Former National Age Group Record Holder #11 Ethan Young Chooses Cal

Former National Age Group Record holder Ethan Young from the Carpet Capital Aquatics Club in Georgia has verbally committed to the Cal Golden Bears, making for a second top-20 commit for Dave Durden’s team in the last week.

Young could contribute to Cal in either the backstroke or butterfly races, but the former of those events is where his international aspirations lay.

Best times in yards:

• 50 free – 21.40
• 100 free – 45.69
• 200 free – 1:42.38
• 100 back – 47.47
• 200 back – 1:43.06
• 100 fly – 48.92
• 200 fly – 1:51.06

The 100 and 200 backstrokes in long course meters are where his two Olympic Trials cuts come from. His best times in those races, both from this summer’s U.S. National Championships, are 55.80 and 2:01.93, respectively.

Young is a former 13-14 National Age Group Record holder in the 100 and 200 yard backstrokes. He took that 200 yard back record from one Ryan Murphy, who is the two-time defending NCAA Champion, NCAA Record holder, American Record holder, and fastest swimmer ever in the 200 yard backstroke. Murphy also happens to be a junior at Cal. This means that Young will get the chance to race a swimmer whose backstroke records he has made a public goal.

Young is the two-time defending Georgia 1A-5A (small schools) High School state champion in the 100 back, which goes next to three-straight runner-up finishes in the 100 fly. He also placed 3rd in both the 50 and 100 yard backstrokes at the 2015 NCSA Junior National Championships.

Young is a member of the U.S. National Junior Team in the 100 meter backstroke, and SwimSwam’s 11th-ranked recruit in the class of 2016. #2 commit in the class Michael Jensen also chose Cal over the weekend.