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Ava DeAnda from Riverside, California, has announced her intention to remain in-state for her collegiate career with a verbal commitment to the University of California, Berkeley. She wrote on social media:
“Proud to announce my verbal commitment to the University of California Berkeley! I am excited to pursue my academic and athletic career as a future bear. This has been an amazing journey and a big thank you to my family and friends, and to my coaches at RAA for their guidance to get here. Thank you to Coach Dave for this opportunity to be apart of the team at Cal. Looking forward to swimming with an amazing team! GO BEARS!💛🐻💙 #gobears #bearforlife”
DeAnda was one of the top sprinters coming into junior year, and for that we ranked her #4 on our Way Too Early list of top recruits from the high school class of 2026. A junior at Riverside Polytechnic High School, she is the reigning California High School state champion in the 100 free (48.27) and the 200 free (1:45.98), events she won with lifetime bests last May.
DeAnda does her club swimming with Riverside Aquatics Association. At 2023 Winter Juniors West in December, she finaled in the 50 free (3rd), 100 free (4th), and 200 free (6th), and ripped a 22.06 50 free leg on the RAA relay. Two weeks later she established a trio of best times at CA/NV Sectionals, winning the 50 free in 22.44, placing 7th in the 100 fly (55.30), and finishing 10th in the 100 back (56.66).
DeAnda wrapped up long course season at Sacramento Futures, where she tied her PB in the 50 free, winning the event with the same time (26.04) two years in a row. She picked up new PBs in the 200 free (2:04.01) and 100 fly (1:03.53). Her best 100 free time (56.40) comes from the 2023 edition of the same meet.
Best SCY times:
- 100 free – 48.27
- 50 free – 22.44
- 200 free – 1:45.98
- 200 IM – 2:01.61
- 100 fly – 55.30
- 100 back – 56.66
DeAnda is the 2nd-fastest 100 freestyler in the cohort; only she and #1 Charlotte Crush (newly committed to Tennessee) have broken the 49-second barrier. DeAnda brings valuable individual and relay speed to the Golden Bears’ class of 2030, which will also include #5 Kelsey Zhang, “Best of the Rest” sprinter Isabel Wolk, and Canadian breast/IM specialist Halle West.
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26/27/28/29 NCAAs gonna be crazy. Legitimate multi team battle