#5 Karina Plaza Provides Virginia Their 2nd Verbal Dedication for 2028-29

Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all dedication information. For many, swimming in school is a lifelong dream that’s pursued with dedication and willpower. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and people who supported them on their journey.

Charlotte, North Carolina native Karina Plaza has introduced her verbal dedication to the University of Virginia’s class of 2032, writing on social media:

“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, a junior at Myers Park High School who swims year-round with Mecklenburg Swim Association, is the #5 recruit on SwimSwam’s Way Too Early listing of high women swimming prospects from the highschool class of 2028. She follows #7 Shelby Hutchinson, who additionally made a verbal pledge to the Cavaliers in the present day.

An elite breaststroker, Plaza owns U.S. nationwide age group data within the women’ 13-14 SCY 100 breast and 200 breast with occasions of 59.94 and a couple of:09.40, respectively. Both swims come from the 2025 North Carolina Swimming LSC Short Course Age Group Champs, the place she turned the youngest highschool lady to interrupt the 1-minute barrier within the 100 breast. (The nationwide highschool document, set by Kaitlyn Dobler in 2020, stands at 58.35.)

In her first two years of highschool swimming, Plaza positioned Third within the 100 again (54.80) and 4th within the 200 IM (1:59.87) on the 2025 NCHSAA 4A State Championships, and he or she received the 100 again (53.76) and got here in Third within the 200 IM (2:00.74) on the 2026 NCHSAA 8A State Championship.

While her greatest breaststroke, IM, and freestyle occasions date from her freshman 12 months of highschool, Plaza notched PBs in all three backstroke distances during the last 12 months and got here inside a second of her lifetime bests within the IMs. At 2025 Winter Juniors East, she led off MSA’s medley relays in 24.75 and 53.47, her greatest 50 and 100 backstroke performances, and clocked a PB of 1:55.72 in finals of the 200 again (18th place). She additionally positioned seventh within the 100 breast, seventeenth within the 200 breast, ninth within the 200 IM, and ninth within the 400 IM.

Plaza confirmed off her versatility in lengthy course season this summer time, competing within the 50/100/200 again, 100/200 breast, and 200 IM at Summer Junior Nationals.

Virginia had three sub-minute 100 breaststrokers on the roster final season: Emma Weber (57.76), Aimee Canny (58.30), and Zoe Skirboll (58.57). All three have since graduated. Canny (2:02.97), Sophia Umstead (2:07.00), Weber (2:07.55), Skirboll (2:07.81), and Leah Hayes (2:07.86) had been all quicker than 2:08 within the 200. Umstead (2nd-year) and Hayes (Third-year) ought to nonetheless be there when Plaza arrives.

Best SCY occasions:

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

If you will have a dedication to report, please ship an e-mail with a photograph (panorama, or horizontal, appears to be like greatest) and a quote to [email protected].

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour 

Fitter & Faster Swim Camps function probably the most modern instructing platforms for aggressive swimmers of all ranges. Camps are produced year-round all through the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to seek out or request a swim camp close to you.

FFT SOCIAL

Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster

^{FFT is a SwimSwam companion.}