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Sage Gillibrand of Sandwich, Illinois has announced her commitment to swim and study at Youngstown State University, starting in the fall of 2026. She trains year-round with the Fox Valley YMCA, a team based in Plano, Illinois.
Gillibrand made the announcement on Instagram, writing:
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Youngstown State University! I would like to thank God, my parents for their unwavering support, my coaches at Aqua Force for making me the swimmer I am today, and the coaches at YSU for giving me this amazing opportunity. Go Guins!!”
Gillibrand is primarily a sprint freestyler but is versatile across the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke. She’s been on a strong improvement trajectory throughout her high school career, dropping multiple seconds off her personal bests each season.
Her first target meet of the 2024-25 season was NW Districts Championships at the end of February, where she grabbed best times in all six of her events and claimed four golds and two silvers. She won the 50 free (24.61), 100 fly (59.83), 100 back (1:01.00), and 100 breast (1:11.15), and took silver in the 100 free (53.18) and 200 IM (2:15.28).
At the YMCA State meet a month later, Gillibrand continued the momentum with a best time of 24.47 in the 50 free for third. She went on to touch fifth in the 100 free in 53.49 and logged personal bests of 1:59.12 in the 200 free and 59.63 in the 100 fly, where she placed eighth and 10th, respectively.
Gillibrand wrapped up her season at the ISCA Senior Cup, where she sliced two more tenths off her 50 free, clocking a 24.22 for seventh, and hit a lifetime best of 1:00.50 in the 100 back for 21st.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 24.22
- 100 Freestyle: 53.18
- 100 Butterfly: 59.63
- 100 Backstroke: 1:00.50
- 100 Breaststroke: 1:11.15
Youngstown State, led by head coach Brad Smith, is a Division 1 mid-major college competing in the Horizon League. The men placed fifth out of seven schools at this conference meet in 2025.
Gillibrand is on track to have an immediate impact at the conference level, as her best in the 50 free is just 0.13 shy of what it took to score last season. The meet scores ‘A’ and ‘B’ finals, and in 2025 it took 24.09 and 52.45 in the sprint freestyles, 57.76 in the 100 fly, 58.03 in the 100 back, and 1:06.22 in the 100 breast to earn a second swim.
On the team’s 2024-25 depth chart, Gillibrand would have ranked second in the 50 free, fourth in the 100 free, sixth in the 100 fly and 100 back, and eighth in the 100 breast. Senior Oliwia Kaniak topped the 50 free (23.94) and 100 breast (1:02.32), while junior Miriam Frass was the fastest 100 freestyler with a time of 51.29. Junior Ali Ramirez Romero was the quickest 100 flier at 56.24, and sophomore Izzy Rossi was the 100 back leader at 58.15.
Gillibrand is set to join Youngstown’s 2030 recruiting class that also includes Tova Axelsson, Hung-Yi Ho, and Kylie Kwoka.
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Yes Sage!! So proud of you!!