NEW COMMITS: The University of California, San Diego has recently scored a pair of verbal commitments for the Tritons’ class of 2025 from Irvine, Calif. native Jackson Bernstein and Devin Esser of Phoenix, Az.
Both talented swimmers will join Ethan Hildesheim and Aidan Simpson in San Diego at the start of the 2021-22 season.
JACKSON BERNSTEIN
Photo Courtesy: Jackson Bernstein via CollegeSwimming
Regarding his commitment, he said:
“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the UC San Diego. I am so proud and excited to become a Triton and to swim for such an outstanding program at UCSD! Thank you to my family, coaches, and friends for the support that has helped me get here . Go Tritons!”
Primarily a freestyler, Bernstein does his club swimming with Irvine Novaquatics and most recently placed seventh in the 1000 free at Carlsbad Sectionals. He earned 100% best times at Juniors West in December and had a pair of top-12 finishes at Mount Hood Futures last summer.
His best times include:
- 200 feee – 1:44.62
- 500 free – 4:34.00
- 1000 free – 9:27.53
- 1650 free – 15:51.46
Also competing for Woodbridge High School, Bernstein raced to 12th in the 500 free as a sophomore at the CIF Southern DI Section Championships. He has also been awarded USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors for his efforts.
DEVIN ESSER
Photo Courtesy: Devin Esser
He told Swimming World:
“I am very excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of California – San Diego! I am beyond thankful to Coach Marko and Coach Kirk for this opportunity and would like to thank my family, Coach Joe, and all of my coaches, friends and teammates for supporting me along the way. I am super excited to be a part of the Triton family – Go Tritons!!!”
Also a talented freestyler, Esser swims year-round with Swim Neptune and recorded six top-13 finishes at the Arizona Senior Open and finaled in four events at Phoenix Sectionals in 2019. Last summer, he achieved 100% lifetime bests at Mount Hood Sectionals before going on to win the 400m IM at Arizona LCM Seniors.
His best times include:
- 200 free – 1:41.50
- 500 free – 4:34.75
- 1000 free – 9:30.49
- 1650 free – 16:07.91
A rising senior at Veritas Prep, Esser is a six-time Arizona DIII State Championship finalist. He collected gold in the 200/500 free combo in his junior season while taking first in the 200 IM and 500 free during his sophomore campaign. He also earned silver in the 500 free at the Meet of Champions in 2019.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Congratulations to future Tritons Devin and Jackson!!!