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August Vetsch from Queen Creek, Arizona, has made a verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of California, Berkeley beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
“I chose the University of California, Berkeley because of the great team and coaches. I felt right at home with it and can’t wait to swim there starting in the fall of 2024!”
Cal is off to a very fast start with its men’s class of 2028, having already nabbed five of the 40 public commits we’ve written up so far. In addition to Vetsch, the Golden Bears have received verbal commitments from #5 Lucca Battaglini, #7 Carter Lancaster, “Honorable Mention” Thackston McMullan, and Matthew Elliott.
Vetsch is a junior at Casteel High School. He does his club swimming with Swim Neptune and is a sprint free/fly specialist. We named him a “Best of the Rest” recruit on our Way Too Early list of top-20 boys in the class of 2024.
In high school swimming last season, the then-sophomore won the 100 fly at the Arizona AIA Division 2 State Championships with a PB of 49.36. He was runner-up in the 200 free, posting a PB of 1:42.32. Since then, he has taken another .8 off his fly and 2.2 off his 200 free. He achieved these times, as well as lifetime bests in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 fly, and 200 IM at Spring Sectionals–Arizona, while still 15 years old.
Similarly, this summer, he wrapped up long course season at Mt. Hood Sectionals with PBs in the 100 free (52.50), 200 free (1:58.10), 100 fly (55.08), 200 fly (2:09.55), and 200 IM (2:14.38).
Vetsch’s sweet spot is the 100 fly and 100/50 free. His Cal training group is already formed: McMullan is a rangy freestyler whose short end includes 20.4/45.1/1:36.5. He also has fly times of 48.3/1:49.8. Battaglini goes 19.9/43.8/1:36.4 in the free and 47.35 in the fly. Elliott is a 19.8/44.3/1:40.5 freestyler and a 48.0 flyer. Lancaster is more of an IMer.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 21.00
- 100 free – 44.85
- 200 free – 1:40.16
- 100 fly – 48.53
- 200 fly – 1:49.64
- 200 IM – 1:52.20
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Said it already in literally every Cal commitment article, but class of 28 is looking stacked for Cal. These kids are so good and still have 2 years of high school to improve
You did say it & got downvoted but it appears truer with each new commitment article. Congratulations Mr. Vetsch — I hope you thrive at Cal both in the pool and classroom. Go Bears!