Hayley Clark (2023) Switches Commitment from NC State to Princeton

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Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Hayley Clark, who had originally committed to NC State University in January, has announced her intention to swim and study at Princeton University in the class of 2027.

“I am incredibly excited to announce my commitment to the admissions process at Princeton University! I chose Princeton because of the athletic and academic opportunities. A huge thanks to my family, friends and coaches who have continuously supported me throughout this process. GO TIGERS 🐯 🧡🖤”

Clark is a senior at Chapel Hill High School. She swims year-round with North Carolina Aquatic Club. She competed in the 200/500 free at the 2022 NCHSAA 4A State Championship, coming in 5th (1:50.73) and third (4:55.45) in the respective events. As a sophomore at Windermere High School in Orlando, Florida, she placed 4th in the 200 IM (2:04.04) and 6th in the 500 free (4:56.24). In October, she dropped 17 seconds in the mile to go 16:35.96.

Between the North Carolina Short Course Senior Championships in February and Tar Heel States in March, she improved her PBs in the 50/1000 free, 50/200 back, 50/100/200 breast, 50/200 fly, and 100 IM. She also had a big summer, dropping time in the 50 free (-0.1), 100 free (-0.1), 200 free (-0.4), 400 free (-6.1), 800 free (-10.1), 1500 free (-10.7), 100 back (-1.3), 200 back (-4.2), 200 IM (-1.9), and 400 IM (-1.7). She competed at Speedo Junior Nationals in the 400 free (13th, 4:19.65), 800 free (10th, 8:55.01), 1500 free (10th, 17:00.47), and 400 IM.

Clark was invited to USA Swimming’s Southern Zone Select Camp in 2019 and National Diversity Camp in 2020. She is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.

Her best SCY times include:

  • 400 IM – 4:19.50
  • 200 IM – 2:03.00
  • 200 fly – 2:00.59
  • 1650 free – 16:35.96
  • 1000 free – 9:57.71
  • 500 free – 4:51.62
  • 100 breast – 1:04.23
  • 200 breast – 2:17.86

Clark will suit up for the Tigers with #17 Eleanor Sun, “Best of the Rest” Mary McKenna, Edie Simecek, Grace Black, and Veronique Rossouw in the class of 2027. Her best times would have scored at the 2022 Ivy League Women’s Championships at 4th place in the 1650 free and in the B finals of the 500 free, 100/200 breast, 200 fly, and 200/400 IM.

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Top dawg
1 year ago

Academic downgrade

Suzy Q
Reply to  Top dawg
1 year ago

i giggled

2Fat4Speed
1 year ago

I know there will be at least one NC State fan that claims the academic quality is equal…

Swimfan
1 year ago

She just went 16:35 SCY mile this past weekend untapered…

Jimbob
1 year ago

HYP have good teams and facilities. Hard to imagine people who can handle the academic work would pass that up. I swam at P and what went on in the pool wouldn’t make the top 10 of life long impacts from those years. Great college experience.

Texas swims in a short pool
Reply to  Jimbob
1 year ago

I’m not sure that is a great reason to go to Princeton if you are truly passionate about swimming…

So confused
1 year ago

Congratulations on your commitment to Princeton! Fantastic school with amazing opportunities.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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