“Best of the Rest” Backstroker Andy Baklanov (2025) Commits to SMU

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Andy Baklanov from Leawood, Kansas, is headed to Dallas in the fall to swim and study at Southern Methodist University. At the time of his commitment in January, he wrote on social media:

“I am thrilled to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic careers at Southern Methodist University. I’m grateful to my family, coaches, and friends for their support! Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam! Pony Up!!! ✌️🐎”

Baklanov attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a 3x MSHSAA Boys Class 2 State Champion, having won the 200 IM and 100 back as a senior and the 100 back as a junior. He made impressive leaps in the year separating those two meets: At the 2023 Missouri states, he hit PBs in everything he swam, including the 100 free (46.79), 50 back (23.23), 100 back (48.97), and 200 IM (1:50.81). A year later, he improved to 22.94 in the 50 back, 48.28 in the 100 back, and 1:46.69 in the 200 IM.

Baklanov does his year-round swimming with Empire KC Swim Club. We considered him one of the top backstrokers in the class of 2025 on our most recent re-rank of the top 20 swimming recruits in the cohort.

At Columbia Sectionals in March, Baklanov dropped 4 seconds to win the 200 back with 1:42.32. He also earned new PBs in the 200 free (1:40.31) and 400 IM (3:51.95), coming in 2nd place in the latter. Two weeks prior, he had gone a best time in the 500 free (4:26.34) at the Missouri Valley LSC Senior Championships.

Baklanov has already swim lifetime bests so far in this long course season in the 50 back (26.64), 100 back (56.71), 200 back (2:01.39), 200 IM (2:05.50), and 400 IM (4:27.47).

Best SCY times:

• 200 back – 1:42.32
• 100 back – 48.28
• 200 IM – 1:46.69
• 400 IM – 3:51.95
• 500 free – 4:26.34
• 200 free – 1:40.31
• 100 free – 46.34
• 50 free – 21.32r
• 100 fly – 51.07

Baklanov will join swimmers Aubrey Jaya, Francis Brennan, Leo Pelaez, Trey Clervi, and Zach Power, and the #5 diver in the class, Grant Cates, on the Mustangs’ roster in the fall.

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