Get ready, swimming fans, because the Stanford Cardinal are making waves! They've just snagged a verbal commitment from New Mexico's two-time state champion, Soren Carlson, for the fall of 2027. This is exciting news, and Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, the proud sponsor of SwimSwam's College Recruiting Channel, is thrilled to highlight this rising star. They're all about celebrating the dedication and dreams of young athletes striving for college swimming.
Soren Carlson, a young man from the mountains of Albuquerque, is set to make a splash in Palo Alto, committing to the Stanford Cardinal.
Carlson himself is incredibly enthusiastic, stating, "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 made his mark at the New Mexico State Championships, earning two top-8 finishes. He took 4th in the 50 free (22.22) and 5th in the 100 free (48.71). He also helped his team secure a silver medal in the 200 medley relay with a split of 21.54 and clinched a gold medal in the 200 Free Relay, splitting 21.60.
The following year, Carlson dominated, sweeping his individual events and leading two relays to victory. In the 200 Medley, he anchored in 20.43, helping his team win by over five seconds. Individually, he set personal bests in both the 50 and 100 free, winning with times of 20.77 and 45.34, respectively. His team also took gold in the 200 free relay with a winning time of 3:11.69. Albuquerque Academy dominated, winning nine events and scoring 356.5 points, far ahead of the competition.
Carlson's success continued into the spring. At the Sectionals meet in Austin, he set new personal bests in the 50, 100, and 200 free. He clocked his second sub-21 second time in the 50 free (20.75), finishing 20th overall. In the 100 free, he broke 45 seconds for the first time in prelims, hitting 44.98 and placing 10th. In the finals, he finished 8th overall at 45.06. In the 200 free, he broke 1:40 for the first time with a prelims swim of 1:39.62 and went 1:38.94 in finals to finish 13th overall.
His summer long course season was equally impressive, with wins in the 100 and 200 free at the Western Zone Senior Championships, setting new PBs of 52.26 and 1:55.53, respectively.
Here are Carlson's best times in the short course yards (SCY):
- 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 year and senior year of high school to hone his skills before joining the Stanford program in 2027. In their first year in the ACC, Stanford finished 2nd behind California, scoring 1065 points to Cal's 1271.5. At the 2025 Men’s NCAA championships, Stanford also placed 8th overall, one spot ahead of NC State.
The times needed to advance at the ACCs were 19.41, 42.78, and 1:34.41, which are all faster than Carlson's current PBs. However, he has two years to improve. By the time he arrives, Stanford will have lost key swimmers in the 50 and 100 free.
Stanford is already building a strong team. They brought in SwimSwam’s #6 ranked class this year and their 2026 class is also full of talented sprinters.
And this is the part most people miss... In Carlson’s class, Stanford is making an even bigger splash. They have commitments from four of the top 20 in SwimSwam’s Way too Early Recruit Rankings. Joining Carlson will be #2 ranked Luke Vatev, #10 ranked Owen Ekk, #15 ranked Connor Christopherson, #19 ranked Yi Zheng, and Honorable mention Jacob Bougaieff.
What do you think? Will Carlson's speed and dedication make a significant impact on the Stanford Cardinal? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
