U.S. Open Qualifier Lewis Zhang Verbals to Penn for 2026-27

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High school senior Lewis Zhang from Carmel, Indiana, has verbally committed to the admission process* at the University of Pennsylvania for 2026-27. He told SwimSwam:

“I’m honored to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at the University of Pennsylvania! Thank you to all who supported me on this journey, especially Coach Schnur for his belief in me. Go Quakers!”

Zhang swims for Carmel High School and Carmel Swim Club and specializes mainly in distance freestyle. As a junior at the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Championships last February, he placed 7th in the 200 free (1:39.76) and 4th in the 500 free (4:28.36), contributing to Carmel’s 11th consecutive IHSA state title. As a sophomore, he clocked PBs of 1:38.84 and 4:26.79 in the same events, placing 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Last summer, he hit new PBs in the 100 free, 50/100 back, 100/200 breast, 100/200 fly, and 200 IM. He was just off his lifetime bests in the 200 free (1:54.05), 400 free (4:03.75), 800 free (8:22.96), 1500 free (16:14.72), 200 back (2:07.35), and 400 IM (4:36.86) from the summer of 2024.

He will join the Quakers’ class of 2030 with #4 diver in the class Tristan Yang and swimmers Matt Vatev (“Honorable Mention”), Ethan Chung (“Best of the Rest”), Adam Polzien, and Velizar Filipov.

Best SCY times:

• 200 free – 1:38.84
• 500 free – 4:26.79
• 1650 free – 15:36.13
• 200 back – 1:49.89

*Note: A verbal commitment between an Ivy League coach and a prospective student-athlete is not an offer of admission, as only the Admission Office has that authority. The coach can only commit his or her support in the admission process. Ivy League Admission Offices do not issue “Likely Letters” before October 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school. The Likely Letter, while issued after an initial read of the student’s application, is not an offer of admission to the university.

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