Two-Time South Carolina State Champion Kaitlyn Golyski Pledges 2022 Verbal to Kentucky

Photo Courtesy: Kaitlyn Golyski

NEW COMMIT: The University of Kentucky has a new addition to their growing class of 2026 from Futures qualifier Kaitlyn Golyski of Aiken, S.C.

She will join Denise Phelan, Paige Taber, Stella Todd, Lucy Reber, Lydia Hanlon, Grace Frericks, Marin McKee, Jordan Agliano and Breckin Gormley in Lexington as a member of the Wildcats starting in 2022.

Regarding her commitment, she said:

“So beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at the University of Kentucky! I knew once I stepped on campus this was home?. I want to say a special thank you to my family, coaches, and teammates that have helped make this possible! Fall 2022 can’t come fast enough! Go cats!!???”

Primarily a sprint freestyler, Golyski does her club swimming with Palmetto Aquatics and most recently earned four best times at the TG Splash and Dash last month after finaling in the 200 breast at Cary Sectionals in March. In February, she collected silver in the 200 free and bronze in the 100 free at South Carolina Seni0rs where she recorded three other top-10 finishes.

Her best times include:

50 free – 23.82
100 free – 51.63
200 free – 1:52.09
100 breast – 1:07.24
200 breast – 2:22.92
100 back – 58.30
100 fly – 58.29

A rising senior at South Aiken High School, Golyski is already an eight-time South Carolina 4A State Championship finalist. She won the 100/200 free combo as a junior while taking fourth in both the 100 free and 100 back during her sophomore season.

The 2020-21 season was one of the history books for the women’s team, culminating with the Wildcats winning their first-ever SEC title with a program-record 1,124 points under head coach Lars Jorgensen. At the conference meet, the Wildcats collected 12 medals, including three gold, three silver, and six bronze, in addition to breaking five school records. The 800 freestyle relay team also combined to give UK their first-ever SEC relay title.

A school-record 14 UK women were invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships, besting the previous record of 10 and tying for the third-most swimmers invited that season behind Virginia and Florida. Those 14 Wildcats combined for 35 entries total, which was also a school record.

UK finished 11th with 152 points at NCAAs, marking their best team finish in school history as well as the most points scored, and also their fourth-straight year in the top-15. Kentucky collected 23 All-America honors – eight First Team and 15 Honorable Mention – yet another school record.

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