NEW COMMITS: UCLA has scored three new verbal commitments for the 2021-22 season and beyond from Mia Chang of Mill Creek, Wash., Morgan Hawes of San Carols, Calif. and Mountain View, Calif. native Taylor Schaffer.
All three swimmers will suit up for the Bruins as a member of the class of 2025 along with Paige MacEachern, Eva Carlson, Ana Jih-Schiff, Kathryn Lundh, and Ashley Stenstrom.
MIA CHANG
Photo Courtesy: Mia Chang
A talented backstroker, Chang swims year-round with Bellevue Club Swim Team and owns the Olympic Trials cut in the 100m back with five additional Junior National standards. She most recently had five top-3 finishes at Pacific Northwest Seniors after racing to 10th in the 200 back at Juniors West. Last summer, she finaled in the 100m back at Nationals and recorded two best times at Junior Nationals.
She told Swimming World:
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of California Los Angeles! Thank you to everyone who has supported me! GO BRUINS”
A current junior at Jackson High School, Chang is a six-time Washington 4A State Championship finalist. She earned gold in the 100 back and 200 IM as a junior while taking third in the 100 back and ninth in the 100 breast during her sophomore season. She was also named the Washington 4A Swimmer of the Year in 2019.
Her best times include:
- 50 back – 25.79
- 100 back – 54.54
- 200 back – 1:56.74
- 200 IM – 1:59.71
MORGAN HAWES
Photo Courtesy: Morgan Hawes Instagram (@morganhawess)
Primarily a mid-distance freestyler, Hawes competes year-round with Alto Swim Club and has achieved three U.S. Open cuts. She placed fourth in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free at Carlsbad Sectionals and notched a lifetime best at Juniors West. She also registered a pair of top-20 finishes at Santa Clarita Sectionals this past summer.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at UCLA! I chose UCLA for its fantastic academics, incredible swim program, and its remarkable diversity. I am so grateful for my parents, coaches, friends, teammates and for everyone else who has supported me through this process. I can’t wait to be a part of the Bruin family! #GOBRUINS”
Also competing for Carlmont High School, Hawes competed at the CIF State Championships during her rookie campaign. The USA Swimming Scholastic All-American took second in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 free as a sophomore at the CIF Central Coast Section Championships.
Her best times include:
- 100 free – 50.30
- 200 free – 1:48.47
- 500 free – 4:48.73
- 1000 free – 10:17.31
TAYLOR SCHAFFER
Photo Courtesy: Taylor Schaffer Instagram (@taylor.schaffer)
Schaffer does her club swimming with Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics and most recently raced six events at College Station Sectionals. This past summer, she finaled in the 400m free at Santa Clara Superleague meet and was a four-time finalist at the Joyce Lanphere Invite.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at UCLA!! I am so honored to have the opportunity to swim with such an inspiring group of girls and supportive coaches. Go Bruins!!”
Schaffer also competes for Saint Francis High School Mountain View and raced to 11th in the 500 free at the 2019 CIF Central Coast Championships and took 10th in that event as a freshman. Her older sister, Brooke Schaffer, is currently a freshman on the Bruins’ roster and her father, Greg Schaffer, was a member of the UCLA men’s swim team and was the runner-up in the 200 breast at NCAAs.
Her best times include:
- 100 breast – 1:07.52
- 200 breast – 2:26.16
- 200 free – 1:55.65
- 500 free – 5:05.95
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.
Go Alto!!!!!