California High School State 100 Fly Champion Brandon Ha Verbals to Northwestern for 2026

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Brandon Jacob Ha, from Fairfield, California, has verbally committed to swim and study at Northwestern University starting in the fall of 2026.

“I am honored to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic journey at Northwestern University. I am grateful for God’s guidance throughout this process, and to my family and friends for their love and support. Thank you to my teammates and coaches for continually challenging me to be better. A special thank you to Coach Rachel for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to be a part of such a driven team and prestigious school. Go ‘Cats!”

Ha is a rising senior at Angelo Rodriguez High School. He became the first swimmer to win a state title from his high school and school district in May when he won the 100 fly (46.34) at the 2025 California State Championships. He also showed his versatility by swimming a 48.79 in the 100 back at the meet, taking home a pair of automatic All-American qualifying times. He has been a high school All-American since his freshman year in high school.

Ha trains at DART Swimming under coach Kai Nabeta-Cacal (DART Swimming Solano lead competitive swim coach), head coach Billy Doughty, and Solano head site coach Rick Silva. He has had a number of strong performances over the past 12 months, for which we named him an “Honorable Mention” recruit on our Way Too Early list of top swimmers from the high school class of 2026. At the time, he was ranked 6th in the cohort in both the 100 fly (48.07) and 200 fly (1:46.75). Since then, he has dropped to 46.27/1:45.99.

At Winter Juniors West, he placed 11th in the 100 fly and 14th in the 200 fly, clocking then-PBs in both events. He also registered lifetime bests in the 50 free (20.48) and 200 IM (1:49.62). In addition to the PBs he earned in high school swimming (he went best times in the 100 free, 100 back, and 100 fly at the Sac-Joaquin Section meet), Ha updated his SCY times in the 200/500 free, 200 back, 100 breast, 200 fly, and 400 IM during his junior year of high school.

So far this long course season, Ha has achieved lifetime bests in the 50 free (23.91), 100 free (52.18), 200 free (1:55.57), 50 back (27.23), 100 back (59.59), 50 breast (30.65), 100 breast (1:07.41), 50 fly (24.44), 100 fly (53.94), 200 fly (2:01.01), and 200 IM (2:06.64).

Most recently, he broke DART teammate Luca Urlando’s meet record at the Summer Sanders meet in Roseville by swimming a 2:02.01 in the 200 fly. He was the individual high point award winner.

Best SCY times:

• 100 fly – 46.27
• 200 fly – 1:45.99
• 100 back – 48.40
• 100 free – 44.21
• 200 free – 1:39.42
• 200 IM – 1:49.62

Also verbally committed to the Northwestern men’s swimming and diving team for 2026-27 are Jack Chiappetta and Zack Kusch.

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