Cassidy Bayer, the third-place finisher in the women’s 200 fly at the U.S. Olympic Trials, has verbally committed to join the California Golden Bears and head coach Teri McKeever in the fall of 2018.
Bayer becomes the top recruit of the 2018 class to announce her verbal commitment, and she will undoubtedly make a huge impact from day one in Berkeley.
In long course, Bayer has lifetime best times of 2:07.87 in the 200 fly and 58.11 in the 100 fly, in which she finished fourth at Olympic Trials. Both of those times ranked among the top 30 in the world in 2016.
Her short course times are not quite up to par with her long course times, as she has bests of 1:55.20 in the 200 fly, 1:58.21 in the 200 IM and 52.78 in the 100 fly. However, all of those times came from the 2015-2016 seasons as Bayer missed most of this past short course season with a knee injury.
Still, Bayer’s time in the 200 fly would have scored in the event at this year’s NCAA championships. She will overlap one year with Katie McLaughlin, the runner-up in the 200 fly at this year’s NCAA championships, and she could be a big boost in the sprint fly events as well with Farida Osman having graduated and Noemie Thomas a senior this coming season.
Bayer explained in an interview with Swimming World in December the nature of her knee injury and how she was bouncing back after coming so close to making the Olympic team.
To report a verbal commitment, email HS@swimmingworld.com.
Congratulations Cassidy!
Great news! Go Bears!