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Cassie Espinoza from Whittier, California, has announced her intention to swim and study at the University of Southern California beginning in the 2028-29 school year. She confirmed to SwimSwam:
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to University of Southern California. I want to first thank my Mom and Dad for all of their love and support. I also want to thank all of my coaches, especially Coach Rick with La Mirada Armada. Thank you for always pushing me to be the best swimmer I can be. I wanted to give a huge thank you to Coach Lea and Coach Meghan and all of the USC staff for giving me this opportunity to further my swimming and academic career at such a prestigious university right here in Los Angeles. The USC swim team is a family I can’t wait to join and I want to thank all of the swimmers for making me feel so welcome on my trip. How could I pick any other place. USC is the pLAce to be! FIGHT ON!”
Espinoza is a junior at La Habra High School. She swims year-round with La Mirada Armada and specializes in the longer end of the freestyle range. We considered her a “Best of the Rest” recruit on our Way Too Early list of top girls’ swimmers from the high school class of 2028.
In high school swimming last spring, the sophomore won the 200/500 double at the 2026 CIF Southern Section Division 3 Championships, earning PBs of 1:50.46/4:52.10 in finals, as well as 52.58 in the 100 free and 27.44 in the 50 back leading off La Habra’s relays. A week later, she competed at the California State Meet and came in 4th in the 500 with a new PB of 4:51.13 from prelims.
Her 500 time showed solid improvement from Winter Juniors West, where she swam to a lifetime best of 4:55.02 in prelims to finish 31st. She also competed in the 1000 free (9:54.59, PB), 1650 free (16:38.83), 200 fly (2:04.78), and 400 IM (4:29.99). She placed 8th in the 1000 and 12th in the mile. The following week she swam at CA/NV Sectionals at Walnut and clocked then-lifetime bests in the 200 free (1:51.94), 500 free (4:53.20), 200 back (2:06.11), and 200 fly (2:03.43).
This summer, Espinoza had PBs of 4:20.70/8:54.54/17:08.97 in the 400/800/1500 free. She competed at both U.S. Nationals and Summer Junior Nationals, and finaled in the 400 free (23rd) at Juniors. She will join breaststroke/freestyle specialist Odette Brown from South Carolina in the Trojans’ class of 2032.
Best SCY times:
- 200 free – 1:50.46
- 500 free – 4:51.13
- 1000 free – 9:54.59
- 1650 free – 16:38.83
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