Buckeyes Snag In-State Verbal from Freestyler Claire Pophal for 2022

Photo Courtesy: Claire Pophal

NEW COMMIT: The Ohio State University has received their fifth verbal commitment for their growing Class of 2026 from in-state distance ace Claire Pophal of Pepper Pike, Ohio.

She will join Lucy Malys, Sydney Davids, Jessica Eden and Sanna Peterson in Columbus at the start of the 2022-23 season.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am THRILLED to announce my verbal commitment to swim at The Ohio State University! A HUGE thank you to my distance ladies and Coach Rick GO BUCKS!”

A Junior National qualifier, Pophal does her club swimming with Lake Erie Silver Dolphins and grabbed bronze in the mile at the Spire 18&U Winter Championships last month. In Summer 2018, she posted three top-8 finishes at Richmond Futures.

Her best times include:

200 free – 1:51.72
500 free – 4:53.25
1000 free – 10:07.10
1650 free – 16:57.94

Currently a junior at Hawken High School, Pophal is a three-time individual Ohio State Championship finalist. She finished third in the 500 free as a sophomore while taking second in that event as well as fourth in the 200 free during her freshman season.

Pophal will add valuable distance freestyle depth for the Buckeyes, a program that clinched the team title at the 2020 Big Ten Championships.

If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.

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