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Winter Juniors qualifier Max Barnes has announced his verbal commitment to swim and study at Southern Methodist University beginning in the fall of 2027. He joins his sister, Molly, in the Mustangs’ class of 2031. He publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I’m very excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at SMU! Thank you to all coaches on the SMU staff who blessed me with this opportunity. I also want to thank my friends, family, and coaches! Pony up💙❤️
A senior at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana, Barnes has been a member of his school’s varsity swimming team since his freshman year. He also trains year-round with the Michiana Marlins Swim Club, where he primarily specializes in IM and the 200s of backstroke and breaststroke.
Barnes is coming off a breakthrough 2025-26 season that saw him drop over 13 seconds in the 400 IM, roughly six and a half seconds in the 200 IM and 200 breast, and about five and a half seconds in the 200 back. At the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) State Championships in February, he placed third in the 200 IM (1:47.91) and sixth in an off-event, the 500 free (4:34.41), both current career bests, in addition to helping Penn take bronze in the 400 free relay (45.68 anchor).
At the Indiana Senior Championships a few weeks later, he clocked all of his other current PBs en route to picking up two state titles. He won the 400 IM (3:51.04) and split a 45.35 anchor on the winning 400 free relay, in addition to placing second in both backstroke events (49.74, 1:48.98) and fourth in the 200 breast (1:59.97).
Barnes’ 1:59.97 in the 200 breast qualified him for the Winter Junior Championships this December; he went on to add additional qualifying times in the 100 breast, 200 IM, and 400 IM during the long course season.
Top SCY Times:
- 200 IM: 1:47.91
- 400 IM: 3:51.04
- 200 Breaststroke: 1:59.97
- 200 Backstroke: 1:48.98
A Division I program, SMU competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), with the men’s team taking 10th out of 15 teams this past season. Barnes’ current times fall outside the cutoffs needed to score at the meet, with times of 1:44.99/3:48.98 needed in the 200/400 IM, 1:56.17 in the 200 breast, and 1:42.39 in the 200 back, though he has two full seasons of training ahead before lining up at his first conference meet.
Barnes joins Trey Chesney (IM, breast, & fly) and Mert Tasbasi (breast) in committing to the Mustangs’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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