By Terin Frodyma on SwimSwam
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Cate Pawlaski of Edina Swim Club and Andover, MN, has committed to the University of North Carolina, joining the Tar Heels’ class of 2030.
Extremely excited to announce my commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at University of North Carolina! Thank you to my coaches, friends, and family for helping me during this process! Go Heels!!
The Andover High School graduate recently took home gold in the 50 breaststroke (32.16) at the NCSA Summer Championships (LCM) at the end of July, setting a new lifetime best on the way to gold. At those championships, she added a multitude of top eight finishes, including a 4th place finish in 200 IM (2:18.32, her fastest time this season), 5th in the 100 breast (1:11.55), and a pair of 6th place finishes in the 200 breast (2:37.33) and 400 IM (4:54.95, a new lifetime best).
In December, Pawlaski raced in four events at the Toyota US Open Championships (SCY). There, she touched 7th in the 400 IM in 4:18.12, swimming a lifetime best in her top finish of the meet. She also posted a pair of top 15 performances in the 200 IM (11th, 2:01.52) and 200 breast (15th, 2:16.88).
Her best 100 breast time came from the Minnesota Senior State meet in 2022, where she touched in 1:01.58, nearly a second and a half faster than the rest of the field at age 13. This time still stands as her only swim under 1:02.
Best Times SCY:
- 100 Breast: 1:01.58
- 200 Breast: 2:14.88
- 200 IM: 2:00.26
- 400 IM: 4:18.12
The North Carolina women finished 6th at the ACC Swimming and Diving Championships. With Pawlaski’s best times, her 100 breast would have been good enough for the ‘C’ final, 29th in the 400 IM, 30th in the 200 breast, and 35th in the 200 IM.
Pawlaski’s 100 breast is fast enough to score at ACCs, an event that is already proven to be strong for the Tar Heel women, scoring 42 points last season in the event. UNC returns their 2nd and 3rd fastest performers in Samantha Armand (59.94) and Ava Muzzy (1:01.90), each will be entering their junior seasons and will be seniors by the time Pawlaski gets on campus.
Pawlaski may opt for the 400 IM over the 200 IM for her 3rd conference event, based on where she would have stood at the meet last season, and that the 400 IM was a stronger showing for the Tar Heels at ACCs, earning 41 points compared to the 200 IM’s 31. Pawlaski would have had the 6th fastest 400 IM time last season, compared to her 200 IM, which would have been 7th.
Pawlaski is the youngest sister of Emily Pawlaski, who was a four-year swimmer at LSU, graduating last season with her degree in biochemistry.
The Tar Heels add Pawlaski to their 2026 recruiting class that includes Nehir Oner, Tiffany Murillo, Morgan Farlow, Defne Tanig, and Kenzie Sellars.
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: North Carolina Adds Breaststroke/IMer Cate Pawlaski to 2026 Recruiting Class
