NEW COMMIT: The University of Wisconsin, Madison has picked up a new verbal commitment for the fall of 2022 from breaststroker and Istanbul, Turkey native Hazal Ozkan.
She will arrive in Madison along with Blair Stoneburg, Anna teDuits, Abby Wanezek as a member of the Badgers’ Class of 2026.
She told Swimming World:
“I’m honored and extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic journey at University of Wisconsin-Madison. I’d like to thank Coach Yuri Suguiyama, Coach Kristy Brager and Jennah Haney for their guidance and patience and my coaches, teachers, family and friends who supported and encouraged me throughout this process! Go Badgers️?”
Ozkan, who does her club swimming with Fenerbahce Sports Club and attends Mount Kelly in the United Kingdom, most recently won the 100m and 200m breast at the Turkish SCM National Team Selection Meet earlier this month. She also won the 50m and 100m breast at the LCM National Team Selection Meet in December.
At the 2018 European Junior Championships, she advanced to the semifinals of the 50m breast and also competed at that meet in 2019.
In LCM, her best times include:
- 100m breast – 1:10.53
- 200m breast – 2:33.26
- 200m IM – 2:22.65
In SCY, those times convert to:
- 100 breast – 1:01.24
- 200 breast – 2:13.82
- 200 IM – 2:04.72
Even with 1.5 years to go before suiting up for the Badgers, Ozkan will make a big impact in their breaststroke group. Her converted times would’ve put her as their No. 2 in the 100 breast and No. 3 in the 200 breast, while she would’ve made the B-final in both events at the 2021 Big Ten Championships.
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