NEW COMMIT: The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has picked up two verbal commitments for the fall of 2022 from in-stater Ede Kosik of Bahama, N.C. and Chattanooga, Tenn. native Ellie Taliaferro.
Both talented swimmers will join Emma Karam, Lily Reader, Kyleigh Tankard and Aislin Farris as a member of the Tar Heels’ Class of 2026.
Under head coach Mark Gangloff, UNC improved from seventh in 2019 at the ACC Championships to fourth last season.
Ede Kosik
Photo Courtesy: Ede Kosik
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill !! Big thanks to my friends, family, and coaches who have helped me get here! #goheels
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A talented freestyler and butterflyer, Kosik does her club swimming with Carolina Aquatic Team and most recently earned four best times at the 18&U Winter Championships where her highest finish was a 12th-place showing in the 500 free. Last winter, she took seventh in the 100 free and 12th in the 500 free at North Carolina Seniors.
She also sprinted to sixth place in the 50m free at Southern Zone Age Groups in August 2019.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 24.00
- 100 free – 50.87
- 200 free – 1:51.35
- 500 free – 5:04.76
- 100 fly – 58.05
- 200 fly – 2:08.31
- 200 back – 2:09.40
Also competing for the Voyager Academy, Kosik is already a four-time individual North Carolina 1A/2A State Championship finalist. She collected gold in the 100 free and silver in the 200 free as a sophomore while taking sixth in the 100 free and 11th in the 500 free during her rookie campaign.
Ellie Taliaferro
Photo Courtesy: Ellie Taliaferro
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am extremely blessed and excited to announce my verbal commitment to, continue my academic and athletic career at the University of North, Carolina! I am so thankful for my coaches, teammates, and especially, my friends and family for supporting me and helping me get to this, point. Cannot wait to be a tar heel!!!
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Taliaferro, who trains year-round with McCallie GPS Aquatics, posted four top-5 finishes at the Music City Invitational last month and was the 200 IM champion at the Southeastern Swimming Championships back in February.
In Summer 2019, she registered five top-15 showings at the Southeastern LCM Championships before going on to race four events at Greensboro Futures.
Her best times include:
- 50 free – 23.09
- 100 free – 50.04
- 200 free – 1:50.29
- 100 fly – 55.23
- 200 IM – 2:01.62
- 400 IM – 4:30.13
- 100 back – 56.11
- 200 back – 2:02.03
- 100 breast – 1:05.29
Currently a junior at Girls Preparatory School, Taliaferro is a four-time TISCA Tennessee State Championship finalist. She grabbed silver in the 100 free and bronze in the 50 free during her sophomore season while finishing fifth and second, respectively, in those events as a freshman.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.