NorCal Record Breaker Sven Campbell Commits to Golden Bears

As the nation-wide ranks of elite recruits continues to dwindle with signing-day just a few days away, Sven Campbell has rounded out the class of the Cal men by giving them one of the top sprint freestylers in the country, as well as another backstroker.

Campbell, who swims for Orinda Aquatics and the same dominant Campolindo High School that sent Stephen Stumph to USC this fall, broke three North Coast Section Records at this year’s High School Championships. He won the 100 free in 44.22, breaking the mark held by Stanford All-American Aaron Wayne, and then unleashed a 48.16 in the 100 backstroke – a second-and-a-half better than his own old record. He also broke a record with a 20.23 50 freestyle leadoff of Campolindo’s 200 free relay.

He also has been a 1:44.11 in the 200 backstroke, making him the third-best backstroker in the class behind only Ryan Murphy and Jack Conger. Campbell has been very much a late-breaker in the backstroke events (a three second drop in the 200 as a junior, for example), but adding that to his sprint freestyles makes him one of the top recruits in the class of 2013.

In long course, he finished 3rd in the 100 free at this summer’s Junior Nationals in 50.97, but again has added phenomenal backstroke results of 56.3 and 2:02.7 in long course.

This backstroke group has arguably been Cal’s thinnest since they shored up their middle/distance groups, but with Jacob Pebley, Ryan Murphy, and now Campbell coming in all as NCAA-caliber freshmen and sophomores next fall, that lack of depth is erased for the near future.

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Junior National Swimmer
11 years ago

I saw him race at Junior Nationals This summer, he is obviously of age to swim at the meet. The meet results showed him as being 17 years old.

alohaoe
11 years ago

Don’t see how his age matters much anyhow. He’s a great swimmer and that’s all that should matter. Go Bears!

Lv2srf95
11 years ago

He’s also like a 19 or 20 year old hs senior.

Charles Morton, Esq
Reply to  Lv2srf95
11 years ago

17 years old as of August, 2012. Therefore, you are wrong. Thank you for playing “Today In Anonymous Internet Comment Misinformation”. You have won a sarcastic comment from me!

lv2srf95
Reply to  Charles Morton, Esq
11 years ago

I was close…

All wet
Reply to  Charles Morton, Esq
11 years ago

Really? Wasn’t the first sentence enough? No one can argue correcting a misstatement, particularly one that attempts to diminish the accomplishments of a high school athlete — who regardless of age has four years of college eligibility. On the other hand, why badger and belittle the poster?

Donald Trump
Reply to  Charles Morton, Esq
11 years ago

I demand to see his birth certificate!

duckduckgoose
11 years ago

Good get for the Golden Bears. Orinda and Campolindo High are major bear territory bastions. Best of luck to Sven in the pool, classroom, and the Cal community. Roll on!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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