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Waterloo Swimming’s ZJ Hays has verbally committed to swim and study at Lafayette College beginning in the fall of 2026.
I am honored and incredibly excited to announce that I will be continuing my athletic and academic journey at Lafayette College! Huge shoutout to my family, friends, and all of my coaches for their endless support to help me get here. Special thanks to Coach Dailey and Coach Rinde for this incredible opportunity. #rollpards 🐆
Hays turned in a pair of 3rd place finishes at the Texas High School 5A State Championships for the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. He notched a best time in a swimoff for the last championship final spot in the 100 butterfly, clocking 49.32. In the final, he jumped up five spots to 3rd in 49.69. He also set a new personal mark in the 200 IM, clocking 1:52.54.
His freestyle times are also very competitive, holding a best of 1:41.59 in the 200 freestyle from the NT LAC Fall Classic last November. His 100 free best sits at 45.89 from the Speedo Sectionals in Lewisville in March of 2024.
He is a multi-faceted recruit, also holding a range of good times, including the 500 free (4:42.28), 100 breaststroke (57.73), 200 breast (2:06.69), and 400 IM (4:12.91).
Best Times SCY:
- 100 Free: 45.98
- 200 Free: 1:41.59
- 500 Free: 4:42.28
- 100 Fly: 49.32
- 100 Breast: 57.73
- 200 Breast: 2:06.69
- 200 IM: 1:52.54
- 400 IM: 4:12.91
The Lafayette College men finished 7th at the 2025 Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships.
Based on Hays’ best times, he would have qualified for the ‘B’ final in the 100 fly, and finished 28th in the 100 and 200 freestyles.
Hays is already competitive in the Patriot League, but many of his best times came in 2024 (aside from the 100 fly and 200 IM). If Hays is able to lower a few of those other notable times in his senior season, he could be a perennial finals contender in the Patriot League.
Hays is the only publicized male commitment in the class of 2026 for Lafayette College.
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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