Nathaniel Lee of San Jose, California has announced his verbal commitment to the University of California, San Diego for 2018-19. Also in the Tritons’ class of 2022 will be fellow commits Ivan Kurakin, Mason Thompson, and Spencer Daily.
“I can proudly say that I verbally commit to UC San Diego. I am so thankful and excited to be swimming under Coach David Marsh and Coach Marko Djordjevic while furthering my education with UC San Diego‘s remarkable computer science programs. I knew from the moment I met the team that this was the university for me. Now I can’t wait to become a part of the Triton family and go past my limits. GO TRITONS!!!”
Lee is a sprinter out of De Anza Cupertino Aquatics who has played four years of varsity water polo at Lynbrook High School, and has participated in three swim/dive seasons. As he explained to SwimSwam, “After realizing that I was pretty decent in swimming, I began club swimming, about a year ago in November, with DACA, and have continued as well as enjoyed it ever since. I am coached by Christian Bonner in the National Development and I also get help from Coach Pete Raykovich along with Coach Gordy Smith.”
At the 2017 SCVAL league championships, he swept the sprint free events, winning the 50 in 21.56 and the 100 in 48.33. Moving on to the Central Coast Section Championships, he took 4th in the 50 (21.27) and 4th in the 100 (46.62), qualifying for the CIF State Meet in both events. He then went to the California State Championships and dropped even more time, clocking a 21.19 in the 50 for 18th, and a 46.21 in the 100 for 12th.
In long-course season he finished the summer with a U.S. Open time in the 50 free (23.69) and a Winter Juniors cut in the 100 (52.61).
- 50 free – 21.19
- 100 free – 46.21
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