NEW COMMIT: NC State University has officially entered the Class of 2023 recruiting game, recently snagging their first verbal commitment from in-state standout and Olympic Trials qualifier Keelan Cotter of Cary, North Carolina.
Cotter will not be the first NCAA Division I swimmer in her family. Her older brother, Colin Cotter, is a backstroker at South Carolina while her other brother, Michael Cotter, will join the Wolfpack next fall.
She told Swimming World:
“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my swimming and academic career at NC State University!!! Thank you to my family, teammates, coaches, & friends for their endless support through this process?? I can’t wait to be apart of such an amazing family! GO PACK!!”
A versatile swimmer, Cotter does her club swimming with the TAC Titans and was the youngest swimmer in an A-final at Wave I of Olympic Trials where she finished eighth in the 200m IM. She most recently competed at Huntsville Futures, placing second in both the 200m free and 200m IM as well as third in the 400m IM and 800m free.
Cotter is also a seven time North Carolina Age Group high point winner. At age 12, she broke the state record in the 400m IM and 800m free. The year after, she was part of three 13-14 National Age Group record-breaking relays.
She is also a 2020 National Select Camp participant.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 23.31
- 100 free – 50.39
- 200 free – 1:47.59
- 500 free – 4:47.69
- 1000 free – 10:07.06
- 1650 free – 16:48.53
- 200 fly – 2:01.47
- 200 IM – 2:01.43
- 400 IM – 4:19.64
Currently a junior at Green Hope High School, Cotter is a four-time individual North Carolina 4A State Championship finalist. She won the 500 free and was the runner-up in the 200 free as a sophomore while taking third in both of those events during her freshman season.
She owns the school record in the 200 free and is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American.
Even with two years still to go before arriving in Raleigh, Cotter will make a huge impact. She already would’ve scored in the B-final of the 200/500 free at the 2021 ACC Championships and would’ve ranked fourth and third, respectively, on NC State’s lineup in those races a season ago.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
