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Irvine Novaquatics’ Zachary Waddell has opted to remain in Southern California for his collegiate swimming career and has committed to Chapman University in Orange for 2021-22.
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Chapman University. I’d like to thank my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me along the way. Go Panthers! 🐾”
A senior at Northwood High School, Waddell specializes in distance freestyle. He logged PBs in the 100/200 free at the 2021 Pacific Coast League Championships, and in the 500 free a week later at the CIF Southern Section Division I Championships. There, he placed 12th in the 500 with 4:37.96, an improvement of 5 seconds. Since the start of his senior year, Waddell has clocked lifetime bests in the SCY 50/100/200/500/1000 free and 200 back and the LCM 50 free (26.33), 100 free (55.96), and 400 free (4:10.70). He competed at Speedo Grand Challenge in his home pool in May, where he finaled in the 400 free and placed 13th in the 1500.
Top SCY times:
- 1650 free – 16:06.67
- 1000 free – 9:29.35
- 500 free – 4:37.96
- 200 free – 1:44.03
- 100 free – 48.89
- 50 free – 23.25
- 200 back – 1:59.73
Waddell will join the Panthers’ class of 2025 with Bryce Grover. Chapman competes in Division III’s Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). The men’s team finished 7th at the 2020 conference meet. Waddell’s best 1650 time would have scored in the top-8. He would have been on the A/B final bubble in the 500 free and would have been a B finalist in the 200 free. Chapman did not score any points in those three events.
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