{"id":654012,"date":"2026-09-23T16:44:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=654012"},"modified":"2026-09-23T16:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T23:44:47","slug":"national-age-group-record-holder-karina-plaza-gives-2028-verbal-to-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/national-age-group-record-holder-karina-plaza-gives-2028-verbal-to-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"National Age Group Record Holder Karina Plaza Gives 2028 Verbal to Virginia"},"content":{"rendered":"

National Age Group Record Holder Karina Plaza Gives 2028 Verbal to Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

NEW COMMIT:\u00a0<\/strong>Charlotte, North Carolina native\u00a0Karina Plaza\u00a0<\/strong>has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Virginia’s Class of 2032. Plaza, one of the top recruits in her class, is a versatile Summer Nationals qualifier and National Age Group record holder.<\/p>\n

She will join\u00a0Allison Kelly<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Shelby Hutchinson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>in Charlottesville in Fall 2028.<\/p>\n

Regarding her commitment, she said:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Virginia! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for always supporting me, believing in me, and helping me get to this point. I would also like to give a huge thank you to Coach Todd and the entire UVA coaching staff for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career at UVA.<\/strong><\/span>
\nGO HOOS!”<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Plaza owns the National Age Group records in the girls’ 13-14 100 breast and 200 breast with respective times of 59.94 and 2:09.40. Those were both achieved at the North Carolina Short Course Age Group Championships in 2025. She became the youngest high school girl in U.S. history to break the 60-second barrier in the 100 breast.<\/p>\n

Plaza, who trains year-round with Mecklenburg Swim Association, most recently competed at the USA Swimming National Championships where she raced six events. At Juniors East in December, she finished seventh in the 100 breast, ninth in the 200 IM and 400 IM, 17th in the 200 breast and 19th in the 200 back while also swimming on the winning 4×50 medley, 4×100 medley and 4×100 free relays.<\/p>\n

Her best times include:<\/p>\n