You are working on Staging1

Illinois Record-Holder Ema Rajic Verbally Commits to Cal

Ema Rajic of Urbana, Illinios has made a verbal commitment to swim for the University of California, Berkeley beginning in the 2018-19 season. Rajic announced her decision on Instagram:

Rajic is a rising senior at Urbana’s University High School. At the Illinois High School Association Girls State Championships in November 2016, she broke the IHSA records in both the 200 IM and 100 breast. Her 2:00.27 in the IM downed the oldest record on the Illinois books, a 2:00.63 set in 1998 by Emily Pisula. She then lowered her own 100 breast mark of 1:00.90, set in prelims 2 days earlier, with 1:00.77 in finals.

The polyvalent Rajic swims year-round with Champaign County YMCA, with whom she competed at the U.S. Nationals and World Championship Trials in Indianapolis last month. There she placed 14th in the 50m breast, 18th in the 100 breast, 35th in the 200 IM, 51st in the 100 fly, and 69th in the 50 free, notching personal bests in all five events.

Rajic will fill a much-needed slot at Cal. The Bears’ top scorers in breaststroke, Marina Garcia and Maija Roses, will have both graduated, and the incoming breaststrokers in Cal’s class of 2021 (Alexandra Skorus-Neely and Ali Harrison) have yet to match Rajic’s 1:00.7/2:14.1 in the 100/200 breast.

Top SCY times:

  • 50 breast – 27.89
  • 100 breast – 1:00.77
  • 200 breast – 2:14.12
  • 200 IM – 2:00.23
  • 400 IM – 4:14.15
  • 100 fly – 54.48
  • 50 free – 23.17

Rajic will join #5 Cassidy Bayer and #18 Elise Garcia, who have also verbally committed to the Cal class of 2022.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected]

In This Story

14
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

14 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Steve Nolan
7 years ago

All blown up like that, the banner picture looks like she’s posing with a giant turd.

But I mean, congrats on picking a college! Go go fightin’ turds!

PsychoDad
7 years ago

The name indicates her parents are Serbian. Confirmation anyone?

On Fleek
Reply to  PsychoDad
7 years ago

Ema’s parents originally hailed from Croatia, I believe.

Swamfan
7 years ago

Yay!! congrats Ema!!!

FREEBEE
7 years ago

26.13 in 50m FR at Arena Pro. Not to shabby –the lady has some range and loads of potential– Great pick up for the Bears!

Hswimmer
7 years ago

This is probably not the best thread to ask this question, but I don’t know where else to ask: Any word on how Franklin is doing and word on returning to competition? I’ve been curious.

bobo gigi
Reply to  Hswimmer
7 years ago

It’s out of topic but I can sometimes be out of topic too so I will not blame you. 🙂 The silly downvotes blame you.
Here’s a recent article about Missy on the Denver Post website. Very interesting.
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/27/missy-franklin-new-outlook-swimming/

FREEBEE
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Good article –thanks for sharing

Hswimmer
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

Thanks Bobo

Miguel
7 years ago

MAJOR KEY PLAYER for Cal. Great recruit! Good luck to her in the future!

BearsFan00
7 years ago

Harrison a 2:13.5 last winter in the 200 breast and 1:00.8 at CIF States. Still, an amazing pick up for the Bears! Congratulations Ema!

stanford fan
7 years ago

congrats, ema!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »