Easterns Runner-Up Ashley Kolessar Chooses UCLA (2022)

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Ashley Kolessar of the Suburban Seahawks Club has verbally committed to UCLA for fall 2022. She’s a junior at Notre Dame Academy in Villanova, Pa.

I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at UCLA. I would like to thank my coaches, family and friends for helping me along with this journey. I chose UCLA because of the welcoming and supportive coaches, the outstanding academics and the beautiful campus. Go Bruins!

TOP TIMES (SCY)

• 100 free – 51.88
• 200 free – 1:50.38
• 500 free – 4:51.39
• 1000 free – 9:58.36
• 1650 free – 16:38.27
• 200 back – 2:02.33
• 100 breast – 1:03.57
• 200 breast – 2:17.12
• 200 fly – 1:59.74
• 200 IM – 2:00.46
• 400 IM – 4:18.36

Kolessar, whose older sister Madison is a freshman swimmer at Florida, is a tough competitor; her best events are all distance and endurance races.

At the 2020 Easterns, one of the biggest prep school championships in the country, Kolessar was the 100 breast runner-up (1:03.62) and third-place finisher in the 200 IM (2:00.86). She was also the breaststroker on Notre Dame’s medley relay (29.13) and hit a 52.05 leading off their runner-up 400 free relay. At the 2019 meet, she was the 200 IM runner-up and placed third in the 100 breast, as a freshman.

Kolessar competed at the virtual 2020 U.S. Open, and at the Carlisle site of the virtual 2020 Winter Junior Championships, she placed second in the 100 breast (1:03.57), 200 fly (1:59.74) and 200 IM (2:02.76) and third in the 400 IM (4:19.51). She posted lifetime bests in the 100 breast and 200 fly.

Last season, Kolessar would’ve ranked #3 on UCLA’s roster in the 1650 free and 200 fly and #4 in the 500 free and 400 IM.

Kolessar joins a star-studded 2026 class for UCLA. The group coming in fall 2022 includes Turkish record-holder Beril Böcekler, Canadian Age Group record-holder Katrina Bellio, Top 20 HM Rosie Murphy, Ava Lachey, Courtney Seljeseth and Fay Lustria and Morganne Malloy.

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