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Amy Shonk has announced her verbal commitment to further her education and swimming career at the University of Pittsburgh. She wrote on social media:
I am incredibly proud to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Pittsburgh. I’d like to thank Coach Kaersten and Coach Chase for helping me through this process and Coach Joe for dedicating the past 10 years to shaping me into the athlete and person I am today. I truly wouldn’t be here without their support. I can’t wait to continue my journey as a Panther! H2P!!!
Shonk is from Savannah, Georgia, where she swims year-round with Savannah Swim Team. She graduated a year early from Jenkins High School and has swum exclusively with her club team throughout her career.
A sprint specialist, Shonk excels in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 backstroke. Her personal bests include 51.48 in the 100 free set last March, 55.13 in the 100 back from December 2023, and 23.04 in the 50 free from December 2024.
Over the course of her career, Shonk has qualified for both Winter Juniors and the U.S. Open on multiple occasions.
At the 2024 U.S. Open, one of the rare times the meet has been held in short course yards, Shonk placed 17th in the 50 free (23.04) in her only individual event at the meet. A few weeks later at Winter Junior Championships, she touched 42nd in the 50 free (23.44), 98th in the 100 free (52.32), and 84th in the 100 back (57.37).
Last month’s U.S. Open saw Shonk take 17th in the 50m back (29.13) and 24th in the 50m free (26.41). Two days later at the 2025 Georgia Senior State meet, she clocked season bests across the board, placing second in the 50 free (23.15) and 100 back (55.65), her second consecutive runner-up finish in the 50 free. She also contested the prelims of the 100 free (51.56) and 50 fly (25.82) but opted to forgo both finals.
In total, she’s a four-time Georgia State Champion, winning the 50 back (SCY) in 2023, plus long course titles in the 50 back (2023) and both the 50 back and 50 free (2024).
Shonk first made headlines at age 14 by earning a spot on USA Swimming’s Top 100 of All-Time list in the 13-14 50 free (LCM).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.04
- 100 Freestyle: 51.48
- 100 Backstroke: 55.13
Led by head coach Chase Kreitler, the Panthers finished eighth out of 15 teams at the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships. This year, it took times of 22.41 and 48.72 to advance out of prelims in the 50 and 100 free, while 53.18 was needed in the 100 back.
On the team’s 2024-25 depth charts, Shonk would have ranked fifth in the 50 free, sixth in the 100 back, and 12th in the 100 free with her current lifetime bests. Based on this, she will have an immediate impact at dual meets and potentially the 200 free relay.
Shonk joins Emery Vannah, who owns 23.68/50.90 sprint bests to complement 53.94/2:00.02 fly times, as the only publicized recruits in the Panthers’ class of 2030. The duo should make strong training partners over their four years together.
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