Cal Keeps CIF State Champion, National Junior Teamer Kelsey Zhang In State For 2026
NEW COMMIT: The University of California, Berkeley has successfully kept in-state standout Kelsey Zhang of Saratoga, about 60 miles from campus, in-state for her college career. She’ll arrive in Fall 2026.
Zhang currently owns the fastest time in her class in the 200 fly. She would’ve scored in that event at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
She will join Ava de Anda and Isabel Wolk as a member of the Golden Bears’ Class of 2030.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am so thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to pursue my academic and athletic career at the University of California, Berkeley! I want to thank my friends and family for their endless support throughout this journey, and my coaches at @paloaltostanfordaquatics for helping me get to where I am today. I also want to give a special thank you to Coach Dave for making this a dream come true. I am so honored to be able to start this new chapter of my life with such an amazing team; GO BEARS!!”
An Olympic Trials qualifier, Zhang does her club swimming with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics and is a member of the National Junior Team.
She placed fifth in the 200m fly at Junior Pan Pacs this past summer after taking 19th in that event at Olympic Trials. She swept the 100m/200m fly and the 200m/400m IM at Sacramento Futures, too.
Last winter, she finished third in the 200 fly and fourth in the 100 fly at Juniors West.
Her best times include:
- 200 fly – 1:53.51
- 100 fly – 52.08
- 200 IM – 1:57.26
- 200 free – 1:48.38
- 100 back – 54.10
- 100 breast – 1:01.85
- 500 free – 4:48.16
- 100 free – 50.46
- 50 free – 23.11
Currently a junior at Saratoga High School, Zhang won the 100 fly and placed third in the 200 IM at the 2023 CIF State Championships. She won both of those events at the CIF Central Coast Championships in 2023 and 2024.
2024-25 marks Cal’s first year competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Golden Bears won the 2024 Pac-12 title.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
