Owen Waibel, a standout swimmer, announced his commitment to Duke University via Instagram this past Saturday.
Waibel’s main strokes are the sprint freestyle, 50 free and 100 free. His skill within these races have been evident in many high-level meets, as he was a main contributor in the boys swimming 2022-23 state championship.
Waibel has been a major performer for the swim team since his freshman year. He is naturally athletic and a versatile swimmer, and his best stroke is the sprint freestyle. He has claimed multiple Westfield swim records, including the 50 free and 100 free. Last season he had one of the top 15 times in the 200 Freestyle, 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke, which in turn landed him on third-team all state.
The Westfield swimming coach, Jeffery Knight, was not surprised by Waibel’s accomplishment. He said, “Owen is both an exceptional athlete and person. His success is predicated on his hard work and within the team that sets a clear example for others to emulate,” Knight also said that Waibel is “very focused and his performances both in and out of the water are a byproduct of his diligence.” Waibel has made himself into not only one of the best swimmers in the state, but one of the best in the country. Knight also said that the star swimmer’s success as an athlete aids in the daily bettering of the team as a whole.
Despite all he has accomplished in his high school career, Waibel felt his “ biggest achievement thus far has been helping [his] team win a state championship.” He added, “We all knew that was everyone’s goal going into the season, and watching our work pay off was very rewarding.”
Waibel will be joining Duke in the fall of 2025. The college is located in Durham, North Carolina and has both outstanding athletics and academics. Knight “could not be happier for or prouder of Owen. To find the right fit at a prestigious university such as Duke is fantastic. Not all athletes get the best of both worlds. He is going to be an asset to the university and he will get to experience a phenomenal campus culture.”
Duke is extremely balanced in its prestige with its highly selective acceptance rate of 5.9% and Division 1 Athletics. Its athletics compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and will be adding a very skilled swimmer to their already talented program.
Waibel chose Duke for the high level academics and opportunities that the school offers, as well as the support of the coaches and closeness of the team. The balance between school and swimming was also managed very well by everyone at Duke. Waibel was also considering Princeton University and Georgia Institute of Technology but ultimately decided that Duke would be the best fit for him.
Before he joins his new Blue Devil team, Waibel will have two more seasons for WHS, looking to lead his team to another state championship.
