a 200 IMer faster than Velte since Calypso Sheridan (2019-20) and haven’t had anyone quicker in the fly events since Miriam Guevara (2022-23). The 200 IM coupled with the two fly races makes for a perfect individual schedule for Velte, and she’ll also be a lynchpin of four of the five relays.
1. Sadie Buckley (Previous Rank: 3) – Nation’s Capital Swim Club – Fairfax High School – Fairfax, VA **Committed to Texas**
Best Times:
400 IM: 4:03.07 (best in class) 200 IM: 1:54.84 (best in class) 200 back: 1:51.59 (best in class) 100 back: 53.14 500 free: 4:41.96 200 free: 1:45.74 200 fly: 1:57.64 100 fly: 54.83 100 free: 49.87 50 free: 23.81 200 breast: 2:14.76 100 breast: 1:04.94Buckley is the runaway top recruit as the fastest swimmer in the class by a wide margin in the 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM while sitting near the top in a variety of other events. Her short course season was a slow build, winning VHSL Class 6 state titles with new best times in the 200 free (1:46.48) and 500 free (4:43.34) before peaking for the NCSA Spring Championships in March, which she did perfectly. Buckley most impressively picked up dominant victories in the 200 IM (1:54.84) and 400 IM (4:03.07), shattering her previous best times (1:56.4/4:07.8) while getting under the NCAA ‘A’ final threshold in the 400 IM. That is the only swim from any recruit in the class worthy of an NCAA ‘A’ final. Her 200 IM time was within a half-second of the ‘A’ final cut-off and well under the scoring threshold, while her runner-up finish in the 200 back (1:51.59) knocked four-tenths off her previous best and also put her in scoring position at NCAAs (1:51.97 was 16th in 2026). Adding to her incredible meet, she was 2nd in the 500 free in 4:41.96, under the 2026 NCAA qualifying time of 4:42.07, also secured a victory in the 200 free with a new PB of 1:45.74, and reset her 200 fly PB to 1:57.64 in the prelims before taking 4th in the final (1:57.85). On paper, her sprint free best times may be her weak point, but at NCSAs, she split 22.66/48.80 in the 50/100 free on the NCAP relays, showing she can be a key contributor there as well. The future Texas Longhorn has a perfect NCAA schedule teed up with the 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM, but she’s so talented across the board she can be a contributor across the board throughout a season.
BONUS LOOKBACK
Feeling nostalgic? Here’s a look back at our historic recruiting class rankings, plus our retrospectives of those classes after four NCAA seasons:
Recruiting Class High School Class of 2028 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores High School Class of 2027 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors High School Class of 2026 Way Too Early Rank As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2025 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2024 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2023 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks As Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2022 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors High School Class of 2021 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2020 Way Too Early Ranks As Sophomores Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2019 Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2018 Ranks as Juniors Re-Rank As Seniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2017 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2016 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2015 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2014 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospective High School Class of 2013 Ranks as Juniors Post-college retrospectiveRead the full story on SwimSwam: Top 20 NCAA Swimming Recruits In The Girls’ High School Class of 2027
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