National Age Group Record Holder Karina Plaza Gives 2028 Verbal to Virginia

National Age Group Record Holder Karina Plaza Gives 2028 Verbal to Virginia

NEW COMMIT: Charlotte, North Carolina native Karina Plaza has introduced her verbal dedication to the University of Virginia’s Class of 2032. Plaza, one of many prime recruits in her class, is a flexible Summer Nationals qualifier and National Age Group document holder.

She will be a part of Allison Kelly and Shelby Hutchinson in Charlottesville in Fall 2028.

Regarding her dedication, she stated:

“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Virginia! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for always supporting me, believing in me, and helping me get to this point. I would also like to give a huge thank you to Coach Todd and the entire UVA coaching staff for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career at UVA.
GO HOOS!”

Plaza owns the National Age Group data within the women’ 13-14 100 breast and 200 breast with respective instances of 59.94 and a couple of:09.40. Those have been each achieved on the North Carolina Short Course Age Group Championships in 2025. She grew to become the youngest highschool woman in U.S. historical past to interrupt the 60-second barrier within the 100 breast.

Plaza, who trains year-round with Mecklenburg Swim Association, most just lately competed on the USA Swimming National Championships the place she raced six occasions. At Juniors East in December, she completed seventh within the 100 breast, ninth within the 200 IM and 400 IM, seventeenth within the 200 breast and nineteenth within the 200 again whereas additionally swimming on the successful 4×50 medley, 4×100 medley and 4×100 free relays.

Her finest instances embody:

• 100 breast – 59.94
• 200 breast – 2:09.40
• 200 IM – 1:57.44
• 400 IM – 4:12.12
• 50 again – 24.75
• 100 again – 53.47
• 200 again – 1:55.72
• 100 free – 50.48
• 200 free – 1:47.66

Currently a junior at Myers Park High School, Plaza earned gold within the 100 again and bronze within the 200 IM on the 2026 North Carolina 8A State Championships, additionally grabbing gold within the 4×50 medley relay and silver within the 4×100 free relay. She took third within the 100 again and fourth within the 200 IM on the 4A state meet as a freshman in 2024, additionally swimming on the successful 4×50 medley and 4×100 free relays.

Plaza would’ve ranked fourth within the 100 breast on Virginia’s roster final 12 months. She would’ve scored within the B-final in that occasion eventually 12 months’s convention meet.

The Cavaliers gained their seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference title and their sixth consecutive NCAA Championship crown in 2026.

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