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USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Eli Summa has announced her verbal commitment to continue her education and swimming career at the University of Kentucky. Summa’s decision keeps her in-state, as she currently attends Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of Kentucky!! I couldn’t be here without my teammates, family, friends, and coaches! I also want to thank the coaches at UK for giving me this awesome opportunity. GO CATS”
Summa, a freestyle specialist, trains and competes year-round with the Lakeside Swim Team. She competed at Winter Juniors this past December, where she recorded her top finish of the meet in the 200 free at 36th (1:50.14). She also hit a best time in the 100 free (52.27) and a season best in the 500 (5:03.14) to round out her Winter Juniors showing.
This spring, Summa represented her high school at the Kentucky High School State Championships. She logged a personal best time of 1:49.68 in the opening round of the 200 free, then clocked a 1:49.89 in finals to secure 3rd overall. She also took 3rd in the 500, where she hit a 4:59.15 in the opening round then finished in 5:03.78.
This summer, Summa has turned her focus to long course. She recently raced at the City of Mason Invitational, where she took home 1st place finishes in the 200m and 400m freestyle with times of 2:04.99 and 4:27.63, respectively.
Top SCY Times
- 100 free – 52.27
- 200 free – 1:49.68
- 500 free – 4:59.15
The Kentucky Wildcats are currently led by head coach Bret Lundgaard, who is now entering his 2nd season at the helm of the program. The women’s team finished 9th out of 12 teams at the 2024 SEC Championships with a total of 446 points. It took a 1:47.18 to advance to finals in the 200 free this year, meaning Summa will have to drop in the next year to get inside scoring range.
Grace Frericks led the middle-distance freestylers with a season best time of 1:46.99 in the 200 free. She was followed by Madi McGlothen and Lauren West, both of whom cracked the 1:48 barrier with season best times of 1:47.24 and 1:47.81. All three will still be on campus when Summa arrives in the fall of next year.
Summa joins Ava Fuller, Arianna Wertheim, Kelsey Stuck, Lucy Trailov, Cassidy Allison, Julia Shafer, Sarah Anne Shaffer, and Charlotte Driesse in Kentucky’s future class of 2029.
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She’s going to do very well there!