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Rebecca Welch, a finalist at the 2025 Futures Championships, will head north in two years time to compete for Washington State University beginning in the fall of 2027.
“I am incredibly excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at Washington State University!! I am so grateful for my parents, friends, and everyone else who has supported me through this journey. A special thank you to Coach John, Coach Cindy, and Coach Halli for helping me get to where I am today, and a huge thank you to the WSU coaches Russ, Austin, and Jackie for their kindness and making this such an easy decision! I am endlessly excited to join the Cougar family!! GO COUGS!!”
A California native, Welch is currently a junior at Lodi High School in the state’s Central Valley, where she has been a member of her school’s varsity swimming and diving team since her freshman year. In addition to competing for the Rams, Welch swims year-round with California Gold, primarily specializing in breast, fly and IM.
Welch turned in a series of top performances early on last season, clocking five lifetime bests at the 2024 Folsom Classic in November. She placed 3rd in both the 100 breast (1:03.58) and 200 breast (2:19.48), 11th in the 100 free (52.92), 12th in the 200 IM (2:07.44), 15th in the 100 fly (58.19) and 16th in the 50 free (24.76). Each of those swims marked a new best time except the 200 breast, which was a season-best time for Welch.
A few weeks later, Welch turned in a handful of strong performances at the Winter Junior Championships – West in December, setting a personal best every time she was in the water. She earned a second swim in the 100 breast, taking 20th in 1:02.35, and placed 29th in the 200 breast in 2:17.09.
Welch is a two-time California high school state finalist, with her top performance thus far coming at the 2025 CIF State Championship in May. There, she placed 7th in the 100 breast with a time of 1:03.11, less than a second off of her lifetime best (1:02.35).
More recently, Welch competed at the 2025 Futures Championship in Sacramento (LCM), where she earned a second swim in two of her races. She took 13th in the 50 breast (34.36) and 27th in the 100 breast (1:15.25). She also contested the 200 breast (2:44.61), 50 fly (29.97) and 200 IM (2:28.87 – PB).
Best Times SCY
- 100 breast – 1:02.35
- 200 breast – 2:17.09
- 100 fly – 58.19
- 200 IM – 2:07.44
A Division I program, Washington State competes in the Mountain West Conference with the likes of San Diego State and UNLV. The Cougars placed 5th out of ten teams at the 2025 Mountain West Conference Championships before sending three athletes on to compete at the NCAA Division I Championship. The team scored 14 points at NCAAs courtesy of Emily Lundgren, a current senior who placed 6th in the 200 breast and 16th in the 100 breast.
Based on the results from last season’s Mountain West Conference Championships, Welch is already poised to land in the ‘B’ final in the 100 breast and 200 breast, setting her up to score some points right from the start. With almost two more full seasons until she arrives in Pullman, Welch has room to make even more improvements to her top times and her collegiate scoring chances.
Welch is currently the only confirmed recruit committed to join the Washington State swim team for fall 2027.
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