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UCLA is on a roll, and the latest verbal commitment comes to them from Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts. Lilly Vivado, a versatile distance free, back/fly/IMer from Bluefish Swim Club has chosen to make Los Angeles her home beginning next fall.
“UCLA has always been my dream school. Head Coach Cyndi, the rest of the coaching staff, the team, and the outstanding academics made it the perfect choice for me. Meeting the girls last weekend solidified my decision really quickly. They definitely made me feel at home. I’m super excited to be a Baby Bruin, and I couldn’t be happier about my decision. Go Bruins!”
Vivado is a senior at Milton Academy, where in her first outing as a Mustang she set two new school records: in the 200 IM and the 100 fly, the oldest standing Milton girls swimming record. Her best events are not contested in high school, though, as the longer she goes the better she gets. At Winter Juniors last December, Vivado competed in the 400m free, 800m free, 200y back, 100y fly, 100m fly, and 200/400y IM. Her best short course times over the last two seasons include:
- 200 free – 1:49.53
- 500 free – 4:54.77
- 1000 free – 9:58.21
- 1650 free – 16:57.48
- 200 back – 2:02.69
- 100 fly – 55.54
- 400 IM – 4:22.98
Coach Cyndi Gallagher has had quite a bit of success with her distance freestyle program. The Bruins have scored consistently in the 1650 at NCAAs over the last several years: 2015-junior Katy Campbell (13th); 2014-senior Lauren Baker (13th); 2013-junior Lauren Baker (10th); 2011-senior Samantha Vanden Berge (12th). Campbell went on to represent Team USA in the 1500 at World Championships in Kazan this summer.
While Vivado could be called upon to fill any number of holes given her versatility, she may be groomed to succeed the current crop of distance swimmers.
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