With the high school class of 2021 officially beginning their college swimming careers, the focus now shifts to the high school class of 2022. Many of the top athletes in the class have already announced their verbal commitments to colleges around the country, including 19 out of the 20 girls and 16 out of the 20 boys ranked in SwimSwam’s Rankings of the High School Class of 2022.
However, there are still several notable athletes who have yet to announce their commitment to any school. Although several factors may be contributing to this, it is impossible to know when they’ll officially announce which college they are going to.
On the girl’s side, the only top-20 recruit who has not announced her college commitment is, arguably, one of the top prospects in NCAA history: Claire Curzan.
Curzan, who swims for the TAC Titans in North Carolina, went on a tear during the post-pandemic season, breaking 5 NAG records in the 15-16 age group. Last season, Curzan was the top ranked 18&under swimmer in the 100 butterfly (49.51), 100 backstroke (50.03), and 100 freestyle (47.32). She also ranked 2nd in the 200 backstroke, 3rd in the 50 freestyle, and 6th in the 200 butterfly, giving her a lot of potential value in the NCAA format. With her best time in the 100 butterfly, Curzan currently ranks as the 5th-fastest American in history and her time would have placed 2nd at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
Heading into her senior year, Curzan holds a lot of momentum coming off of an Olympic berth this past summer. At the Olympic Games, Curzan placed 10th in the 100 butterfly and won a silver medal as a member of the women’s 4×100 medley relay. In addition, she also shattered the WJR in the 50 freestyle, posting a time of 24.17 in May, which makes her the 3rd fastest American of all-time.
The only other swimmer mentioned in the original rankings who has not committed anywhere is Katie Crom, who was ranked as an Honorable Mention back in May. Like Curzan, Crom specializes in the butterfly events, and also has a wide range of versatility in the IM and freestyle events.
Crom holds a best time of 1:56.00 in the 200 butterfly, which would have just missed the finals at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Although she hasn’t bettered that time since 2018, her recent performances in the long course pool indicate that Crom may be in store for some major drops during her senior year. At the Pro Swim Series in Mission Viejo in May, Crom dropped a personal best of 4:46.61 in the 400 IM, qualifying for Wave II of the US Olympic Trials in the process. During the season, she also posted personal bests in the 200 IM, 400 Freestyle, and 100 butterfly, while coming less than a tenth off of her best in the 200 Butterfly.
Brynn Wright, Lauren Walsh, and Katherine Adams are also amongst the top remaining prospects.
Wright, the younger sister of Michigan junior River Wright, was an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 butterfly this past summer. Like Curzan, she is extremely versatile, with a 2:01 in the 200 butterfly, 1:50 in the 200 freestyle, and 2:04 in the 200 IM. Given her range, Wright should be a good fit in the NCAA format, where she can also contribute to the 800 freestyle and 400 medley relay in addition to her individual events.
Walsh is the top remaining IM/breaststroke prospect in the class, holding personal bests of 2:00.53 in the 200 IM and 1:01.96 in the 100 breaststroke. Although her best time in the 100 breaststroke is almost 2 years old, Walsh recently posted personal bests in both the long course 100 and 200 breaststroke events, indicating that she may be in for some big drops in the short course pool. Her best time in the 200 IM was also just established back in June.
Adams, like Walsh, hasn’t seen any improvements in the 100 breaststroke in the short course pool since 2019. However, Adams posted best time in the 200 breaststroke in both the short course and long course pools this past season, showing that she certainly has the capacity to drop. She also has a solid range into the 200 and 400 IM, with times of 2:04 and 4:21, respectively. Both Adams and Walsh should be contenders in multiple events at the NCAA level, especially given their recent improvements.
Top Uncommitted Swimmers in the High School Class of 2022 – Girl’s
| 1 | Claire Curzan | TAC Titans | NC |
100 fly – 49.51, 100 back – 50.03, 200 back – 1:49.35, 50 free – 21.50, 100 free – 47.23, 200 free – 1:45.47, 200 fly – 1:53.59, 200 IM – 1:58.87
|
| Best of the Rest | Katie Crom | Mission Viejo Nadadores | CA |
200 fly -1:56.00, 500 free- 4:46.52, 200 free- 1:48.46, 400 IM- 4:15.34
|
| N/A | Brynn Wright | Bluefish Swim Club | MA |
200 fly – 2:01.33, 200 free – 1:50.61, 100 fly – 54.75, 200 IM – 2:05.64, 400 IM – 4:35.37
|
| N/A | Lauren Walsh | Shelton Monroe Swim Team | CT |
200 IM – 2:00.53, 100 breast – 1:01.96, 200 breast – 2:15.74, 400 IM – 4:21.59
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| N/A | Katherine Adams | Tualatin Hills Swim Club | OR |
100 breast – 1:02.62, 200 breast – 2:14.91, 200 IM – 2:04.75, 400 IM – 4:21.18
|
| N/A | Katie White | Bluefish Swim Club | MA |
200 fly – 2:01.46, 100 fly – 56.23, 400 IM – 4:31.83
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| N/A | Stephanie Sifferman | Santa Clara Swim Club | CA |
200 fly – 2:00.40, 200 free – 1:49.43, 100 free – 51.13, 100 fly – 55.62, 100 back -56.06, 200 back – 2:01.74
|
| N/A | Lydia Palmer | South Jersey Aquatics Club | NJ |
1650 free – 16:26.58, 500 free -4:50.29, 100 breast – 1:01.73, 200 breast – 2:15.41
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| N/A | Melia Truong | Occoquan Swimming Inc | VA |
200 breast – 2:21.34, 200 IM – 2:09.05, 400 IM – 4:35.81, 100 breast – 1:06.34
|
Brynn Wright to Bowdoin
I think Stephanie Sifferman is possibly committed to Virginia Tech!
Stephanie remains uncommitted. She went on an official visit recently to Virginia Tech but is still evaluating options.
I see that truong is on here because of her lcm free times (54.95) but MAYBE INCLUDE THAT!!
i don’t think she actually has a 54.95 time. The relay that that was from was a mixed relay, but from the other swimmers on her relay, there were 2 other girls and 1 guy so I’m pretty sure whoever put in the data mixed up Truong with some male swimmer.
not to mention that the times don’t add up at all; at the same meet her 50 time was 29.9 but the 50 split of her 100 was allegedly 26.9 which makes no sense
Well that’s awkward
UVA instagram page posted “Committed 2022” 3 days ago. That’s the only 2022 commitment post on their page. Just saying
I have a feeling Claire is eying up UVA based on the photos from a few friends of mine but regardless she might be picking between her options carefully and not just wanting to make a choice without that much though to it but I think we will know very very soon where she wants to go.
Reading that sentence felt like swimming 400 m hurdles.
Of course Stanford, UVA and NC State are the obvious choices but why not California or USC? The teams there are good. The more wishful thinking side of me hopes that they go to Minnesota because Minnesota needs very fast swimmers right now but will never happen but I can dream can’t I?😂
Usc or Arizona. Arizona has a good diver but maybe the diver has graduated. Curzon can picked any school. USC or Arizona might be a good choice for Crom. J Korzan is going to USC and someone from Fountain Valley is on Arizona.
There are a lot of faster girls uncommitted especially breaststrokers faster than Melia Truong
What do uncommitted boys look like 2022?