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Rising high school seniors Emily Chorpening and Katie McCelland have both verbally committed to Colorado State University.
They join Texan Maya White as the first 3 public swimming commitments for the Rams in the incoming class of 2021.
Emily Chorpening
Chorpening will be joining the team from Lawton Chiles High School in Tallahassee, Florida. She also swims for the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club.
Last fall she was a finalist in both the 200 and 500 free at the FHSAA (Florida High School) 3A Swimming and Diving State Championships. She finished 7th in the 200 free (1:54.10) and 8th in the 500 (5:02.01). Both of these times were just off of her swims from prelims of the meet (1:53.54/4:58.57).
Just a month later she swam to new best times in multiple events at the Gator Swim Club Gator Invitational. She added new personal bests in the 100 free (54.23), 500 free (4:57.25). 1650 free (16.57.38), and 400 IM (4:30.46).
Top SCY Times
- 100 free – 54.23
- 200 free – 1:53.35
- 500 free – 4:57.25
- 1000 free – 10:05.43
- 1650 free – 16:57.38
- 400 IM – 4:30.46
Chorpening’s biggest impact will come in the distance freestyle events. Last season her best time in the 1650 would have led the Rams, while her 500 would have ranked her second on the team.
She will have one year of overlap with last year’s top swimmer in the 1650, current junior Abbey Owenby. Owenby took 9th in the event at the 2020 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. She also added a 22nd place finish in the 500 free.
Chorpening’s best times would have placed her 7th in the 1650 as well as making the B-final of the 500.
Katie McClelland
Also joining Chorpening in the class of 2021 is Katie McClelland of Monument, Colorado. McClelland swims for Lewis-Palmer High School as well as for the Colorado Springs Swim Team.
At the CHSAA (Colorado high school) 5A Swimming and Diving State Championships in February she was a finalist in two events, adding new best times in both. She finished 6th in the 100 breast in 1:04.52, although her time of 1:03.46 from prelims would have earned her third in the event. She also added an 8th place finish in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.71.
Last March, at the 2019 Champions Series in Phoenix she was a finalist in both the 100 (1:06.63) and 200 breasts (2:24.60), finishing in 31st in both.
Top SCY Times
- 100 fly – 56.76
- 100 breast – 1:03.46
- 200 breast – 2:20.28
- 200 IM – 2:06.71
- 400 IM – 4:30.08
CSU was led in both breaststroke events last year by senior Madison Ward. Ward took 6th in the 100 breast and 5th in the 200 at the 2020 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. She also added a 15th place in the 200 IM. McClelland would have held the teams 2nd fastest time in the 100 breast, giving her potential to contribute to relays immediately after arriving on campus next fall.
Last season it took a 1:03.73/2:18.50 to qualify for the B-finals in the breaststroke events.
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