NEW COMMIT: Chevy Chase, Md. sensation and U.S. National Teamer Phoebe Bacon has announced her verbal commitment to Wisconsin. As one of the most sought-out recruits, she will join the Badgers as a member of the class of 2024.
Bacon, who swims year-round with Nation’s Capital Swim Club under head coach Tim Kelly, sizzled onto the scene by placing fourth in the 100m back at Phillips 66 Nationals this past summer after qualifying second during prelims. That swim qualified her to represent Team USA at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Fiji where she went on to earn gold in the 100m back, 4x100m mixed medley relay and 4x100m medley relay.
Bacon registered four top-10 finishes at Winter Nationals in November, including a second-place showing in the 100m back with a trio of 2020 Olympic Trials cuts. She had four top-3 finishes at NCSAs last March en route to earning herself a spot on the Irish Open team where she earned a silver medal in the 100m back. A current junior at Stone Ridge School for the Sacred Heart, Bacon has earned NISCA All-American honors twice in her career.
Bacon is also one of seven women on the US National Team that are currently still in high school. She goes to the same school and swims for the same club team that developed world record holder Katie Ledecky. Bacon will represent Team USA at the Pan American Games this summer.
The other National Team members that are still in high school are Mariah Denigan, Regan Smith, Isabelle Stadden, Chase Travis, Alex Walsh and Emily Weiss.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 22.86
- 100 free – 49.28
- 100 back – 51.18, 59.12 (LCM)
- 200 back – 1:52.84, 2:11.13 (LCM)
- 100 breast – 1:01.27
- 200 breast – 2:17.35
- 100 fly – 52.33
- 200 fly – 2:00.44
- 200 IM – 1:57.31, 2:15.96 (LCM)
- 400 IM – 4:09.82
Bacon is a huge pickup for the University of Wisconsin, who had the 2019 CSCAA Swimmer of the Year in junior Beata Nelson. Bacon, who swims almost the exact same events as Nelson, will be a freshman in the fall of 2020. She will be joining the team in Madison the year after Nelson graduates.
This is the biggest pick-up for the Badgers in the Yuri Suguiyama era. He finished his first year in Madison with a fifth place finish at Big Tens and 16th place at NCAAs. Suguiyama has been known to help produce backstroke talent as he was at Cal during the Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley era and helped Nelson win the 100 and 200 back at NCAAs this year. Suguiyama also helped coach Ledecky to an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in the 800 free.
Bacon will be joining a Badgers team when NCAA qualifier Lillie Hosack is a junior. Bacon’s best times would have put her in the B-Final at NCAAs this year in the 100 and 200 back.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
#onwisconsin
Welcome to the Badger Family Phoebe!! ??
On Wisconsin!
Smart girl!