#6 Mena Boardman gives the Texas Longhorns her second verbal top-20 commitment for 2026-27

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Mena Boardman from Portland, Oregon, has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Texas for 2026-27.

“I am very pleased to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at the University of Texas. I would like to thank my friends, family, coaches and everyone who has supported me throughout my swimming career. I am so grateful for the opportunity to become a Longhorn. HOOK ‘EM🧡🤘”

Boardman is a junior at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. A talented and versatile sprinter, we considered her No. 6 on our Way Too Early list of the best swimmers in the high school Class of 2026. She swam for the Portland Aquatic Club club team when she was home for the summer was. and for SOLO Aquatics during the school year.

Boardman is among the fastest of the cohort in the 50/100 free, 100 back and 100 fly. In high school swimming, she put on a show at the 2024 Eastern Interscholastics, winning 50 free throws (with a new swimming record of 22.62) and 100 back throws (52.93). Both times were lifetime bests. She also led Exeter’s 200-meter medley relay with a PB of 24.41. Two weeks later, she won the 50 free (22.22) and 100 fly (51.62) at the 2024 New England Private Schools Athletic Conference championships. She topped the meet by finishing the 50 free by 1.5 seconds and won the 100 fly runs by 2.6 seconds, lowering her PBs in both events.

At the New England Swimming Senior Championships in December 2023, she placed 4th in the 100 m free and 11th in the 200 m backstroke, achieving best times in both events (51.24 and 2:04.53).

She started the 2024 distance season with a cut at the Olympic Trials (59.37) in the 100 sectionals in Federal Way, Washington. She secured that performance in July with PBs in the 50/100 free (25.55/56.62) and 100 back (1:02.14) at the Mt. Hood Sectionals.

Best SCY times:

• 100 flies – 51.62
• 100 back – 52.93
• 50 free – 22.22
• 100 free – 49.37

Boardman will join Avery Klamfoth at No. 7 in the fall of 2026 and Honorable Mention is recruiting Brynn Lavigueur and Sydney Schoeck in Austin.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape or horizontal, looks best) and a quote [email protected].

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