#13 Jason Louser Announces His Verbal Commitment to Cal for 2019-20

Jason Louser, the #13 recruit on our boys’ top-20 list for the class of 2019, has announced his verbal commitment to swim for the University of California, Berkeley beginning in the fall of 2019. He will join fellow commits Calvin David and Will Pelton in the class of 2023.

“I’m excited and proud to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of California, Berkeley! I cannot thank my family, friends, coaches, and teammates enough for helping me get here. Go Bears!🐻🔶🔷”

Louser is finishing his junior year at Shoreham Wading River High School in Shoreham, New York. He is quickly-rising IM/breaststroke specialist who represents both his high school and the Long Island Aquatic Club.

Top SCY times:

  • 400 IM – 3:47.70
  • 200 IM – 1:48.20
  • 100 breast – 55.07
  • 200 breast – 1:59.32

Louser won both the 200 IM and 100 breast with lifetime-best times (1:48.20 and 55.07) at 2018 NYSPHSAA Public Championships, coming within 4/10 of the New York State record in the former and within 5/10 in the latter. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and NISCA All-American had turned heads three months earlier when he dropped 8.5 seconds in prelims of the 400 IM to qualify for the A final at 2017 Winter National Championships. He took another 1.5 seconds off his time in the final to finish fourth overall with 3:47.70. He also went from 2:02.5 to 2:01.3 in the 200 breast at Winter Nationals. Since then, he has dropped another 2 seconds in the event, going 1:59.32 at 2018 NCSA Spring Championship. That meet also produced PBs in the 50 breast, 100 fly and 200 fly.

Louser has jumped out to a quick start in LCM this season, already notching best times at Irish Open in the 50 breast (30.00), 100 fly (57.44) and 400 IM (4:27.30). At Cal he will be able to train with incoming freshman Reece Whitley, among others, as he continues along his trajectory in the breast and IM events.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best and a quote to [email protected].

 

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Mike Murray
5 years ago

There’s no doubt that Jason has benefited from his time with LIAC, they do a phenomenal job training athletes and preparing swimmers for peak performances. LIAC is an exceptional club. HOWEVER, referring to TVSC as a place that didn’t have the tools to help him develop is rather myopic and seems biased. TVSC produced Olympian Julia Smit and also has a long tradition of developing great athletes. As Mark Anderson’s former coach, I’m also biased. Mark was an example of everything a great teammate should be and he’s gracefully carried those character traits into his coaching. Mark is young and has already produced several junior national level athletes and will continue to build that program.

Swammer
5 years ago

Getting major Dean Farris vibes with this one. Congrats to Jason and his family.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Swammer
5 years ago

Nope, to be in the realm of Dean Farris, he’d have to go to the Harvard of the West, not Cal.

Admin
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

Harvard of the west? https://www.hw.com/

(G)olden Bear
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

Congrats to Jason! And, everyone knows that Chico State is the #harvardofthewest.

Ray
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

The fact that they are the wolverines is not a coincidence right?

Admin
Reply to  Ray
5 years ago

I think not. Michigan is obviously the Harvard of the west coast of the upper Midwest.

Mike Murray
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

Hail to the Victors!

tammy touchpad error
5 years ago

Feeling some Trenton Julian vibes here looking at the times. Probably gonna absolutely explode freshman year or prior.

Ernie and Bert
5 years ago

Between this Kid and Reece Whitley, the Cal swim team might be as tall as the basketball team. Pac 12’s will be interesting.

Mike
5 years ago

Congrats to Jason and his family. He is a great kid with unlimited potential. He is about 6′ 6″ and still growing and has only been training with a real coach and swim club for a relatively short time. Keep an eye on him!

Mark
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

Define what a “real coach and team” are

Mike
Reply to  Mark
5 years ago

He was swimming with a club and coach that did not offer the type of training needed to rise to an elite level. The coach of the Long Island Aquatic club is one of the best club coaches in the country. They also have a new 50 meter pool to train in.

CBBDSIL
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

As a Long Island native, to not call Jason’s age group Team – Three Village Swim Club not a “real team” is not a fair comment. They have a rich history of developing athletes-including 2008 Olympian Julia Smit. They have several high level athletes and have a young coach who is producing some talented athletes. They may not have an athlete at Jason’s level currently but they certainly have in the past. They are a real team with real coaches.

*Disclaimer-not a TVSC person here, just someone who appreciates the work they have done.

Swammer
Reply to  CBBDSIL
5 years ago

I agree with you CBBDSIL. Also not a LI parent but a Metro one. Jason was amazing with Three Village and has been amazing on LIAC. Three Village has some great talent now as well, and of course LIAC is a power house. A lot of great sports talent on lond island in general. Regardless, Both great clubs and I am thrilled to see swimming continue to thrive in NY metro area.

JBrown
Reply to  CBBDSIL
5 years ago

Congratulation to Jason and the entire Louser family! His accomplishments at the local and State level in High School and Club swimming are exceptional and he has represented TVSC, LIAC and the Shoreham-Wading School District with distinction and pride! ALL of his Coaches (and Clubs) should be extremely proud of this young man and the foundation he has had and the future that is there for him through the sport of swimming.
(Full Disclosure)…I am a former TVSC parent and know this young man and family well…and the REAL coaches that have been a part of my tenure at this Club have been exceptional. As have been the many Parents that help make it tick. What is accomplished in… Read more »

Semaj
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

I guess the talent to come out of that first team don’t count as “elite level” swimmers.

David
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

Yea, Julia Smit and Thomas Luchsinger are not elite level swimmers, just a couple Olympic medals and the 2013 national 200 fly champ

MichaelLu
Reply to  David
5 years ago

True that David, not to mention their stellar, and under recognized 200 medley relay of Ryan Kaplan, David He, Cameron Kubik, and Luka Zuric who carried their home high school (Ward Melville) to victory at the NY state meet. This is a big thanks to their great coach Mark Anderson and NYS varsity coach of the year Chris Gordon. Just because they’re a small team does not at all devalue them. They are a great team and if you asked Jason to day I’m sure he’d say that he’ll never forget his TVSC roots.

Seeger33
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

This brings up the discussion of paying for swimmers on the age group level. A few teams in Metro, LIAC being one, with the resources to do so offer preformance scholarships to age group swimmers. Their biggest most successful swimmers on the national stage over the past years transfered after being elite teens to train and travel for free.

Ray
Reply to  Mike
5 years ago

Congrats to Jason, his family and the LIAC coaching staff! Three Village Swim Club has nothing but great things to say about Jason and his family. In their years of swimming with TVSC their family always gave more than their fair share of time back to the team volunteering to support the club. We have certainly missed Jason the last two years, and the rest of the family this past year. We wish you all nothing but the best!

Disclaimer – I am a Three Village Swim Club person and proud to be associated with a 2018 Bronze Medal award winning club.

NONA
5 years ago

I am all about being a fan for your team, but I just can’t imagine racing to post a negative comment on a post about a kid committing to a perennial top 3 team. That’s exciting! He’s proud!

Nobody at that level was interested in me, that’s for sure.

Togger
5 years ago

Perhaps. He’s also got “Full ride at one of the best universities in the world” written all over him.

swammer
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

I think he’s got “unbothered” written all over his face. Congrats to a great swimmer and kid.

Maverick
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

There is absolutely no way this kid has a full ride. No way. BUT he is swimming at Cal which is great! Congrats!

Togger
Reply to  Maverick
5 years ago

#13 recruit in the country and currently their only ranked commit? If he’s not getting a full ride, who is?

klorn8d
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

full rides in college mens swimming are VERY rare

Mike
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

It’s not just about a full ride. It’s about a good fit with the school, team, and coach. The best advice a former division one swim coach gave a kid was to take the swimming out of it and go to a school that you will be happy at if you were not able to swim. After all these kids are student athletes, note how the student is listed first. Unless you are a Katie Ledecky, your going to need that education.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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