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NASA Wildcats Aquatics’ Velizar Filipov has sent his commitment to the admissions process for the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania as a part of the Quakers’ 2026 recruiting class.
I am beyond thrilled and honored to be able to announce my commitment to the admissions process for the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, to continue my academic and athletic careers! Firstly, I want to thank God and my parents for guiding me throughout this journey with constant love and support. I also want to thank Coach Dave, Coach Juiris, Coach Brian, Coach Hengelmann, and all of my teammates and friends at FMC Aquatic for supporting me throughout my athletic career. I especially would like to thank Coach Mike, Coach Maddie, and Coach Andrew for giving me this incredible opportunity! GO QUAKERS!
At the 2025 Illinois High School State Championships, Filipov nabbed a pair of top-five finishes for Loyola Academy. He finished 4th in the 100 backstroke (48.91) and 5th in the 100 butterfly (48.94), setting a pair of new personal best times.
Filipov also competed at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships – West in December. There, he set a new PB in the 200 back, placing 22nd overall in 1:46.98. Additionally, he swam the 100 back in 50.46 (63rd) and 100 fly in 50.45 (100th).
His performances during the 2024 season qualified him as a 2024 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and an NISCA All-American in the 100 back and 100 fly.
Best Times SCY:
- 200 Back: 1:46.98
- 100 Back: 48.91
- 200 Fly:1:50.47
- 100 Fly: 48.94
- 200 Free: 1:42.74
The Quaker men placed 7th at the 2025 Ivy League Swimming and Diving Championships.
Based on Filipov’s best times, he would have qualified for the ‘C’ final in the 200 back and 2nd alternate spot in both the 100 back and 200 fly.
Filipov is a very serviceable backstroker who has consistently seen good improvement in the 200 back since breaking the 1:50 barrier for the first time in November of 2023. Since then, he has lowered his lifetime best down to an Ivy League scoring time of 1:46.98.
An interesting aspect of Filipov’s arsenal is that he holds very respectable distance freestyle bests of 9:43.60 in the 1000 free and 16:44.63 in the 1650 free. With that range of events, Filipov could see some action in some longer races aside from his back and fly primary events.
Penn seniors accounted for 150 of the 469.5 points at the Ivy League Championships last season, so the retooling of the Quaker roster by this time next season could pay major dividends in their hope of moving up in a very competitive League.
Filipov joins Lewis Zhang, Adam Polzien, and Matt Vatev in the Quakers’ class of 2030.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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