Justin Lynch, the second-highest ranked swimmer who remained a mystery headed into signing week, has verbally committed to the Cal Golden Bears.
With the addition of the senior from the Terrapins Swim Team, Cal, who got off to a bit of a slow recruiting start, makes a strong case for the number-one class in the country, even without landing Joseph Schooling or Caeleb Dressel.
In yards, Lynch’s bests are 47.27 and 1:45.18 in the 100 and 200, and also flat-starts 20.5/45.1/1:49.6 in the 50/100/200 yard freestyles.
As good as he is in yards, he’s even better in long course, where he’s a member of the USA Swimming Junior National Team. He’s been 52.7 and 1:57.8 in the butterfly races in a 50 meter pool. That 100 meter fly over the summer broke Michael Phelps’ National Age Group Record for 15-16’s in the race. He also holds the mark for 13-14’s.
Lynch was ranked as the #9 commitment in our class of 2014, though if his yards swims were near the level of his meters swims, he’d be in the top 5 easily.
Caeleb Dressel is the only member of our top 20 who remains uncommitted; he’s expected to make a decision after visiting Florida this weekend.
Justin had swam a 1:39 200 free when he was 16, even though he rarely swam that event, at least in yards. Never really swam it as a 17-18 year old, maybe a couple of times, as his coach had him concentrating on fly.
Jesus, 1:49.6 in the 200 free short course, that isn’t that good. I was under 1:50 in the 200 when I was a sophomore in high school
Best wishes to Justin now and in the future. Win a lot of medals and awards.
Pacific Swimming All Stars as 9-10 – the team included – Justin Lynch, Curtis Ogren, Nick Silverthorn and Willy Lee – now they are all grown up and headed off to colege!
Just ran the numbers, can confirm Justin Lynch is in fact ELITE.
My elite-o-meter reading was OVER 9000!!!
Cal… SMASH.
YESSSSS! WELCOME TO CAL JUSTIN!
This 2014 class covers pretty much all the bases. May not be the #1 ranked class, but very very solid and fits cal very well. Awesome.
If this is not the number one class, i don’t know what is…
Texas did a really good job. But until Dressel comits… everything us up in the air.
Oh I was more trying to say that it may not be the dominant #1 class. Because I don’t think Texas and Michigan are far behind. In my opinion, when you are comparing the top three teams, rankings don’t mean much. We won’t end up with schooling and dressel but I got no complaints. I’m very happy with this class. Assuming Kao will be more of a middle than a long distance guy, other than long distance and diving, this class fills almost all strokes and lengths.
I agree he’s better in long course and it’s good for his international future.
Still great in yards. Huge recruit for Cal.
Seems like Kyle Gornay is a short course beast and Justin Lynch is a long course beast. This duo will be fun to watch.
His club team swims LCM year around. Just give him a year and he’ll show his stuff. Great kid and talent.
I was actually going to ask if he was heavily training in LCM. Thanks for the info!