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Ben Liang has made a verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming the university’s first publicized commit in the class of 2031.
Liang confirmed the decision in an email to SwimSwam, writing:
I’m so excited to announce my commitment to the application process at the University of Pennsylvania to continue my academic and athletic career! I want to thank my amazing family for their endless love and support throughout my journey. I also want to thank TXLA coaches Coach Mike and Coach Carolyn, Nitro coaches Coach Allison and Coach Randy, and my high school coaches Coach Holly Bowman and Coach Reese for helping me become a better person and swimmer. Finally, a huge thank you to Coach Mike and Andrew and the Penn coaching staff for believing in me and giving me this wonderful opportunity! Go Quakers!
Liang is from Austin, Texas, where he attends Lake Travis High School and trains year-round with Longhorn Aquatics. He trains under Mike Laitala at Longhorn and Holly Bowman during the high school season.
The 2024-25 season saw Liang make some huge improvements: he dropped from 50.93 to 49.35 in the 100 back, 1:49.70 to 1:48.54 in the 200 back, and 1:53.38 to 1:50.81 in the 200 IM. His best time of 50.04 in the 100 fly stems from December 2023, but it’s not an event he put much emphasis on for taper meets.
The future Quaker’s first big meet of the season was the Winter Junior Championships in December, where he took 33rd in the 100 back (49.50), 41st in the 200 back (1:48.95), and 57th in the 200 IM. His 200 back performance was his first time under 1:49 and second time breaking 1:50, while his 200 IM was a best time by over 2.5 seconds. His 100 back was his second-fastest ever time.
Outside of individual events, he lined up for Longhorn Aquatics’ fifth-place 400 free relay, 13th-place 800 free relay, 16th-place 200 free relay, and 23rd-place 200 medley relay. He split 20.87, 45.43, and 1:40.13 on the free relays, and added a 23.26 backstroke lead-off on the medley.
A week later, Liang dove into the pool at the TXLA Winter Splash, lowering his 100 back time to 49.35 to slice five hundredths off his former best and take the runner-up spot. He also followed up his newly-minted 200 back PB by matching it to the hundredth to walk away with the victory.
Moving into the high school season, Liang took on the University Interscholastic League (UIL) 6A State Championships in March. He touched the wall 16th in the 200 IM, notching 1:54.62 after logging a quicker 1:52.71 in prelims, and stopped the clock at 51.93 for 20th in the 100 back. It was a little off his performances from his freshman campaign in 2024, when he secured 11th in the 100 back (50.93) and 22nd in the 100 fly (51.05).
His last taper meet of the season came at the Speedo Sectionals at the end of the month, where he swam to 17th in the 200 back, chopping a few tenths off his PB with 1:48.54, and 31st in the 100 fly (51.04).
Top SCY Times:
- 100 Backstroke: 49.35
- 200 Backstroke: 1:48.54
- 100 Butterfly: 50.04
- 200 IM: 1:50.81
Penn, a Division I swimming program competing in the Ivy League, is led by head coach Mike Schnur, who is entering his 18th year at the helm. The men finished seventh out of eight teams at 2025 conference championship.
Liang is poised to make an immediate impact at the conference level, as his personal best time in the 200 back would have been quick enough to make the ‘C’ final last season. Times of 48.72 (100 back), 49.20 (100 fly), and 1:47.49 (200 IM) were needed to secure second swims in his other primary events.
On the team’s 2024-25 depth chart, Liang would have ranked fourth in the 200 back, fifth in the 100 back, and ninth in the 200 IM. With two more years to develop before arriving in Philadelphia and with the majority of those above him on the list set to graduate by then, he is slated to make an immediate impact for the Quakers.
*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.
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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<3 BEN
Congrats Ben!
Congrats to Ben! It would be nice to see more African American swimmers commit to Ivy Leagues too!