NEW COMMIT: U.S. National Junior Team member Destin Lasco of Pleasantville, New Jersey, has announced his verbal commitment to join the Cal Golden Bears beginning in the fall of 2020.
Lasco swims year-round with Salvation Army Kroc Aquatics and owns 12 Winter Juniors (or faster) standards, which includes a trio of U.S. Open cuts. He most recently competed at Winter Nationals where he finished fourth in the 100m free, eighth in the 200m free and tenth in the 100m back. He was a five-time finalist at Phillips 66 Nationals this past summer where his highest finish was a 17th-place showing in the 100m free. Representing Team USA, Lasco went on to win gold in the 100m back at Junior Pan-Pacs.
A current junior at Mainland Regional High School, Lasco is a four-time New Jersey State Championship finalist. He won the 200 IM and 500 free during his sophomore season after taking the top spots in both the 200 IM and 100 back during his freshman campaign. Lasco has earned NISCA All-American honors twice in his career thus far and owns the boys’ 15-16 National Age Group record in the 100 back.
Competing this weekend at the Speedo Winter Invitational, he told Swimming World, “I feel blessed to be part of such an amazing group of people in a world class environment, both academically and athletically. The coaches, Dave Durden and Chase Kreitler, played a big part in my decision with our discussion about being an athlete, both physically and mentally, emphasizing that success in the classroom was paramount, which struck a chord with me.”
Lasco’s best times include:
- 100 back – 45.93
- 200 back – 1:41.77
- 50 free – 20.72
- 100 free – 43.62
- 200 free – 1:37.00
- 500 free – 4:23.77
- 200 IM – 1:44.59
- 400 IM – 3:48.22
- 100 back – 45.93
- 200 back – 1:41.77
- 100 fly – 48.64
- 100 breast – 55.90
As one of the top recruits in the class of 2020, Lasco is a huge get for the Golden Bears. Even with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go before arriving in Berkeley, Lasco would’ve scored in the A-final of the 200 IM, 100 back and 200 back; the B-final of the 500 free, 400 IM and 100 free; and the C-final of the 200 free at the 2018 Pac-12 Championships where Cal secured their fifth team title in program history.
Lasco will join Dare Rose, Dylan Hawk, Matthew Jensen and Forrest Frazier as members of Cal’s class of 2024.
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