Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
GREER, South Carolina, September 12. SEC country lost a big get as the No. 16 ranked swimmer in the Class of 2015 as ranked by CollegeSwimming.com Katrina Konopka has chosen to attend the University of Arizona after her high school career comes to a close.
Konopka, the top-ranked swimmer in the State of South Carolina, made the call tonight to be a future Wildcat. Konopka trains at Y-Spartaquatics Swim Club and preps at Saint Joseph’s Catholic School, and decided to commit before she even left campus during her official visit that includes other amazing swimmers in No. 18 Amy Bilquist and No. 46 Victoria Toris.
Konopka had a busy summer as she competed as part of Team USA at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships and also put a hurting on the YMCA Short Course National Championships by winning the 50-yard free in fine fashion. She joins fellow top-15 recruit Quinn Carrozza in having already committed to the University of Arizona along with a handful of other lower-ranked swimmers thus far.
Konopka is going to make a big impact at Arizona as one of the faster sprint stars in the Class of 2015. She has blazing top-end speed with a 22.46 to her credit in the 50-yard free from YMCA Nationals, as well as a 54.24 in the 100-yard back and a 54.02 in the 100-yard fly. She also has a 49.90 to her credit in the 100-yard free as she will be able to not only fill a role in the sprint frees, but also in all of the key sprint relays.
She also has a strong long course resume, having earned her way onto the Junior Pan Pacific squad this summer. She holds a 25.66 in the 50-meter free, a 55.97 in the 100-meter free and a 2:02.51 in the 200-meter freestyle events.