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Hayden Bailey has announced her commitment to continue both her education and swimming career at Iowa State University, where she will join the team in the fall of 2026. She is from Waukee, Iowa, where she attends Northwest High School and trains year-round with the Waukee Waves.
Bailey confirmed the commitment in an email to SwimSwam, and provided the following quote:
I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic & athletic career at Iowa State University. I would like to thank Coach Matt and Coach Morgan for making me feel so welcome. A big thanks to all my friends, teammates, coaches & family that have made my dreams possible! I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity! GO CYCLONES!!!
Bailey’s target meet of this past high school season was the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) State Championships, held in mid-November. She earned two golds and two silvers at the competition, with the golds coming from her individual events and the silvers from relays.
The future Cyclone touched the wall first in the 100 fly (54.99) and 100 back (56.12), and was an even faster 54.71 in prelims of the 100 fly. She had never broken 55 seconds prior to the meet, while her 100 back best remains 55.68.
On the relays, Bailey logged 24.05 on the fly leg of the 200 medley relay and anchored the 400 free relay in 50.68, well under her flat start best of 51.79.
Outside of those events, Bailey also focuses on the 50 free and 200 back, where she owns career bests of 24.02 and 2:01.27 from early 2025, respectively.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 24.01
- 100 Freestyle: 51.79
- 100 Butterfly: 54.71
- 100 Backstroke: 55.68
- 200 Backstroke: 2:01.27
Led by head coach Matt Leach, Iowa State is a Division I program that competes in the Big 12 Conference. At the 2025 Big 12 Championships, the Cyclones finished 10th out of 10 teams. To advance to finals in her primary events, meaning the fastest 24 swimmers after prelims, it took times of 55.09 in the 100 fly, 54.99 in the 100 back, 1:59.84 in the 200 back, 23.17 in the 50 free, and 50.48 in the 100 free.
Senior Carley Caughron led the Cyclones in the 100 fly last year with a 54.64, followed closely by graduate student Winter Craig (55.08) and sophomore Keirlyn Mullica (55.36). Caughron also led the 50 and 100 free with times of 22.98 and 50.14, while sophomore Emma Kuhn clocked 55.26 and 1:59.87 to top the roster in both backstroke events.
Bailey joins Asia Salvato, Tessa Moore, and Scout McQueen in committing to ISU’s class of 2030.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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