The Massachusetts Institute of Technology class of 2018 will include a pair of North Carolinians; Jordan Ren from Chapel Hill and Kara Zhang of Raleigh have both committed to swim for the Engineers in the fall.
Jordan Ren
Ren attends Chapel Hill High School where he is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American. He also swims for North Carolina Aquatic Club. At the 2018 NCHSAA 3A State Championships he was runner-up in the 200 IM (1:51.15) and placed third in the 100 breast (58.76). He also contributed legs on two second-place relays, helping Chapel Hill finish second in the boys’ team standings.
Swimming for NCAC at Greensboro Sectionals, Ren had an outstanding meet and earned new PBs in the 200/500 free, 100/200 back, 200 breast, and 400 IM.
Ren’s best 400 IM time would have scored in the B final at 2018 NCAA Division III Championships; his 200 IM time would have made 2nd Alternate. He’ll have a great training partner in MIT sophomore All-American Bouke Edskes, who was 3rd in the 400 IM and a B-finalist in the 200 IM (he placed 5th in the 200 IM at 2017 NCAAs as a freshman). Ren will also have one year of overlap with MIT All-American breaststroker Brandon McKenzie, who placed 15th in the 400 IM and 6th in both breaststroke distances.
Top SCY times:
- 200 IM – 1:50.79
- 400 IM – 3:57.92
- 100 breast – 58.00
- 200 breast – 2:05.62
- 200 free – 1:40.34
- 500 free – 4:34.65
- 200 back – 1:51.58
Kara Zhang
“I am so thrilled and honored to announce my commitment to study and swim at MIT this fall!! thank you to my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for your endless support ?⭐ #techyeah”
Zhang is a senior at Enloe High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. She swims year-round for New Wave Swim Team. She competed in fly and back in high school and finished 17th in the 100 fly at the 2018 North Carolina 4A Championships. In club swimming, recently competed at the North Carolina Swimming Senior SC Championships in the 50/100/200 free, 100/200 fly, and 100/200 IM.
Top SCY times:
- 100 fly – 58.41
- 200 fly – 2:10.75
- 50 free – 25.50
- 100 free – 55.13
- 50 back – 30.20
- 100 back – 1:01.76
I am so thrilled and honored to announce my commitment to study and swim at MIT this fall!! thank you to my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for your endless support ?⭐️ #techyeah pic.twitter.com/Mfn236OLyS
— Kara Zhang (@karazhang_) April 22, 2018
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].
Congratulations. True student athletes that our sport can be very proud of.
Good swimmer and even better guy! Congrats Jordan!
you mean to tell me their mascot is the Engineers….BRUH