By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam
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Ethan Chung from Morton Grove, Illinois, has announced his verbal commitment to the admission process* at the University of Pennsylvania for 2026-27. He wrote on social media:
“I’m thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to the admissions process at the University of Pennsylvania, to continue my academic and athletic career! I want to thank my parents, family, coaches, teammates, and friends for their continuous support throughout the years. I am extremely grateful to Coach Mike and the rest of the Penn coaching staff for this amazing opportunity! GO QUAKERS!”
A senior at Niles West High School, Chung swims year-round with NASA Wildcat Aquatics and specializes in butterfly. We recognized him as a “Best of the Rest” recruit on our list of the top boys’ swimmers in the high school class of 2026 after their junior year.
In high school swimming, Chung came in 3rd in the 100 fly (47.37) and 8th in the 100 back (50.05) at the 2025 IHSA Boys’ State Championships. His 100 fly was a lifetime best and nearly 2 seconds faster than what he’d been as a sophomore at the Illinois State meet.
Chung updated nearly all of his best SCY times at the NCSA Spring Championships, where he placed 4th in the 100 fly, 7th in the 50 fly, 15th in the 100 free, 21st in the 50 back, and 30th in the 100 back. He took home PBs in the 50 free (21.02), 100 free (44.94), 50 back (23.28), 100 back (49.76), 50 fly (21.62), and 100 fly (47.21).
In long-course season, he had a strong showing at Madison Futures, finaling in the 50 fly (6th), 100 fly (7th), 50 free (26th), and 100 free (23rd). He clocked PBs in the 50 free (23.88), 100 free (52.01), 50 fly (24.70), and 100 fly (54.41), hitting Summer Nationals cuts in both butterfly distances.
Best SCY times:
- 50 fly – 21.62
- 100 fly – 47.21
- 200 fly – 1:49.68
- 50 free – 21.02
- 100 free – 44.94
Chung will join the Quakers in the class of 2030 with “Honorable Mention” recruit Matt Vatev, swimmers Lewis Zhang and Velizar Filipov, and Tristan Yang, the #4 diver in the cohort. His butterfly times are already fast enough to score at the Ivy League Men’s Championships in the ‘B’ final of the 100 fly and the ‘C’ final of the 200 fly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DN5f99ZjkQR/?igsh=dnNyMDU3NzVodWRs
*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 Recruits@swimswam.com.
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Read the full story on SwimSwam: “Best of the Rest” Butterflyer Ethan Chung Verbals to Penn Quakers for 2027-28
