California Freestyler Teagan Cheney Verbals to Georgia

California’s Teagan Cheney will travel across the country next fall to begin his collegiate career as a Bulldog at the University of Georgia.

Cheney’s club team, Crow Canyon Country Club Sharks, announced his commitment to Georgia via their Twitter account:

The Blonde Bommer Teagan Cheney commits to Georgia. One of the best programs in the country just got better. We are proud of u @teagancheney pic.twitter.com/ScdynpFSzF

— Sharks Swimming (@sharks_swimming) October 6, 2016

Cheney swims for San Ramon Valley High School, which holds the most recent California North Coast Section Championship title. As a junior, Cheney swam on two NCS Championship relays with current Stanford freshman Hank Poppe. At that meet in May 2016, Cheney recorded three of his current personal best times in short course yards (50 free, 100 free and 200 free).

Cheney, who has shown rapid improvement over the last two seasons, has four winter juniors cuts and one summer juniors cut.

The fast-rising freestyler has best times of:

Cheney is a valuable pick-up for the Bulldogs, who have had trouble in the past recruiting sprint freestylers for their men’s team. That reputation appears to be changing with the recent success of freestylers Michael Trice and Matias Koski, who graduated last season. Trice finaled in both the 50 (19.16 in prelims) and 100 free (42.35 in prelims) at last year’s NCAA Championships. The 400 free relay also got 5th overall, with all four legs sub 43 seconds. The lead-off leg, Koski, was recruited as a distance specialist, but became an NCAA scoring threat across almost every freestyle distance. After Koski won the mile in 2015, he claimed 2nd in the 200 (1:31.54) and 12th in 100 free (42.56) at the 2016 NCAA Championships.

The Bulldogs seem to have broadened their search for sprint talent outside their native Southeastern region, nabbing current freshman Javier Acevedo from Canada, commit Camden Murphy from Michigan, and now Cheney from California.

Cheney is the fourth commit to the UGA men’s team, joining Murphy, Tal Davis and Greg Reed.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].