Summer Juniors Qualifier and Converted Water Polo Player Jack Berube Commits to UVA

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Jack Berube, a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas, has announced his intention to swim and study at the University of Virginia in the class of 2027.

“I am so incredibly thrilled and grateful to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Virginia to pursue my academic and athletic career! Thank you so much to those who helped me along these wild last 6 months, especially Coach Steve Mateer, my teammates, my friends, and my parents. Thank you so much also to my future coaches and teammates! LESKOO HOOS 🟧⚔️🟦”

Berube is the son of 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ryan Berube, a graduate of Southern Methodist University. Until quite recently, the younger Berube was an elite water polo player with Pegasus Aquatics and expected to continue playing water polo in college. But after junior year high school season, where he was runner-up at the 2022 Texas UIL 5A State Championships in both the 200 free (1:39.50 and 100 back (49.12), he decided to swim year-round with Lakeside Aquatic Club. He was training swimming in the mornings and water polo in the afternoons, still thinking he would play both sports. This culminated in a crazy week last summer, when he spent a week at Junior Olympics for water polo before heading to Futures in College Station. There, with very little LCM training, he placed ninth in the 100m back (57.83) and notched his first Junior Nationals cut.

Finally, about two months ago, he dropped water polo and is now 100% focused on swimming.

Berube had a big meet in December at Winter Juniors West, going PBs in the 50 free (21.28), 100 back (58.32), 200 back (1:46.81), and 100 fly (49.41). He finaled in the 100 back (12th) and 200 back (24th) and qualified for Summer Juniors in both backstroke events.

Best SCY Times:

  • 100 back – 48.32
  • 200 back – 1:46.81
  • 100 fly – 49.41
  • 50 free – 21.28
  • 100 free – 47.16
  • 200 free – 1:41.27

Berube is on a lightning-fast trajectory, with less than a year of full-time swimming under his belt. He has a lot of potential and could develop the 200 IM, 100 fly, or 50 free as his third event. Meanwhile, he’ll join the Cavaliers’ class of 2027 with fellow commits Hayden Bellotti, Simon Lins, Will Thompson, Zachary Larrick, Noah Dyer, and Tristen Davin.

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].

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Athletic supporter
1 year ago

Steve Mateer is one of the most underrated coaches in USA swimming.

I see big things ahead for Berube. Great choice in college as well.

Terry Watts
1 year ago

Wahoowa!

D Charette
1 year ago

I absolutely love this! Amazing he was able to play two sports at such a high level. I have girls that swim and play polo and love both and it’s inspiring to see kids being able to still play both since sports require more time each year they age. Congrats!

Jay Ryan
1 year ago

Genetics

Demarrit Steenbergen
1 year ago

Huge blow for SMU not to pick him up

Andrew
1 year ago

Bro is completing sidequests

stoobie
1 year ago

Will never forget his dad’s anchor swim on the 800 FR in ‘96. Best of luck to this young man!

Crissy Perham
1 year ago

This is awesome! Sounds familiar! 😉 Best of luck, Jack!

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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