Fort Collins’ Breaststroker/IMer Caraline Baker Verbals to USC Trojans for 2020-21 Season

Photo Courtesy: Caraline Baker

NEW COMMIT: The University of Southern California has gained a new verbal commitment from Fort Collins, Colorado native and high school junior Caraline Baker who will join the Trojans as a member of the class of 2024.

Baker, who does her club swimming with Fort Collins Area Swim Team, owns three U.S. Open standards and is primarily a breaststroker with strong IM talent. She most recently competed at Juniors West in December where she finaled in the 200 breast and placed 15th in the 100 breast at that meet in 2017. She capped off her summer season with a pair of best times and a 13th-place showing in the 100m breast at Junior Nationals and earned the bronze in both the 200 breast and 400 IM at Federal Way Speedo Sectionals last March.

Also competing for Fossil Ridge High School, Baker is a six-time Colorado 5A State Championship finalist. Last weekend, she placed fourth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 breast after placing second in both the 100 breast and 100 fly during her sophomore season. Baker has also earned both NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors twice in her career thus far.

She told Swimming World:

“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim at the University of Southern California! Thanks to all my family, friends, and coaches for helping me get here. I can’t wait to be a Trojan!”

Her best times include:

100 breast – 1:01.71
200 breast – 2:12.86
200 IM – 2:02.50
400 IM – 4:18.83

Even with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go before suiting up for the Trojans, Baker would’ve scored in the B-final of both breaststrokes and the C-final of both IMs at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships. She’ll also have one year of overlap with Maggie Aroesty, last year’s conference champion in the 200 breast.

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

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