Lower Merion swimmer Anna Kalandadze signs with University of California-Berkeley

Ardmore >> Lower Merion High School senior swimmer Anna Kalandadze, a three-time PIAA 3A state champion in the 500 free, recently committed to a No. 1-ranked university when she signed her National Letter of Intent to swim for University of California-Berkeley.
“I want to go into marine science as a career, and Berkeley is the No. 1 school in the country for biological science,” said Kalandadze. “With that program, along with their swimming program, I figured it would be the best place for me to succeed.”
Her interest in marine biology started her freshman year in high school, when she took a trip to Australia.
“I took a scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and I completely fell in love with the surroundings and realized that type of setting is where I want to be,” said Kalandadze, who will be a distance swimmer at Berkeley.
Kalandadze, who posted a school-record time of 4:46.25 in winning the PIAA 3A state title in the 500 free last year, is a six-time state medal winner, finishing fourth in the 200 free last winter and earning medals in the 200 free as a freshman and sophomore as well.
Kalandadze is a three-time District 1 champion, a six-time district medal winner and the District 1 record holder in the 500 free. She holds eight Lower Merion swimming records (500 free, 200 free, 100 free, 50 free, 100 fly, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay).
Asked what was her most memorable experience as a Lower Merion swimmer, Kalandadze responded, “Just being a part of the team, because the girls on the team are so great, and we have a great bond with the guys’ team as well – I made friends for life.”
Outside of Lower Merion, Kalandadze is a USA Swimming Junior National medal winner and a Senior National qualifier (both in the pool and open water).
Kalandadze began her competitive swimming career at age 7.
“Actually, no one else in my family can really swim – when I was 5 years old, my mom signed me up for lessons, so I would know how,” said Kalandadze. “I joined my first competitive team at age 7, with Friends’ Central Aquatics, and that’s where I met my coach, Jeremy Byrne [who is now the Lower Merion swim coach].”