Backstroker Jamie Kolar Announces Transfer from Illinois to Cincinnati

Photo Courtesy: Jamie Kolar

NEW COMMIT: Lincolnwood, Ill. native Jamie Kolar has announced her decision to transfer from the University of Illinois to the University of Cincinnati.

With one final year of eligibility remaining, she will join the Bearcats this fall.

She told Swimming World:

“I am beyond excited to announce my commitment to the University of Cincinnati. I will be attending graduate school as well as using my final year of eligibility in the water. Thank you to my family and coaches at HSC for helping me along this tremendous journey. Thank you to the coaches at Cincinnati for giving me this amazing opportunity as well! I can’t wait to see what this next chapter holds in a new city and a new school! Go bearcats”

Kolar was one of Illinois’ top backstrokers and competed at the Big Ten Championships during her freshman and sophomore seasons. Last year, she won both the 100 back and 200 back in a tri-meet against Illinois State and Southern Illinois. She was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten team twice and was honored as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar as a sophomore.

A 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier, Kolar most recently picked up the bronze medal in the 100 back at Illinois Seniors and raced the 100m/200m back combo at the U.S. Open. Last summer, she placed third in the 200m back at Minneapolis Sectionals before going on to take fourth in the 100m back at Des Moines Futures.

In SCY, her best times include:

50 back – 26.09
100 back – 55.25
200 back – 1:58.12
100 free – 53.14
200 free – 1:53.44

In LCM, her best times include:

50m back – 30.35
100m back – 1:03.18
200m back – 2:15.85
100m free – 59.61
200m free – 2:08.64

Kolar also had a stellar high school and club career. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American was a member of the Illinois State Championship team in 2014 and was a three-time CCL All-Conference selection. She did her club swimming with Hinsdale Swim Club and was a multi-event U.S. Open and Junior National qualifier.

She will add tremendous depth to Cincinnati’s backstroke group this fall as her best times would’ve ranked at the top of their lineup last season. Kolar would’ve scored in the A-final of the 200 back as well as the B-final of the 100 back at the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championships where the Bearcats finished third overall in the team standings.

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Leslie Cichocki

3 years ago

Scott Erdman

Swim

3 years ago

Great pickup for Cinci. Kolar will be a big contributor. Not surprised U of IL could not hold onto the only swimmer on their roster who had qualified for 2016 Olympic trials. It says a lot about U of IL’s failing swim program. They need to clean out the coaching staff.