Bellin Joins Cal Bears, First Commit for 2032 Class
Grant Bellin pledges to UC Berkeley, becoming the first recruit for the 2032 class and joining a family of swimmers.
Key points
- Grant Bellin is the first verbal commitment for the UC Berkeley class of 2032.
- He holds the best 100 and 200 backstroke times in the high school class of 2028.
- Bellin follows his father and sisters to University of California campuses for swimming.
Grant Bellin, a junior at Curtis High School in University Place, Washington, has announced his verbal commitment to the University of California, Berkeley. He will join the Golden Bears swimming and diving team for the 2028-29 academic year. This decision marks the start of recruitment efforts for the class of 2032.
The move anchors a legacy. Bellin follows his father, Daniel, who swam for Cal, and his sisters, who attended other University of California campuses. In a social media post, Bellin wrote, "I always knew I was a bear." He cited the dedication of his grandparents, parents, and coaches as the driving force behind his career.
Dominating the Short Course Times
SwimSwam ranks Bellin as the number nine recruit in the high school class of 2028. He is the top backstroker in the cohort by a wide margin. His short course yard times set the standard for his age group. He owns the best 100 and 200 backstroke times in the class.
His 100 backstroke clock reads 47.74 seconds. The 200 backstroke stands at 1:42.72. These marks came from Bellevue Club’s Premier Invitational last March. There, he won the 200 backstroke and finished second in the 100. He also recorded personal bests in the 50 free, 50 back, and 100 fly.
A Season of National Recognition
Bellin trains year-round with King Aquatic Club. He was recently named to the 2026-27 USA Swimming National Junior Team. His long-course summer showed significant growth. He competed in the 50 and 100 free, plus the 50, 100, and 200 back at U.S. Nationals.
He set personal bests in five events at Nationals. Those times included a 55.61 in the 100 back and 2:01.52 in the 200. A week later, at U.S. Junior Nationals, he finished second in both 100 and 200 backstrokes. He closed the summer with a 2:00.25 in the 200 back, a major leap from his previous 2:03.55 mark.
Continuing a Famous Backstroke Line
Cal has a storied history with the backstroke. Bellin enters a pool filled with recent stars. Names like Ryan Murphy, Jacob Pebley, and Destin Lasco define that era. He joins a lineage that includes Keaton Jones and Bryce Mefford. His commitment strengthens a tradition of elite backstroke performance.
