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High school junior Tyler Bardak from Naperville, Illinois, has opted to swim and study at North Carolina State University beginning in the fall of 2025. He wrote on social media:
“I am excited to announce my intention to continue my academics and athletics at NC State University! Thank you to my family, friends and coaches who have gotten me to where I am today. Go Pack!”
Bardak attends Waubonsie Valley High School and swims year-round with the Fox Valley Swim Team. We named him to the “Best of the Rest” section on our Way Too Early list of top recruits from the high school class of 2025 for his strength in IM and 200 strokes. As a sophomore last season, he competed in the 100 fly and 100 back at the Illinois High School Boys’ State Championships, placing 11th in the 100 back and earning lifetime bests in the backstroke and in the 50/100 free leading off relays.
In March, he had an outstanding showing at NCSA Spring Championships, going lifetime bests in the 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, and 200/400 IM. He finaled in all five events, with his highest finishes in the 400 IM (10th) and 200 breast (13th). Similarly, he earned LCM personal bests in the 200 breast (2:21.79), 200 fly (2:04.46), 200 IM (2:07.39) and 400 IM (4:26.43) at Summer Junior Nationals, finaling in the 400 IM (21st place).
Best SCY times:
- 400 IM – 3:52.73
- 200 IM – 1:50.61
- 200 breast – 2:00.80
- 200 back – 1:47.65
- 200 fly – 1:49.88
Bardak’s polyvalence will allow him to have an impact in a number of areas when he arrives in Raleigh two years from now. The Wolfpack finished 5th at NCAAs last season after winning the ACC conference championship by over 600 points. He’ll just miss conference champion Arsenio Bustos, but he’ll overlap with Kyle Ponsler, an A finalist in the 400 IM.
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Tyler is an awesome athlete. No doubt he will do well with the NC State program. Go Pack!
generic NC State recruit that will go on to get sick for his first year, injured the next, and then a relay alternate the final 2 years
Do you hate every single college program that exists? Do you support anyone?
Andrew got stuffed in a locker too many times in high school.
I love SMU and McKendree University
Andrew is a hater. Bashes Cal, IU and NC State. LOL, 3 of the top 6 teams in the country. He’s just a troll.
Who are you to judge. If you had half a clue what this kid has been through over the last 3 years you’d take back those words. You are lucky you can hide behind your keyboard.
Has anyone ever committed to a college then ended up not getting accepted to it?
All the time. Especially in highly-selective institutions like military academies and Ivy Leagues.
But most schools offer pre-reads of resumes that give coaches a good idea about whether they’re going to get in or not. So I wouldn’t say it’s common, but stuff happens. Especially with kids committing at the beginning of their junior years. They still have half of their high school academic careers remaining before they enroll in college.
There was a situation with a girl most likely not getting into USC that was posted on here yesterday I’m pretty sure. Don’t know for sure if she didn’t get in, but it was a problem with admissions.
Great pick up for NC State! Kid is a beast!
A couple of Orcas ready to kick even more booty! 🙂