NEW COMMIT: The University of Kentucky has gotten off to a hot start with recruiting for the 2023 cycle, most recently landing their second verbal pledge from Junior National qualifier Paige Housman of Tucson, Arizona.
She will join Madi McGlothen in Lexington as a member of the Wildcats’ Class of 2027.
Housman does her club swimming with Flying Fish Arizona Swim Team and most recently earned three best times at West Fargo Futures where her highest finish was a sixth-place showing in the 400m free. She won the 50m and 100m free at Arizona Seniors in July and was the runner-up in the 800m/1500m free at the 18&U Spring Cup in Orlando back in the spring.
Her best times include:
- 100 free – 51.50
- 200 free – 1:50.75
- 500 free – 4:52.83
- 1000 free – 10:12.09
- 1650 free – 16:57.39
- 400 IM – 4:29.95
Currently a junior at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Housman is already a four-time individual Arizona DIII State Championship finalist. She collected gold in the 100 free and silver in the 200 free as a sophomore while taking second in both the 200 and 500 free during her freshman season.
Housman, who has also earned USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors, was named the Southern Arizona Freshman of the Year in 2019.
The 2020-21 season was one of the history books for the UK women’s team, culminating with the Wildcats winning their first-ever SEC title with a program-record 1,124 points under head coach Lars Jorgensen. At the conference meet, the Wildcats collected 12 medals, including three gold, three silver, and six bronze, in addition to breaking five school records. The 4×200 free relay team also combined to give UK their second SEC relay title.
A school-record 14 UK women were invited to the 2021 NCAA Championships, besting the previous record of 10 and tying for the third-most swimmers invited that season behind Virginia and Florida. Those 14 Wildcats combined for 35 entries total, which was also a school record.
UK finished 11th with 152 points at NCAAs, marking their best team finish in school history as well as the most points scored, and also their fourth-straight year in the top-15. Kentucky collected 23 All-America honors – eight First Team and 15 Honorable Mention – yet another school record.
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