#6 Lauren Pitzer Becomes 5th Top-20 to Verbally Commit to Stanford

In what is arguably the most dominant recruiting class in recent history, Lauren Pitzer, our #6 swimmer from the high school class of 2017 has added her name to the already-outstanding group of verbal commits to Stanford University.

“I am excited to announce my commitment to Stanford.  Stanford offers me outstanding opportunities in both swimming and academics, especially in the career field I am hoping to pursue after college.  Thank you to all my family, my coaches, Lakeside Aquatic Club, and Fossil Ridge High School for the years of support and encouragement.  I’m so proud to be a Cardinal next fall and am honored to swim with such an incredible swim team and coaching staff.”

The Fossil Ridge High School senior is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and two-time Texas 6A State Champion, having won the 100 free and 200 free at the 2015 state meet. She earned a pair of bronze medals in the 50 and 500 frees at the 2014 state meet, highlighting her excellent range. While she took her junior year off to focus on preparing for 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Pitzer will be representing Fossil Ridge during the 2016-17 high school swim season.

Pitzer is a member of the U.S. National Junior Team and as such represented Team USA at 2015 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships and 2016 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. She competed in the 50/100/200/400m freestyle events at U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 16th in the 400 and 17th in the 200. Pitzer wound up her long course season at Junior Pan Pacs where she finished 19th in the 50m free, 9th in the 100m free, 5th in the 200m free, 11th in the 400m free, 25th in the 100m fly. She also led off Team USA’s winning 4×200 free relay and contributed to the first-place 4x100m free relay.

Pitzer has incredible versatility and range, and will be a huge asset to Stanford, in particular on relays, for the next four years. Her top SCY times include:

  • 50 free – 22.66
  • 100 free – 48.72
  • 200 free – 1:45.68
  • 500 free – 4:42.80
  • 1000 free – 10:06.60
  • 1650 free – 16:23.99
  • 400 IM – 4:16.77

The Stanford Dream Team of 2021 will include the following verbal commits:

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].

 

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Nick
7 years ago

You have to be a good student to apply to Stanford to begin with. And if you are accepted, most likely that you would go given a satisfactory financial package.

Stanford is a dream school for students/athletes. It’s a amazing to notice that many top swimmers are excellent students both in and outside the classroom.

Kathy
Reply to  Nick
7 years ago

So why is it the men continue to underperform year after year after year? And the previous women’s coach didn’t have anywhere near this success??

OBear73
Reply to  Kathy
7 years ago

Year after year, Stanford continue to have some of the top recruits. They will have at least 3 top 20 men recruits this year, despite the men team continuing to under perform. Just shows more that it is the school that it is attracting them and not necessary the coach. Even on the women side a couple of their top recruits indicated that it was their life long dream to swim for Stanford..way before they knew Kate would chose Stanford.

Card
Reply to  Kathy
7 years ago

100% the coaches.

ShawnT
Reply to  Kathy
7 years ago

The previous coach didnt get Olympic gold medalist, world/american record holder type recruits coming in (ie Simone, Ledecky, Neal)-partially bc there were none at the time.

CanSwim13
7 years ago

college commitments are becoming really original and diverse these days

Alex Simmonds
Reply to  CanSwim13
7 years ago

Well, if you got perhaps the best swimmer in the world and maybe greatest female swimmer of all time in your college, it must attract anyone. If phelps decide went to college in 2004, this would happen too.

OBear73
Reply to  CanSwim13
7 years ago

As a Cal fan, think it is a combination of the Kate, coach, and ..(biting my lips)..the school ( 8-( ).

Swimmerjammer
Reply to  OBear73
7 years ago

Also, possibly, it is the desire to avoid career ruining injuries sustained during coach led training. The Cal coach uses negativity, bullying, and threats as coaching techniques, where positivity is more motivating and a confidence booster so swimmers can improve. Cal coach is focused on only the very top swimmers on the team and the pro team, so freshmen and non Olympians are ignored. Once you are recruited and accept, it is almost impossible to transfer and you will not be given a release from team so all recruits should choose wisely and do not believe all that you are told during the recruitment process. Stanford is a program on the rise, great choice, will be fun.

The Grand Inquisitor
Reply to  Swimmerjammer
7 years ago

I don’t see any “positivity” contributed by bringing Cal criticism into the discussion – just not necessary.

OBear73
Reply to  The Grand Inquisitor
7 years ago

Other than he is a Jerk!

swamfan
Reply to  Swimmerjammer
7 years ago

Do you have evidence of her using threats and bullying during training?? I know two women who swam for Cal and were definitely “lower-tier” swimmers who had no chance of making the olympics but they both LOVED Mckeever and swimming for Cal. Coughlin, Vollmer, Bootsma, Franklin, and Pelton have all raved about how McKeever cares so much her swimmers as people. I’m not saying McKeever is a saint but I think Cal swimmers have more insight into her leadership and coaching style than you do.

pine tree
Reply to  Swimmerjammer
7 years ago

Just curious how you might know these things Swimmerjammer?

completelyconquered
7 years ago

I was hoping she was going to Texas. Good luck!

Dan
7 years ago

The Katie Ledecky effect.

dmswim
Reply to  Dan
7 years ago

I think that’s part of it, but it’s also the success of Maya DiRado, Lia Neal, and Simone Manuel in Rio. Greg’s swimmers took home 4 golds, 3 silvers, and a bronze medal. That’s a pretty good recruiting tool on it’s own!

Alex Simmonds
7 years ago

Wtf… They just built a dynasty.

ADSF
7 years ago

Greg and Tracy has done a tremendous work in recent years in recruiting. You guys are a dream team that helps build the Stanford dream teams in women’s swimming.

#4, 6, 8, 10 and 12…5 in top 20. Just wow.

ADSF
7 years ago

That s awesome! Some recruiting class! Welcome to the Farm, Lauren! We are so excited that you decided to come here. I was hoping that you woukd commit to swim for Greg and Tracys. They did a marvelous job for this recruiting class.

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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