Zachary Waddell distance freestyler has verbally committed to swim for Chapman University beginning in the fall of 2021. Photo courtesy of Dasha Waddell.
Zachary Waddell a senior at Northwood High School, has verbally committed to swim for Chapman University. He will begin swimming for the Panthers in Fall, 2021 and will join the class of 2025. Chapman is a Division III program located in Orange, California, and associated with the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
Waddell specializes in distance events ranging from the 400/500 freestyle, 800/1000 freestyle, 1500/1650 freestyle and 400 IM. He is expected to make an immediate impact for the Panthers. His top times would have made him one of the team's fastest distance competitors during the 2019-2020 season.
As a sophomore, Waddell appeared at the 2019 CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships clocking in at 4:43.77 on his 500 freestyle. He was also fifth in the 500 freestyle at the 2019 Pacific Coast League Championships touching in 4:44.12. At the recent May, 2021 Northwood dual meet against Foothill High School, Waddell clipped his previous 2019 best time, and delivered a time progression improvement of 4:41.06 dropping 2.71 seconds.
Zachary Waddell - NHS Roster Profile
Waddell swims year-round with Irvine Novaquatics during the club season, and has developed into an effective 500 freestyler at an early age previously holding the Nova's 9-12 Boys 500 Freestyle SC record in 2014.
At the 2020 Speedo Sectionals in Carlsbad, Waddell turned in a 500 SC freestyle best time of 4:41.22. During the recent 2021 Nova Open Time Trial, Waddell posted a huge lifetime best in the 400 free racing to a 4:14.60, undercutting his previous best by 1.16 seconds.
While he is currently just in scoring range from the 2020 Men's SCIAC Championships, Waddell will add distance freestyle depth to Head Coach Dennis Ploessel's Chapman University program. The Chapman men were seventh at the 2020 SCIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, where Waddell's best 500 free time would have scored in the B finals.
Waddell will be enrolled at Chapman University as a Business Administration student majoring in Finance.
Here's a look at his best times:
| Event |
SCY |
LCM |
| 500 / 400 Free |
4:41.06 |
4:14.60 |
| 1000 / 800 Free |
9:36.90 |
8:46.79 |
| 1650 / 1500 Free |
16:06.67 |
16:43.24 |
| 200 IM / 200 IM |
2:00.23 |
2:20.45 |
| 400 IM / 400 IM |
4:14.96 |
4:57.38 |
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Chapman University. I'd like to thank my family, friends, and coaches who have helped me along the way."
Go Panthers!!!” - Zachary Waddell
