Ayala swimmer Kenisha Liu commits to UCLA

Ayala High School swimmer Kenisha Liu has verbally committed to the UCLA swim program.

The senior swimmer had various Division 1 programs showing interest in her talent from all over the country.

“I had a lot of schools to choose from,” she said. “Some of these schools included Princeton, Purdue, Stanford, Duke, University of Arizona and of course UCLA.”

With several of the options she mentioned located out of state, Liu decided to stay in California to continue her aquatics career.

“UCLA has such a great atmosphere. When I went there I could really tell that all the girls liked each other and really wanted to push each other to be better,” Liu said when asked about her decision.

Liu not only noticed the support system and drive to motivate one another from the athletes but from coach Cyndi Gallagher.

“(I believe she) can help me reach my goals and get me where I want to be,” Liu stated.

Kenisha Liu

While she has decided on a program, she is not sure what events she will be competing in at the moment.

“I know one of the reasons they recruited me was because they saw my versatility,” Liu explained. “(But) as of now, I don’t think they have a set plan.”

Her versatility was on display after a successful 2014-15 season that earned her the title as the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin’s swimmer of the year.

She concluded her junior campaign by winning two individual events at the inaugural CIF State Championship Meet, competing in the Girls 100 and 200-yard freestyle events.

With time to reflect on her verbal commitment, Liu will be the first to tell you that she did not get to this point in her career alone.

“I really appreciate people like coach Jim Johnson and my Brea Aquatics club team as well as my high school coaches (coach Marceau and coach Mount) and the rest of my high school swim team,” she said. “My parents and my friends are such a great support system. They have all really helped me get to where I am.”
 

 

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Swimmer Kenisha Liu of Ayala headed to international event

Ayala High school swimming standout Kenisha Liu will compete in the FINA Junior World Championships Aug. 25-30 in Singapore.

Liu, the Daily Bulletin Swimmer of the Year the past spring, qualified for that event with her showing in the 100-meter freestyle at the Long Course National Championships in San Antonio, Tex. two weeks ago.

Liu finished in 20th place  in that event with a mark of 56.23 but that field included swimmers all ages, including those in college. She was the fourth fastest of athletes under 18.

She actually had a mark faster than that of 55.98 that came the previous week in junior nationals where she finished third.

Liu has already qualified for next summers Olympic Trials in four events – 100 free, 200 individual medley, 200 breast and 100 fly.

Liu, who just started her senior year, trains with Brea Aquatics which competes out of Mt. SAC.

 

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Ayala swimmer Kenisha Liu qualifies for Olympic Trials

Senior Kenisha Liu of Ayala has qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials in a third event.

Liu, the Daily Bulletin’s Girls Swimmer of the Year the past spring, recorded a 56.19 today in finishing fifth in the 100 freestyle at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Texas.

Liu set a qualifying mark in the 200 individual medley (2:18.61) at the California-Nevada Sectional long course meet earlier this month in Santa Clarita.

In December she set a qualifying mark in the 200 breaststroke at a meet in Federal Way, Wash.

The Olympic Trails will be held next June in Omaha, Nebraska. The Olympic trials meet is competitive and only the top two in each event will qualify to represent the United States in ‎Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Liu has not decided on a college yet but is being recruited by many Pac 12 schools and has the grades to go wherever she chooses.

Liu earned All-American honors this year from the NISCA in six events. Also earning national recognition were Mikki Thompson, Shannon Steele and Megan Delgado.

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Kenisha Liu of Ayala wins two individual titles at inaugural CIF State Swimming Championships

Ayala’s Kenisha Liu finished second in the 200 yard freestyle during the CIF division 2 swimming finals in the Riverside Aquatics Complex at Riverside City College in Riverside, Calif., on Saturday, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)

Kenisha Liu of Ayala High School won two individual events at the inaugural CIF State Championship Meet. She competed in the Girls 100 and 200-yard freestyle events.

She had a time of 1 minute and 46.14 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle championship race.

“I was so nervous before my 200 free because I had set goals for myself before the meet and once I won I felt a lot of relief,” Liu said. “Going into the 100 free, I had calmed down and I was just motivated to win another event.”

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