Elise Garcia, a talented sprinter from Southern California, has verbally committed to the University of California, Berkeley for the 2018-19 season.
“I chose CAL because it offers the perfect balance of academics and athletics in a great environment. I look forward to working with Coach Teri and Coach Ian, and joining the amazing CAL family. Go Bears!!”
Garcia is a junior at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, California. She is just coming off a successful high school season that saw her win the 50 free at the CIF-Southern Section Division II Championships in May, breaking Gretchen Jacques’ 2009 record of 22.90 in prelims with 22.71, then lowering her own record to 22.66 in finals. She also split 22.08 and 22.60 on the anchor of Crean’s 200 medley and 200 free relays, both of which broke Division II records, and added a silver in the 100 free. Garcia then went on to the CIF State Meet the following weekend and placed second in the 50 and third in the 100 free.
Garcia swims for the club team SOCAL Aquatics. At the CA/NV Sectionals in March she showed her versatility by winning both the 100 fly (52.70) and 200 fly (1:56.64) in addition to being runner-up in the 200 IM (2:02.28) and 50 free, and third in the 100 free. At Winter Juniors West last December she was an A finalist in the 50/100 free and 100 fly.
Top times:
| SCY | LCM | |
| 50 free | 22.64 | 25.93 |
| 100 free | 49.52 | 57.25 |
| 200 free | 1:49.94 | 2:03.28 |
| 100 fly | 52.70 | 1:01.05 |
| 200 fly | 1:56.64 | 2:15.59 |
| 200 IM | 2:01.11 | 2:24.30 |
Garcia follows Cassidy Bayer, who has also verbally committed to Cal.
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]
Congratulations on your decision! Go Bears
Cal started out with 2 great recruits for 2018!
I am not sure if Stanford is recruiting her or not. I thought she was from Crean, at least Ella might have tried to convince her to come to Stanford.
Stanford did recruit Elise!
Visited The Farm on Junior Day with other top recruits from the class: Grace Ariola, Taylor Ruck, Anya Goeders, Samantha Shelton, Shae Nicolaisen. Breaststroke ace Zoe Bartel & National Junior Team backstroker Lucie Nordmann also took unofficial trips there.
That Elise Garcia was sought after by these two elite institutions with some of the best academics & swimming programs in the nation is a testimony to her smarts and athletic potential. Congrats Elise!!!
Forgot to mention in my previous comment that Elise had also visited Michigan. Think this student-athlete’s choices show the level & quality of the programs that she’s looking for… 🙂