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Multi-time YMCA Nationals finalist Tyler Liska has announced his decision to swim and study at The Ohio State University, becoming the first verbal commitment in the Buckeyes’ class of 2032. He publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am very exited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at The Ohio State University! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for their help getting me here. Huge thanks to Coach Kim and Coach Erik for always believing in me and pushing me to be my best. Special thanks to Coach Norm, Coach Schrader, and the rest of the coaching staff at OSU for this incredible opportunity. GO BUCKS!
A junior at Oswego High School in Oswego, Illinois, Liska has been a member of his school’s varsity swimming and diving team since his freshman year. He also currently trains year-round with Fox Valley YMCA Aqua Force, where he primarily specializes in sprint freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and IM.
Liska is coming off a breakthrough 2025-26 season that saw him drop over four seconds in the 200 free, almost four seconds in the 200 IM, about three and a half seconds in the 100 fly, nearly two and a half seconds in the 100 back, over a second in the 100 free, and more than half a second in the 50 free.
Liska set all of his current lifetime bests across two meets: the Illinois YMCA State Championships in February and the YMCA National Championships in March. At State, he swam primary and off events alike, winning the 200 free (1:38.98), 200 IM (1:52.37), 200 breast (2:06.57) and 400 IM (4:08.74), finishing runner-up in the 100 free (45.15) and placing third in the 50 free (20.86). At Nationals, he went on to touch 12th in the 50 free (20.64) and 13th in both the 100 free (45.36) and 200 free (1:40.44). He also time-trialed a 48.83 in the 100 fly and posted a 51.63 relay lead-off in the 100 back.
On the high school scene, Liska placed 15th in the 50 free (21.32) and 20th in the 100 free (46.44) at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Championships in February.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 20.64
- 100 Freestyle: 45.15
- 200 Freestyle: 1:38.98
- 100 Butterfly: 48.83
- 100 Backstroke: 51.63
- 200 IM: 1:52.37
A Division I program, Ohio State competes in the Big Ten Conference, with the men’s team placing third out of nine teams at this past season’s conference championships before going on to finish 13th at the NCAA Championships.
To earn a second swim at Big Tens, it took times of 20.19/43.71/1:35.63 in the 50/100/200 free, 46.48 in the 100 fly, 46.54 in the 100 back, and 1:46.36 in the 200 IM, putting Liska outside of the cutoffs for now, though he still has nearly three seasons of training to go before lining up at his first conference meet.
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