#8 Jake Sannem Announces Verbal Commitment to USC

Sannem told SwimSwam, “I chose USC because it was a perfect combination of everything I was looking for. From the outstanding academics, amazing coaching staff, and awesome team, I know USC will challenge me in and out of the pool to reach my goals. I am so excited to be a part of the trojan family! Fight On!”

He then added, “I hope to see a celebrity or two while I am in LA!”

Jake Sannem of Ambler, Pennsylvania, the number 8 swimmer on the SwimSwam top 20 list of high school boys in the class of 2017, has given a verbal commitment to the University of Southern California for 2017-18. Sannem is a senior at La Salle College High School, and the defending Pennsylvania AAA State Championship in the 500 free (4:19.64). Sannem was also runner-up in the 200 free (1:35.44) at the same meet, and led off La Salle College’s 400 free relay (44.92) and anchored the 200 free relay.

Sannem swims year-round for Upper Dublin Aquatic Club. He is one of the strongest 200 freestylers in his cohort, and stretches his range from the 50 to the 400/500. At 2016 Speedo Junior Nationals he finaled in the 50/100/200/400 freestyle events, finishing in the top 8 in the 100 and 200 distances. He also had three top-8 finishes in at 2015 Winter Juniors East, coming in second in the 200 free, third in the 500, and sixth in the 100. Not yet 18 years old, Sannem is already ranked in the top 34 in the 200y free and top 54 in the 500y free on the all-time list for 17/18 boys.

His best times are:

  SCY LCM
50 free 20.78 23.99
100 free 44:45 51.29
200 free 1:35.44 1:51.43
500/400 free 4:19.64 3:58.68

USC has a great tradition of 200/500 freestylers. Sannem already has times that would score in the B finals at Pac-12 Championships; while he’ll just miss overlapping with Reed Malone, Sannem will have a deep training group, led by Pawel Furtek, when he arrives in Los Angeles.

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

 

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Swimmer
7 years ago

Congrats Jake on committing! Your such a great kid in and out of the pool. Have fun next year!

swimmerdog
7 years ago

who the heck cares where this kid chose if its the RIGHT choice for him?? People who are upset he didnt go to stanford are most likely standford swimmers/coaches who are salty he didnt choose their school! Jake is now going to make a great addition to USC and now give the “best 500 swimmers” a run for their money!! Stop talkin trash on an 18 year old (very immature to do in the first place) and just congradulate him like normal people and stop being bullies! congrats to jake and to usc! they got a great kid!!

Old Irish Broad
7 years ago

Congrats to Jake! Great person, great athlete! He’s been excited about USC for a few years now. For those of you wondering, Jake was accepted to Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Michigan among others, so, please, don’t worry about the academics. He has a bright future ahead of him, in the water and out!

Positive Energy
Reply to  Old Irish Broad
7 years ago

My son also had those choices. Everyone thought he would choose Stanford and they wanted him ( got a call from the Stanford coach when he chose USC) but there’s something special about USC! Fight on! It’s the “package” – great swim program / coaches & teammates, great academics, urban diversity, fun, great weather. Congrats to Jake!

An MA Swim Mom
Reply to  Old Irish Broad
7 years ago

Jake is a great kid, and his successes in PIAA show his potential-I am sure he he will do well at USC. It is wonderful that he had already gotten accepted to so many Ivys this early in the year, Normally the Ivys only give out “likely” letters rather than true acceptance letters until later in the year.

swimming
Reply to  Old Irish Broad
7 years ago

Ah yes, of course he got accepted to all those schools in September, that makes sense…. you know that you can’t actually get officially accepted into the school until December, right?

University of Pheonix
7 years ago

WAAAAAAAHHHH

Joseph Conrad
7 years ago

I’m so happy you didnt go to those other drab schools! Keep up the great work buddy…. can’t wait to see you at Tokyo! May Yahweh be with you.

Rolltide
7 years ago

Yay Jake!! so happy for u n USC is lucky to have u!!!!!!

Mid-D fan
7 years ago

Interesting choice. USC’s “deep training group” will include one guy who breaks 4:20 in the 500 freestyle when he shows up. There’s much more depth in Sannem’s events at places like Texas (Haas, Roberts, Smith), NC State (Linker, Ipsen), Stanford (Sweetser, Egan, Shoults, Hirsberger), and Michigan (Ransford, Auobeck). Wonder what Salo offered to turn his attention away from these other places?

USC plays by the book!
Reply to  Mid-D fan
7 years ago

Probably special “supplements”

Cleansport
Reply to  Mid-D fan
7 years ago

durgs

Grow Up
Reply to  Cleansport
7 years ago

You’re the worst type of person. Easy to criticize behind a keyboard 🙂

DeVry Coach
7 years ago

So sad that we missed out on this kid. OI think that this school will be a good fit for this school however DeVry could have been a great opportunity for this fellow.

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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