Purdue Picks Up Commitment from Backstroker Kelsey Cooper for 2022

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Kelsey Cooper, a senior at Dublin-Jerome High School, has announced that she will be making the short drive from Dublin, Ohio to West Lafayette, Indiana next fall when she joins Purdue University. Cooper currently swims with the Dublin Community Swim Team in suburban Columbus.

I chose Purdue because of the amazing academic opportunities, and also the amazing coaching staff and team. I am so excited to be a part of Coach John’s ever-building program.

As a junior in February, Cooper was a finalist in the 100 back at the OHSAA Division 1 State Championships (big schools). There, she placed 5th in the event, touching in a time of 56.23. Her lifetime best in the race came five days earlier when she took second at the Central, East, and Southeast District Championships in 55.93.

This summer, Cooper finished 17th in both the 100 and 200 backstroke (long course) at the Futures Championship in Richmond. In the 100, she touched in 1:04.42, while she stopped the clock in the 200 in 2:18.24.

Best SCY Times

• 100 back – 55.93
• 200 back – 2:03.11
• 100 free – 53.40
• 200 free – 2:01.56

The Purdue women finished 9th at last year’s Big-10 Swimming and Diving Championships. Cooper will be joining a young backstroke group, with the team’s top 100 backstroker being freshman Abigail Harter. Harter took 32nd in the event at that meet.

With a year still left to improve, Cooper would already be competitive in the backstroke events on the team. Her time in the 100 would have been the program’s third-fastest last season, and her 200 would have ranked her fifth. In 2021, it would have taken 54.93/1:58.60 to earn a second swim at the Big-10 Championships.

The Purdue women finished 9th out of 13 teams at the 2021 Big Ten Swimming & Diving Championships.

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