By Charlotte Wells on SwimSwam
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Gabriella “Ella” Hafner has announced her verbal commitment to swim for the University of South Carolina beginning in the fall of 2028, following in her father’s footsteps and becoming the second generation of her family to swim for the Gamecocks.
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of South Carolina! Thank you to my parents for being there for me, supporting me through everything, and for not just being great coaches, but also the best parents who always push me to strive to be my best. Thank you to all of the coaches who have pushed me to be my best and believed in me; especially my dad, my mom, Mikey, and Nick. Lastly, a huge thank you to Coach Jeff, Coach Tylor, Coach Robert, and Coach Shrum for this incredible opportunity. GO GAMECOCKS! ”
Hafner was ranked a “Best of the Rest” recruit for distance freestyle in SwimSwam’s Way Too Early list of top recruits in the girls’ high school class of 2028. A junior at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, MI, she trains year-round with Pointe Aquatics, where she is coached by her parents Christine Hafner and Kevin Hafner. She also competes for Mercy’s varsity swimming team.
Hafner turned in a series of top performances at the 2025 OLY NCSA Winter Championships in December, clocking a personal best time in eight events. She won the 1000 free (9:51.16) and took 2nd in the 50 free (23.52) and 100 free (51.06), 4th in the 200 IM (2:07.24), 6th in the 100 back (57.91) and 8th in the 200 back (2:04.06 ), setting a lifetime best in all but the 200 IM. She also placed 3rd in the 400 IM (4:27.44), 12th in the 100 fly (57.40) and 14th in the 100 breast (1:08.89) after setting best times of 4:27.18, 57.27 and 1:08.80, respectively, during prelims.
At the 2026 NCSA Spring Championships in March, Hafner earned a second swim in four events. She placed 4th in the 1650 free (16:25.52 – PB), 5th in the 500 free (4:48.86 – PB), 8th in the 200 free (1:49.24) and 1000 free (9:57.68) and 16th in the 100 free (51.07) after posting a best time of 50.73 during prelims. She also finished 30th in the 400 IM (4:26.07) after setting a lifetime best of 4:26.04 in the heats.
Hafner competed at the 2026 U.S. National Championships (LCM) in July, where she contested the 1500 free (17:21.26). A week later, she raced at the Junior National Championships (LCM), earning a second swim in one event. She placed 21st in the 800 free (8:59.53) and 24th in the 400 free (4:22.42), and she contested the 50 free (27.21), 100 free (59.16) and 200 free (2:07.11).
Best Times SCY
200 free – 1:47.53 500 free – 4:48.86 1000 free – 9:51.16 1650 free – 16:25.32 200 IM – 2:05.80 400 IM – 4:26.04A Division I program in the Southeastern Conference, South Carolina placed 6th at last season’s conference championships before sending seven athletes to compete at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championships, where they finished 19th overall. To earn a second swim at the 2026 SECs, it took times of 1:46.80/4:48.60 in the 200/500 free and 2:00.73/4:17.08 in the 200/400 IM, putting Hafner just outside the cutoff in some of her top events. Hafner would have placed 14th in the 1650 free at the competition, giving her a chance to a few points early on.
On the team itself, Hafner would have ranked 4th in the 1000 free and 1650 free, 5th in the 200 free and 500 free and 6th in the 400 IM last season. With almost two full seasons to go before Hafner joins the Gamecocks, it remains to be seen exactly how the roster will shake out, but she already looks to be in a position to be a strong contributor for South Carolina.
“I chose South Carolina because the people are so welcoming, the coaches are so supportive, and the school feels like home,” Hafner said.
Hafner comes from a family of Gamecocks; she will be the fourth person in her family to attend the school and the third to compete for the swim team. Her father and her uncle, Dan Hafner, both swam for the school, while her cousin is currently studying there. Meanwhile, Hafner’s older sister Clare Hafner is a freshman swimming for John Carroll University.
Hafner is currently South Carolina’s only confirmed recruit from the high school class of 2028.
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