4x NCAA Qualifier Peyton Palsha to Finish 4th Year of Eligibility at Georgia

Saint Petersburg, Florida’s Peyton Palsha is has verbally committed to swim for the University of Georgia next year.

“The reason I’m transferring is because I had the opportunity to obtain my master’s degree under a different institution while also being able to use my 5th year to compete at a new school. The SEC in my opinion is the fastest conference, so I choose to stay and swim for a university with a top Horticultural program. I’m excited to help Georgia win SECs and NCAA’s next season, Go Dawgs!”

Palsha graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 2017 and joined the Arkansas women’s swimming and diving team that fall. As a freshman, she qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championship where she finished 20th in the 1650 free (16:14.71) and 37th in the 500 free (4:43.19). As a sophomore, she again competed in the 1650 and 500 freestyle events. Last year, Palsha qualified in the 500 free (21st), 400 IM (34th), and 1650 free (17th) before the meet was canceled due to COVID-19. This season, she wrapped up her undergraduate career at the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships placing 17th in the 500 free and 12th in the mile after having notched lifetime bests in the 200 free, 1650 free, and 400 IM at SECs.

Palsha will graduate from Arkansas in May and head home to Florida to train with her club team, Saint Petersburg Aquatics, to prepare for Olympic Trials where she will be representing SPA and the Georgia Bulldogs. She is a Wave I qualifier in the 400 free (4:15.91) and a Wave II qualifier in the 1500 free (16:42.79). She achieved both times, as well as a PB of 4:53.65 in the 400 IM at 2020 U.S. Open in Des Moines.

Top SCY times:

• 1650 free – 15:58.42
• 1000 free – 9:44.86
• 500 free – 4:38.86
• 200 free – 1:45.24
• 400 IM – 4:08.02
• 200 IM – 2:02.18
• 200 breast – 2:15.64

Palsha will arrive in Athens as Courtney Harnish is graduating from the women’s team. Harnish won the 500 free at SECs this year, while Palsha clocked in at third place. She will overlap with Jillian Barczyk and Madison Homovich.

Palsha will graduate from Arkansas with a bachelors in horticulture, landscape, and turf science. She plans to get her masters in some area of horticulture. As of now, she is leaning towards plant genetics and genomics, and plant breeding.

Palsha will join the Bulldogs with incoming freshmen Angharad Evans, Ava Kennedy, Briana Roberson, Carson Schiller, Duné Coetzee, Elsa Fretz, Hailey Galbraith, Hailey Hicks, Lily Gardner, Mary Martin, Mia Abruzzo, and Rachel Stege.