NEW COMMIT: New York City’s Sophia Zhang has given her verbal commitment to Harvard. She is the first swimmer to send a verbal to the Crimson women for the class of 2024.
Photo Courtesy: AGUA Swim Team
Zhang attends Trinity High School and is a nine-year member of Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) under head coach David Rodriguez. She holds thirty-six AGUA team records and four Metropolitan Swimming LSC records.
With AGUA, Zhang’s records stand from age nine across all age groups including numerous freestyle and medley relay marks as well. After narrowly missing out on an Olympic Trials standard at the age of 14 in 2016, Zhang has already punched her ticket to Omaha with her efforts in the 100 breaststroke.
Zhang initially posted the cut at the 2019 Senior Metropolitan Championships. She then lowered her personal best to 1:09.74 at this summer’s Junior National Championships. The swim ranks sixty-sixth all-time for American 17-18 women. Zhang took sixth in the event and also placed twenty-seventh at the Phillips 66 National Championships.
Zhang won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke at Ithaca’s Speedo Champions Series meet in March as well as July’s Senior Metropolitan Championships. She is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and has made the 18 & Under World Top 100 list for the 100 breaststroke two years in a row. Zhang also won the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM at New York’s Ivy Prep League Championships as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
Sophia Zhang’s Best Times:
- 100 Breast – 1:00.73
- 200 Breast – 2:12.35
- 100 Fly – 55.88
- 200 Fly – 2:00.53
- 200 IM – 2:02.99
- 100 Breast (LCM) – 1:09.74
- 200 Breast (LCM) – 2:33.69
Zhang’s breaststroke will be of great benefit to Harvard’s Ivy League Champion squad. The Crimson won the Championships in 2019 – a meet where Zhang would have placed second in the 100 breaststroke. She would have taken home third in the 200 distance and eleventh in the 200 butterfly. Currently, Zhang would hold the top Harvard time in both breaststrokes along with the third-best 200 fly.
Zhang told Swimming World:
“I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at Harvard University! An enormous thank you to my family, coaches, friends, teammates, and everyone else who has made this possible! Go Crimson!!!! ♥️♥️”
*IVY LEAGUE DISCLAIMER:* A “verbal commitment” does not guarantee admission. An Ivy League coach cannot guarantee admission but can only commit support in the admissions process.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Thomas Cha
Phenomenal athlete!