Ivy League Receives Loads of Verbal Commitments for the Class of 2020

Photo Courtesy: Harvard Athletics

By Bonnie Schipper, Swimming World College Intern

As the first National Letter of Intent signing day has already come and gone, many senior swimmers have already made their college decisions. Schools in the Ivy League, however- Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale- rely strictly on verbal commitments in order to build their rosters. Here are just a few of the young stars who have verbally committed and will make their NCAA debut in 2016.

BROWN

Jessie Blake-West, Belmont, Massachusetts

West, a Winter Juniors qualifier in the 100 fly, holds school records for the freshman 100 fly, varsity 100 fly, school pool 100 fly; varsity 50 free, and freshman 200 medley relay team. A two time state champion in the 100 butterfly, West’s best time is a 54.79.

Amelia Gilchrist, Greensboro, North Carolina

The daughter of a former Division-I swimmer, Gilchrist will continue her career in Providence, Rhode Island. She placed in the top 5 in both the 100 back and the 200 free at the 2015 NCHSAA 4A State Championships, with times of 55.85 and 1:51.42, respectively.

Kelley Tackett, Columbia, Missouri

A gifted freestyler, Tacket led her team to a MSHSAA Girls State Swimming Championship in 2015, earning two silver medals. She recently reached finals in four events at the USA Swimming Futures Championship in Indiana.

CORNELL

Calvin Hulse, Onalaska, Wisconsin

A two-time WIAA state qualifier, the Wisconsin native plans to pursue a degree in Information Science in Ithaca. The 50-yard freestyler’s personal best is currently a 20.96. He dropped .42 seconds from his state time in 2014, and is aiming to set a new state record, if he can drop down to 20.43. This time would make Hulse one of the Big Red’s fastest swimmers.

COLUMBIA

Helen Wojdylo, Manchester, Missouri

The Missouri native has been a part of the CSP Tideriders’ national team for the past two years, and made finals this past summer in the 50 breast at NCSA juniors. She’s gone to sectionals every year for the for the past 5 years, making finals multiple times in the 500 free, 200 free, 100 free, 100 breast and 200 breast. For the past two years, the Lions commit has been the defending division champion in the 500 free.

DARTMOUTH

Sarah Finlay, St. Louis, Missouri

The teammate of Wojdylo, the third generation college swimmer will continue her career with the Big Green. Her accolades include being a 4-time individual Winter National Qualifier, 8-time Individual Summer and Winter Junior National Qualifier, and 2-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Photo Courtesy: Sarah Finlay

HARVARD

Daniel Chang, Johnson City, Tennessee

Chang currently holds the National Public School record in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.54), and was the Tennessee state champion in the 200 IM last winter. He earned his way to Olympic Trials and placed fourth in the 100-meter breaststroke at Junior Nationals in 2015.

Dean Farris, Atlanta, Georgia

Farris qualified for the Olympic Trials in both the 50-meter free and 100-meter back, and placed in the top ten in both events at Junior Nationals last year. With a personal best 50m time of 20.36 and 100m time of 44.62, Farris already swims at the Ivy League Championships’ “B” level time.

Raphael Marcoux, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Marcoux was named the Florida High School Dairy Association Male Swimmer of the Year after winning both the 50 free and the 100 free at the FHSAA Class 3A Championships last year.

Zach Snyder, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

A multitalented IMer, Snyder has achieved national-qualifying times in a variety of events, including both IMs, mid-distance freestyles, and both 200 back and fly. During the summer version of the YMCA Short Course meet, Snyder was an “A” finalist in three events, with times that would already make him at least “B” level in the Ivy League Championships for the Crimson.

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James Dika

8 years ago

Raphael Marcoux

Samuel Paquin

8 years ago

Raphael Marcoux