By Madeline Folsom on SwimSwam
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Summer Juniors qualifier Sydney Fernstrom has verbally committed to Ohio State University for the class of 2027.
“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at The Ohio State University! I would like to thank my friends, family, and all of my coaches for their endless help and support through my swimming career and through this process. I want to give a special thanks to Coach Bill, Coach Nacho, and the rest of the wonderful OSU staff for this amazing opportunity that I am truly grateful for. In addition, a huge thanks to Coach Morgan, Coach Greg, Coach Karin, and Coach Tom for I would have never gotten this far without you and I couldn’t be more lucky to have you as my coaches. I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing team! GO BUCKS!
”
Fernstrom is from Aurora, Colorado where she trains with Aces Swim Club and is a junior at Cherry Creek High School this year.
At the CHSAA 5A State Championships, she finished 2nd in the 100 breaststroke, swimming a personal best time of 1:02.84. She also swam the 200 IM, finishing 6th in 2:07.98.
In July, she swam at the Speedo Summer Junior National Championships, racing the 50 breast (44th- 33.37), 100 breast (40th- 1:12.63), and the 50 fly (174th- 30.24)
Best Times SCY
- 100 breast- 1:02.84
- 200 breast- 2:17.45
- 200 IM- 2:06.78
Ohio State competes in the Big Ten, where they are the reigning conference champions after they scored 1338.5 points at the 2025 Big Tens to come in more than 70 points ahead of Indiana’s 1255.5 for 2nd.
Fernstrom is only a junior in high school, and has more than two years before she will race her first Big Ten Championships, but if she follows the same progression she has over the last few years, she could be a major contender for the Buckeyes. Last season, she dropped two seconds in her 100 breast to go from 1:04.80 to 1:02.84, almost three seconds in her 200 breast, and almost three seconds in her 200 IM.
With her current times, she would have been 7th in the 100 breast, 9th in the 200 breast, and 11th in the 200 IM on last season’s depth charts.
She will join “BOTR” recruits Jenna Frost and Lily Andruss and “Honorable Mentions” Savannah Bowers and Shannon Conway along with Paige Burkey on campus in the fall of 2027. Bowers comes in just ahead of her in the 100 breast at 1:02.54, but she is primarily a 200 IMer and freestyler.
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: Summer Juniors Qualifier Sydney Fernstrom Sends Verbal To Ohio State For 2027
