Rice Owls Swoop Up Class of 2026 Verbal Commitment from Lili Elayi of Cardinal Aquatics

Photo Courtesy: Lili Elayi

NEW COMMIT: Rice University has received their second verbal commitment for the 2022-23 season and beyond from Lili Elayi out of Lexington, Ky.

She will join Mia Nagle of Copley, Ohio, as a member of the Owls’ Class of 2026.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Rice University! I am beyond grateful for all the support from my coaches, friends, and family. I can’t wait to be an OWL!”

Elayi, who does her club swimming with Cardinal Aquatics, most recently earned three best times at the Kentucky State Championships last month and posted five top-5 finishes at the 18&U Winter Championships in December, including a win in the 200 fly. She also finished 18th in the 100 fly at Cary Sectionals.

In Summer 2019, she had a stellar showing at the Kentucky LCM Championships before going on to race two events at Greensboro Futures.

Her best times include:

100 fly – 54.72
50 free – 23.85
100 free – 51.85
100 breast – 1:06.15
100 back – 58.36
200 IM – 2:10.40

Currently a junior at Lafayette High School, Elayi is a four-time individual Kentucky State Championship finalist. She placed fourth in the 100 fly and seventh in the 50 free as a sophomore while taking sixth and 10th, respectively, in those events during her rookie campaign.

Even with over a year to go before arriving on campus, Elayi will make a big impact. She would’ve scored in the B-final of the 50/100 free as well as the C-final of the 100 fly at the 2021 Conference USA Championships where Rice was the team runner-up.

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

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