Why Experience Matters With a Pool Contractor: Top Remaining 2021 Commit Ziyad Saleem Makes Verbal Pledge to Cal

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Ziyad Saleem, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has announced his verbal commitment to the University of California, Berkeley’s class of 2025.

“I am excited to announce my commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of California, Berkeley. Thank you to my family, friends and coaches for all the support. Go Bears!”

Saleem is a senior at Rufus King International High School; he swims year-round with Schroeder YMCA Swim Team. He had originally committed to the University of Iowa before the program was cut. Since then, he has dropped gobs of time in both SCY (-.8 in the 100 free, -6.1 in the 200 free, -.36 in the 50 back, -1.7 in the 100 back, -3 in the 200 back, -.8 in the 100 fly) and LCM (-3 in the 100 free, -1.6 in the 100 back, -4.3 in the 200 back). Last weekend at the 41st Annual Schroeder C+ Meet, he swam under 47 seconds for the first time in the 100 back (46.98), which is an unofficial Wisconsin Swimming LSC record. It would have been the 4th-fastest time in Iowa history. Saleem also lowered his PB in the 200 free (1:41.61) in prelims before scratching the final.

Saleem competed at U.S. Open – Des Moines in November where he picked up Olympic Trials Wave I cuts in the 100m back (55.54) and 200m back (2:01.30), placing 8th in both events. A week later he added a PB in the 100m free (53.33) at the WEST November LCM Time Trials.

Best SCY times:

200 back – 1:42.93
100 back – 46.98
50 back – 22.85
200 free – 1:41.61
100 free – 45.53
100 fly – 50.42

Saleem will join the Golden Bears in the fall of 2021 with Evan Petty, Gabriel Jett, Jack Alexy, Jacob Soderlund, Kai Crews, Michael McGillivray, Robin Hanson, Sean Swift, and Trent Frandson.

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