8x Massachusetts HS State Champion Kerrigan Hemp Verbally Commits to Denver

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Kerrigan Hemp from Methuen, Massachusetts has announced her intention to swim for the University of Denver in the class of 2024.

“I am very excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and attended the University of Denver in the fall 2020. I want to thank my family friends and coaches for supporting me. I can’t wait to be a Pioneer!!!”

Hemp, a senior at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and eight-time Massachusetts Division 2 state champion. Individually, she won the 100 free (52.17) and 100 back (56.44) as a freshman at the MIAA Fall Division 2 State Swimming and Diving Championships. The next year she prevailed in the 50 free (24.02) and 100 back (56.82, meet record). Last fall she won the 500 free (5:07.52) and 100 back (57.03). Hemp was honored as both a Boston Globe All-Scholastic and Boston Herald All-Scholastic athlete for the first three years of high school. She was also selected to the Merrimack Valley All-Conference team for the past three years and was MVP and co-MVP for her freshman and sophomore years and was named the Eagle Tribune Swimmer of the Year.

Hemp now represents Solo Aquatics in club swimming, but for 11 years she was with North Andover/Andover YMCA. During that time she was a multiple-time and multiple-event finalist at YMCA National Championships in freestyle and backstroke. This summer she placed 5th in the 100m back (1:04.77) and 17th in the 200 back (2:20.95) at long course YNats. Last spring she swam the 50/100/500 free, 100/200 back, and 200 breast at Ithaca Sectionals. She finaled in the 500 free and 100/200 back and scored a PB in the 500 free.

Top SCY times:

  • 50 Free – 24.02
  • 100 Free – 52.04
  • 500 Free – 5:04.25
  • 100 Back – 55.39
  • 200 Back – 1:59.70

While Hemp’s best 100/200 backstroke times date from December 2016 and 2015, respectively, she went 56.36 and 2:01.57 in 2019. Both of those more recent times would have easily scored in the A finals at 2019 Summit League Championships. Hemp also would have made the A final of the 500 free. She will overlap two years with backstroker Livi Schmid (57.07/2:02.54 last season) and freestylers Angie Lindsay (4:54.60) and Izzy Smith (4:58.36).

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Really
5 years ago

that is a heckuva name

DIIIer
Reply to  Really
5 years ago

You think she is named after Nancy?

Coach
Reply to  DIIIer
5 years ago

I imagine he/she is referring to Hemp going to the Colorado school.

DIIIer
Reply to  Coach
5 years ago

I think the Massh*les amongst us were all thinking Nancy . . .

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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