By Charlotte Wells on SwimSwam
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Kailey Kennedy, a two-time individual Texas UIL state champion from Fulshear High School, will be heading to Texas A&M University to swim for the Aggies for the 2024-2025 season.
Kennedy shared her verbal commitment to her Instagram back in January.
“I’m so thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic journey at Texas A&M University!!” Kennedy said. “I want to give a BIG thank you to my coaches, family, and teammates who have all supported me throughout this process. I also would like to thank Coach Steve and Coach Caroline for allowing me this incredible opportunity to swim at the collegiate level. I cannot wait to be an Aggie!! GIG’EM!!!”
Primarily specializing in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly, Kennedy qualified in individual races for the UIL 5A State Championships all four years of high school. Her best performances came in her senior year, when she won both the 50 free (22.94) and the 100 fly (54.40) at the competition in February.
Kennedy also helped her team to victories in the 200 free relay and 400 free relay, leading Fulshear to a runner-up finish overall.
Kennedy’s most recent short course yards competition was the Speedo Sectionals in Lewisville, Texas, where she recorded personal best times in the 100 breast (1:03.95) and the 200 IM (2:07.65).
Best Times (SCY)
- 50 free – 22.85
- 100 free – 51.07
- 100 breast – 1:03.95
- 100 fly – 54.40
A Division I school, Texas A&M competes in the Southeastern Conference, with the women’s team finishing third overall at the 2024 SEC Championships. A&M has a predominantly new coaching staff heading into the fall of 2024, although Kennedy announced her commitment a week before former head coach Steve Bultman announced his pending retirement in January.
Based on the top times recorded this past season, Kennedy’s personal bests would make her #2 on the team in the 50 free and #5 in the 100 fly for the upcoming season, although that does not account for the other incoming freshmen. She will be joined by a handful of other sprinters, specializing in free and strokes, who will make for strong training partners over the years.
Of note is the fact that Blaire Anderson, Texas A&M’s first Director of Swimming and Diving, comes to the Aggies after spending the past seven seasons at the University of Virginia, a program that excelled with swimmers who specialized in breaststroke and other events, such as Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh and Jasmine Nocentini.
Kennedy is one of eight incoming freshman girls who have committed to Texas A&M for the 2024-2025 academic year. The full list includes Kennedy, Abby Hood, Kassidy Kitchel, Ella Smoker, Ella McQuinn, Simone Kabbara, Macy Lewis and Maya Golubovic.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to Recruits@swimswam.com.
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Read the full story on SwimSwam: Texas State Champion Kailey Kennedy To Swim For Texas A&M University Starting This Fall