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Pleasanton, California native Sydney Lu announced via social media that she had made a verbal commitment to the application process* at Harvard University for 2022-23.
“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at Harvard University! It is a dream come true to continue my academic and swimming career with the Harvard Swim and Dive family! I want to thank my parents and older brother for their unconditional love and support, Coach Steve Morsilli for bringing out the best in me, and my friends for making every moment meaningful. GO CRIMSON!!! ❤️”
Lu is a junior at Quarry Lane School in Dublin, CA. She does her year-round swimming with the club team Pleasanton Seahawks. A two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, Lu specializes mainly in butterfly (for which she was named to the “Best of the Rest” section on our Way Too Early List of recruits from the high school class of 2022) and IM. She recently competed at the multi-site 2020 U.S. Open Championships in Irvine, where she swam the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM. She came in 2nd in the 100 fly (29th overall in the combined results) with a PB of 1:01.19.
In high school swimming, while her sophomore year was canceled due to the coronavirus, Lu competed as a freshman at the 2019 CIF North Coast Section Championships and finished 2nd in the 100 fly (54.11) and 5th in the 200 IM (2:04.62). She went on to the California State Championships where she was 4th in the 100 fly (53.96) and 23rd in the 200 IM (2:06.21). She logged personal bests in both those events, as well as the 1000 free and 400 IM, at California-Nevada Sectionals in December 2019. There, she won the 100 fly (53.68), 200 fly (2:00.33), 200 IM (2:03.50), and 400 IM (4:23.87). In the fall of 2019, she had a number of lifetime best swims, showing off her versatility with PBs in the 100 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 200 fly.
Top SCY times:
- 100 fly – 53.68
- 200 fly – 1:57.93
- 200 IM – 2:03.50
- 400 IM – 4:23.87
- 100 breast – 1:04.45
- 100 free – 53.71
- 200 free – 1:54.04
- 500 free – 5:01.11
- 1000 free – 10:07.73
Her best times in the 100 fly and 200 fly would have scored for Harvard in the A finals at the 2020 Ivy League Women’s Championships. She would have made the B finals of the 200 IM and the 400 IM.
*Note: A verbal commitment between an Ivy League coach and a prospective student-athlete is not an offer of admission, as only the Admission Office has that authority. The coach can only commit his or her support in the admission process. Ivy League Admission Offices do not issue “Likely Letters” before October 1 of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year of high school. The Likely Letter, while issued after an initial read of the student’s application, is not an offer of admission to the university.
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].
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Congratulations! GO SYDNEY GO!!
Congratulations ! Harvard is lucky to have her.
100 fly faster than 100 free? Whaaaaaaaaat?
That’s when you know the fly life chose you
Congratulations Sydney! Ivy League keeps getting faster.
I thought Ivy League schools aren’t allowed to have kids commit until the end of junior year?
Maybe she already took the SAT or ACT and the coaches know she’ll get in?
As a former recruit who entertained two Ivy League schools, their commitment process allows juniors to “commit” to their program after they have proven their academic talents through grades and test scores. If the coach feels that they have a high probability of admission, they will offer them a spot on the team. The athlete then has the decision of whether to announce their commitment prior to, or after, they receive their official letter of admittance to the university. Most choose to announce after their acceptance is official, but they can announce prior!
Congratulations, Sydney! Best of luck in your career!