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SwimMAC Carolina’s Christina Lappin is the first of her family to leave the state for college, and she’s headed to the University of South Carolina next fall. Lappin has undergone two heart surgeries, wrist surgery, and foot surgery in her life thus far, but has recovered from each operation and after moving to train with SwimMAC this season, she told SwimSwam that she’s “already improved on my underwaters and quick breath for my racing.”
Lappin’s Top Times (SCY)
- 50 free – 23.35
- 100 free – 50.27
- 200 free – 1:48.20
- 100 fly – 54.61
- 200 fly – 2:00.08
Last year at the North Carolina A/AA HS Champs, Lappin won the 100 free and anchored Lincoln Charter’s 400 free relay to a state title. She also finished 3rd in the 50 free and anchored Lincoln Charter’s 200 medley, which finished as runner-up. She currently holds the NC 1A/2A record in the 200 free, set her sophomore season when she won titles in that event, the 50 free, and as a part of Lincoln Charter’s 200 medley relay.
Lappin is a big commitment for the Gamecocks, who have built a solid underclassmen base in the last season or two. She’s within the top 8 all-time at South Carolina in the 100 and 200 free as well as the 100 and 200 fly, and would’ve been dangerously close to scoring at SECs in the 200 free, 100 free and 200 fly, and not too far off in the 100 fly.
The Gamecocks are led largely by underclassmen again this year, namely sophomores Meredith Vay, Taylor Worrell, and Heather Merritt along with freshman Paige Maynard. Lappin should be a big contributor as soon as she gets to campus– she would’ve been their #1 100 flyer at SECs last season and their #2 200 flyer.
She could see herself making a number of relays, but the 200 and 800 free relay and especially the 400 free relay (in which only Vay, the lead-off leg, broke 50 seconds) have her name written all over them. Lappin will likely swim fly on medley relays at the least during season, though her and Maynard both have very similar best times, so it’s certainly not for certain which will make it on the relays.
South Carolina has put together a strong class for next year; joining Lappin will be:
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].
A great kid who always finds a way to persevere. Congrats Clappin!