Lily DeLong likes the idea of being pushed by SEC competition.
Lily DeLong grew up “bleeding blue” and says going to another Southeastern Conference school and competing against Kentucky would be “weird and not enjoyable” under any circumstances.
That’s why the West Jessamine High School junior recently announced her verbal commitment to UK. She was runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle (51.12 seconds) and won the consolation final of the 100 backstroke (57.63) at the 2022 KHSAA State Swimming & Diving Championships.
“I had originally planned on waiting to the summer to decide where I wanted to go to school,” said DeLong. “I started looking at schools and narrowing down my list. When UK became a possibility, I thought if I know where I want to go, why wait.”
“The NCAA timeline has moved up a bit. If you are trying to go to a bigger school you cannot wait until the end of your senior year, or even the start of your senior year, to commit. There are already 11 girls committed (to UK for the 2023 signing class).”
The Kentucky women’s team won the 2021 SEC championship and was second this season.
“When I started (the college) process I didn’t think I would be able to go to UK. In the back of my mind I knew that would be amazing, but I just did not think it would be possible after they won the SEC championship,” DeLong said. “Then we talked to the (UK) coaches and it became a reality. They were realistic but always very encouraging.”
“Funny thing is we actually met with them to rule UK out. I just did not think it would work out. When they asked me to watch practice, I was excited but still did not think it would work out for me.”
A lengthy conversation with UK head coach Lars Jorgensen and associate coach Maclin Simpson changed that. She sort of knew Jorgensen because when she practiced at UK when she swam for Kentucky Aquatics he would talk to her.
“I didn’t know him super well but always thought he looked like a good coach and he was very supportive of our team,” DeLong said. “When I watched practice and got to know him a little better, it’s obvious he is a coach who wants to be very engaged with his swimmers and knows all of them really well. I think he will help me a lot.”
Her parents, Emily and Jason, asked Jorgensen why he thought she could swim at the SEC level knowing she was not yet ready for that level of competition. Emily DeLong said Simpson also answered a lot of questions for them.
Jorgensen told them he was familiar with how she had been coached and liked her potential to make big improvements. Former UK swimmers Asia Seidt and Riley Gaines both said he told them similar things and they developed into All-Americans.
Kentucky needs freestyle sprinters but her parents understand how strong the competition is in the SEC compared to other conferences.
“We have seen her thrive when she was chasing other (faster) swimmers,” Emily DeLong said. “We did not want her to go to a team where she would be the fastest swimmer. She likes to be pushed and needs to be pushed. Hopefully this will be the right decision but one thing we know is that she has always been really motivated to succeed.”
The West Jessamine junior did consider some smaller schools where she knew she would have a “guaranteed” spot on the team.
“A smaller school would have given me a spot on the team but I want to push for something. I am not sure if my first year (at UK) if I will get to go to all the meets. Hopefully by my sophomore year I will get to go to all of them,” DeLong said. “There are also some very talented girls in my class who are really going to push me.”
“Right now my best event is the 100 freestyle. But they can put me in whatever they want. A lot of times you swim where the team needs you. I am definitely a sprint freestyler but I could always be used in the butterfly and backstroke.”
That’s because DeLong is happy knowing she is going to be part of the Kentucky swim team.
“I have always loved all of the UK sports but my favorite was watching UK basketball or football,” she said. “I have been a Cat fan all my life. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity I have.”
