NEW COMMIT: Park Ridge, Ill. native and current high school junior Annika Wagner has announced her in-state verbal commitment to Northwestern as a member of the class of 2024.
Wagner does her club swimming with NASA Wildcat Aquatics and owns five U.S. Open cuts. She raced five events at Winter Nationals where her highest finish was an eighth-place showing in the 200m IM. She capped off her summer long course season by finishing 7th in the 200m IM at Junior Nationals after winning both IMs at Illinois LCM Seniors. She registered six top-15 finishes at NCSAs last March to secure her spot on the Irish Open team where she competed in five races.
Also competing for Maine South High School, Wagner is a six-time Illinois State Championship finalist. During her junior season, she set a new Illinois state record in the 200 IM and was the runner-up in the 500 free. The NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American also placed second in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 free as a sophomore.
She told Swimming World:
“I am happy to announce my commitment to the Northwestern family. The coaches, team, facility, and faculty are all outstanding. I am confident that Northwestern’s amazing program will help me reach my goals in and out of the pool. Go Wildcats!”
Her best times include:
- 200 IM – 1:58.63
- 400 IM – 4:15.27
- 100 breast – 1:01.84
- 200 breast – 2:13.03
- 200 free – 1:47.01
- 500 free – 4:48.53
Even with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go before suiting up for the Wildcats, Wagner will make a huge impact in a number of different events. She would’ve scored in the B-final of the 200 free and both IMs as well as the C-final of the 200 breast at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. She’ll also join Lola Mull at the start of the 2020-21 season.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Congrats Annika!