Get ready, swimming fans! A rising star from New Mexico, Soren Carlson, is set to make a splash at Stanford University in 2027. This is exciting news for the Cardinal, and a testament to Carlson's hard work and dedication. Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, a proud sponsor of SwimSwam's College Recruiting Channel, is thrilled to celebrate this achievement. They understand that swimming in college is a dream built on years of commitment.
Carlson, hailing from the mountains of Albuquerque, has verbally committed to swim for Stanford. He's already setting his sights on the pool in Palo Alto, aiming to join the Cardinal in the fall of 2027.
In his own words, Carlson expressed his excitement: "I’m excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Stanford University! I would like to thank God, my family, and friends for their support throughout this journey. I would also like to thank Coach Jim, Coach Elise, and all of the other coaches who have helped me get to where I am today. Finally, a huge thank you to Coach Dan and Coach Mike for giving me this incredible opportunity. GO CARD!!"
Let's dive into Carlson's impressive high school career. As a freshman, he showcased his talent at the New Mexico State Championships, earning two top-8 finishes. He took 4th place in the 50 free with a time of 22.22 and 5th in the 100 free at 48.71. He also contributed to a silver medal in the 200 medley relay with a split of 21.54 and clinched a gold medal in the 200 Free Relay with a split of 21.60.
The following year, Carlson dominated, securing gold in his individual events and helping his relays to victory. He anchored the 200 Medley in 20.43, leading his team to a win in 1:32.93. He set personal bests in both the 50 free (winning in 20.77) and the 100 free (at 45.34). His team also won the 100 free relay in 3:11.69. Albuquerque Academy's overall performance was outstanding, with the team winning nine events and scoring 356.5 points, significantly ahead of La Cueva's 220.
Carlson's success continued into the spring, swimming for Charger Aquatics at the Sectionals meet in Austin. He achieved personal bests in the 50, 100, and 200 free. He clocked his second sub-21 second time in the 50 free at 20.75. In the 100 free, he broke 45 seconds for the first time in prelims, finishing in 44.98. In the finals, he placed 8th overall at 45.06. He also broke 1:40 in the 200 free for the first time, with a prelims swim of 1:39.62, and a final time of 1:38.94, finishing 13th.
His long course season was equally impressive, winning the 100 and 200 free at the Western Zone Senior Championships, setting new personal bests of 52.26 and 1:55.53, respectively. He also achieved a time of 24.28 in the 50 free at the Sacramento stop of the Pro Swim Series in April.
Here are his best short course yard (SCY) times:
- 50 Free – 20.75
- 100 Free – 44.98
- 200 Free – 1:38.94
But here's where it gets interesting: Carlson still has his junior and senior years of high school to refine his skills before joining the Stanford program, led by Coach Dan Schemmel, in 2027. In their first year in the ACC, Stanford finished 2nd, scoring 1065 points. Stanford also finished 2nd best among ACC schools at the 2025 Men’s NCAA championships, earning 216 points.
And this is the part most people miss: The times needed to compete at the ACCs are faster than Carlson's current personal bests, but he has time to improve. By the time Carlson arrives, Stanford will have lost key swimmers in the 50 and 100 free.
Stanford is already building a strong team, with a highly-ranked recruiting class this year, including talented freestylers. In Carlson’s class, Stanford is making an even bigger splash, with commitments from several top recruits.
Do you think Carlson's times will continue to improve before he joins Stanford? What impact do you think he'll have on the team? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
