2021-22 Swimming & Diving Roster
Roster
Sam Baron
- Position:
- Fly/IM
- Height:
- 5-5
- Class:
- Sophomore
- High School:
- Newport HS
- Hometown:
- Bellevue, Wash.
Career Highlights
Program Record-Holder in the 100 fly (51.65)
2021 NCAA Championships Qualifier
Two-time Individual NCAA Qualifier
Five-time UCLA Director's Honor Roll
Eight Individual Event Wins
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier
Two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American
2022 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
2021-2022
Competed in all 11 of UCLA's regular-season meets ... Swam at the 2022 Pac-12 Championships, making the A Final in both butterfly events and the B Final in the 200 IM ... At Pac-12s, placed eighth in the 100 fly (52.83) and 200 fly (1:57.63) ... Set a best time in the 200 IM finals at Pac-12s to take 12th place (1:58.21) ... For the season, had UCLA's top time in the 200 fly (1:56.47) and 200 IM (1:58.21), and the second-best time in the 100 fly (52.50) ... Swam a best time in the 200 free (1:49.77) at the UNLV Invitational from Dec. 17-19 ... At the UNLV Invite, was runner-up in the 200 free and 100 IM, and also had top-10 finishes in the 100 back and 50 free ... Had a pair of event wins over the course of the season - the 100 fly vs. UCSB on Oct. 23 (54.83) and the 200 fly vs. USC on Feb. 12 (1:56.47) ... Earned Second Team CSCAA Scholar All-America honors ... Named to the UCLA Director's Honor Roll for fall, winter, and spring quarters (3.0+ GPA, 12+ quarter units passed).
2020-21
Double qualified for the NCAA Championships as a true freshman, qualifying in both the 100 fly and 200 fly ... Set a school-record in the 100 fly (51.65) at the Pac-12 Championships en route to a runner-up finish ... At NCAAs, placed 37th in the 100 fly (53.07), 46th in the 200 fly (2:00.01), and 64th in the 200 IM (2:01.93) ... Besides her runner-up finish in the 100 fly, also placed top-five at the Pac-12 Championships in the 200 fly (1:56.77, fourth) while taking 12th in the 200 IM (2:00.21) ... For the year, had the Bruins' top time in both butterfly events, and the third-best time in the 200 IM ... Was also part of UCLA's top relay squad in the 400 medley ... Notched six individual event wins over the course of the year, two apiece in the 100 fly and 200 fly, and one apiece in the 100 breast and 200 breast ... Also notched one relay win apiece in the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay ... Her six individual event wins were a team-high for the 2020-21 season ... Opened her collegiate career by sweeping the breaststroke events in the season-opening Fresno State dual meet ... Swept the butterfly events in both the USC dual meet and the USC tri-meet with Arizona (tied for the 100 fly win in the latter) ... Runner-up in both butterfly events at the Cal dual meet ... Set new PRs in the 100 fly and 200 fly over the course of the year ... Season-best times: 100 breast (1:03.08), 200 breast (2:17.48), 100 fly (51.65), 200 fly (1:55.66), 200 IM (1:59.74) ... Named to the UCLA Director's Honor Roll for winter and spring quarters (3.0+ quarter GPA, 12+ units passed) ... Named to the 2020-21 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team (3.5+ GPA, invited to NCAAs) ... Over the summer, competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials ... Swam a 1:02.28 in the 100 fly, good for 32nd place.
High School/Club
Attended Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash. ... Earned four varsity swim letters ... NISCA All-American ... Two-time state champion in the 200 IM, also won a state title in the 100 fly ... No. 3-ranked swimmer in the state of Washington as a senior ... 2019 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American ... Finished first in the 100 fly at the 2018 Pacific Northwest Swimming Senior Long Course Championships ... Won the 200 IM, 200 fly, and 400 IM at the 2019 Pacific Northwest Swimming Senior Championships (long course) ... Recorded an Olympic Trials-qualifying cut in the 100 LCM fly with a time of 1:00.52 at the 2019 Speedo Junior Nationals ... Notable personal bests entering college include: 50 free (23.16), 100 free (50.34), 200 free (1:51.93), 500 free (5:09.24), 100 back (55.04), 200 back (2:08.44), 100 breast (1:02.48), 200 breast (2:20.21), 100 fly (53.39), 200 fly (1:57.97), 200 IM (1:58.86), 400 IM (4:18.21).
Personal
Full name: Samantha Reese Baron ... Parents are Kyong and John Baron ... Has two older sisters, Bridgette and Natalie ... Plans on majoring in psychology ... Aspires to become a sports psychologist ... Chose UCLA because of "its unmatched team culture and coaching staff; I knew I would receive the best support in and out of the pool" ... Cites the 400 medley relay at 2019 Summer Junior Nationals as her favorite pre-UCLA sporting moment, as her team jumped seven places to earn a podium finish ... Admires Dana Vollmer, Simone Manuel, and Simone Biles ... In her free time, enjoys baking, hiking in the Pacific Northwest, and traveling with friends ... Her favorite dessert is egg tart ... Her older sister, Bridgette, attended UCLA.
Best Times
50 free - 23.16
100 free - 50.34
200 free - 1:49.77
100 back - 55.04
100 fly - 51.65
200 fly - 1:55.66
200 IM - 1:58.21
400 IM - 4:18.21
(last updated: May 13, 2022)
