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Versatile Brea Aquatics freestyler and World Junior Champs finalist Kenisha Liu has given her verbal commitment to UCLA. She was on the USA’s 400 free relay in Singapore, where she split a 55.48 as the third leg of the relay in finals.
“I chose UCLA because the college has a great balance of academics and athletics. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the team was very inviting and fun to be around. Also, I think Coach Cyndi’s program aligns well with my current program under Coach Jim Johnson (the greatest coach ever), so I know I can improve and continue to make my goals.”
Liu is a huge addition to the Bruins roster– the Ayala High School senior won both the 100 and 200 free at the 2015 CIF Championships with blazing times of 49.22 and 1:46.14, personal bests that would rank her 1st in the 200 and 3rd in the 100 on UCLA’s top times list last season.
Liu’s Top Times
- 50 free – 23.59
- 100 free – 49.22
- 200 free – 1:46.14
- 200 breast – 2:15.14
- 100 fly – 54.42
- 200 fly – 1:59.40
- 200 IM – 1:59.84
- 400 IM – 4:15.27
As it turns out, Liu’s hardly just a freestyler, with Winter Nationals cuts in the 200 fly, 200 breast, 200 IM, and 400 IM, along with a Winter Juniors cuts in the 100 fly. She’d also have been UCLA’s second-ranked 400 IMer and 200 breaststroker last season. Liu finished up 37th in the 100 free at U.S. Nationals this summer, which was the selection meet for the American World Junior Champs roster. Her time of 57.01 at Nationals wasn’t a reflection of her best racing, as she holds best times of 55.82 in the 100 and 2:02.67 in the 200, the former of which is an Olympic Trials cut.
Liu’s also earned Trials cuts in the 200 breast (2:34.58), 100 fly (1:00.53), and 200 IM (2:18.61).
It’s safe to say that Liu will be a big contributor to the Bruins, as she’d A final in the 400 IM at last year’s Pac-12 Championships and is well within B final scoring range in the 100 and 200 free, the 200 breast, the 200 fly, and the 200 IM. UCLA will be able to put her where they need her, and she’ll be a huge boost to the free relays (especially the 800, as her flat start best time in the 200 free is faster than any Bruin leg on their Pac-12 relay last year).
UCLA has a stellar freshman class this year, highlighted by names like Caroline McTaggart and Emma Schanz, and they’re continuing to bring in big names. In addition to Liu, UCLA has gotten verbals from Lisa Kaunitz, Lilly Vivado, Isabella Goldsmith, and Trials qualifier Amy Okada.
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Congrats to Kenisha and her family. UCLA is very lucky to get her. We know she is a great swimmer, but she is even a better person, friend, and teammate. Watching her swim the last 3+ years at Ayala HS has been a pleasure. Seeing her interact with my daughter in out of the pool has been special. Look forward to a great Senior Year at AHS!
UCLA has gotten a gem! Kenisha is a special person. As a swimmer she has been consistently getting better. 51.1 in the 100 free her freshmen year and now 49.2 her junior season.
Kenisha is an extremely hard worker and inspires her teammates to do the same.
And most importantly Kenisha is a really good person. She will be missed.