Stanford Adds Another to Class of 2026 from Olympic Trials Semifinalist Kayla Wilson

Photo Courtesy: Kayla Wilson

NEW COMMIT: Stanford University has been on a recruiting tear recently, with their latest verbal commitment for Fall 2022 coming from Kayla Wilson of Virginia Beach, Va..

She will join Sophie Duncan, Kristi McEnroe and Gigi Johnson on The Farm as a member of the Class of 2026.

Swimming runs in the Wilson family: her brother is a multi-time state champion while her mother, Katy Arris, was a USA National Team member, NCAA champion in the mile, and 17-time All-American at Texas.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“So blessed and excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at Stanford University!! Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, and friends for all of your support. Go Card!!?❤️”

Wilson trains year-round with Tide Swimming under Richard Hunter and most recently placed 15th in the semifinals of the 200m free at Wave II of the U.S. Olympic Trials last month in Omaha. The month prior, she earned five best times at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis.

In August 2019, she raced to fifth in the 200m free at Junior Nationals.

Wilson has made some pretty impressive improvements over the past two seasons, dropping a second in her 50 free, two in the 100 free, five in the 200 free, seven in the 200 back, eight in the 100 back, and 11 seconds in the 500 free.

She is also a dual citizen in Canada with the potential to compete at Canadian Trials in a few years.

Her best times include:

50 free – 23.03
100 free – 49.30
200 free – 1:44.90
500 free – 4:47.37
100 back – 55.28
200 back – 1:58.05

A rising senior at Norfolk Academy, Wilson is a six-time Virginia Independent School Championship finalist. She won the 200 free and was the runner-up in the 500 free as a junior while picking up gold in both of those events during her sophomore season.

The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American also holds the VISAA record in the 200 free.

Wilson will add valuable depth both individually and on relays on Stanford’s already-loaded roster. She would’ve scored in the A-final of the 200 free and B-final of the 100 free, 200 back, and 500 free at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships.

Stanford’s incoming class this fall includes Aurora Roghair, Amy Tang, Anna Shaw, Samantha Tadder, Torri Huske and Meghan Lynch, as well as diver Lauren Burch.

Tadder also swims for Tide Swimming.

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

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