NEW COMMIT: Northwestern University has earned their first verbal commitment for the 2021-22 season from freestyler Ashley Strouse of Cave Creek, Az. She’ll join the Wildcats as a member of the class of 2025.
An all-around freestyler, Strouse was named to USA Swimming’s 2019-20 National Junior Team after her stellar performance at Phillips 66 Nationals this past summer. In Palo Alto, she finished 12th in the 200m free en route to achieving the 2020 Olympic Trials cut. She then went on to place 12th during prelims in the 200m free for Team USA at the FINA World Junior Championships in Budapest.
Swimming year-round with Scottsdale Aquatic Club under head coach Kevin Zacher, Strouse owns the Summer Juniors standard or faster in all six freestyle events. At Juniors West last winter, she earned silver in the mile, bronze in the 500 free, placed sixth in the 100 free, and took ninth in the 200 free. She took the top spot in five different events at Rochester Sectionals in March and earned three silver medals at 2018 NCSAs.
Photo Courtesy: Ashley Strouse Instagram (@ashleystrouse)
A current junior at Chaparral High School, Strouse is already an eight-time Arizona DI State Championship finalist. She earned four gold medals during both her freshman and sophomore seasons, winning the 200 free, 500 free, 4×50 free relay, and 4×100 free relay both years. The NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American also won the 200/500 free combo at the 2018 Arizona Meet of Champions.
In SCY, her best times include:
- 50 free – 23.32
- 100 free – 49.24
- 200 free – 1:45.44
- 500 free – 4:41.41
- 1000 free – 9:40.58
- 1650 free – 16:01.20
In LCM, her best times include:
- 50m free – 27.01
- 100m free – 56.62
- 200m free – 1:59.77 (Olympic Trials)
- 400m free – 4:15.75 (Olympic Trials)
- 800m free – 8:48.14
- 1500m free – 16:49.41
Even with just under two years of club swimming still to go before arriving on campus in the fall of 2021, Strouse will make an immediate impact for Northwestern. She would’ve scored in the A-final of the 200 free and 500 free as well as placed top-5 in the mile at the 2019 Big Ten Championships. Her best times in four different events are already fast enough for 2019-20 NCAA “B” cuts, and her 100/200/500/1000/1650 already rank high in Northwestern’s all-time top 10.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Y’all do such a great job on these articles. Keep it up!
Congratulations Ashley