Samantha Baron
Career Best Times
50 free – 23.16*
100 free – 50.34*
200 free – 1:49.77*
100 back – 55.04*
100 fly – 51.65*
200 fly – 1:55.66*
200 IM – 1:58.21*
400 IM – 4:18.21*
*At UCLA
Career Highlights
Program Record-Holder in the 100 fly (51.65)
2021 NCAA Championships Qualifier
Two-time Individual NCAA Qualifier
Four-time UCLA Director’s Honor Roll
Eight Individual Event Wins
2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier
Two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American
2022 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
2023-24
• Won the 100 Fly (52.54) and 200 Fly (1:57.05) at the Cavalier Invite
• Finished third in the 200 fly with a time of 2:02.69 against Virginia Tech
• Finished third in the 100 fly with a time of 55.18 against Virginia Tech
2022-23
• Won the 200 fly at the Cavalier Invite
• Finished second in the 100 fly and 200 IM at the Cavalier Invite
• Finished fifth in the 200 fly against NC State and North Carolina
• Placed fifth in the 200 fly at the Tennessee Invitational
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
2021-2022
• Competed in all 11 of UCLA’s regular-season meets
• Swam at the 2022 Pac-12 Championships, making the A Final in both butterfly events and the B Final in the 200 IM
• At Pac-12s, placed eighth in the 100 fly (52.83) and 200 fly (1:57.63)
• Set a best time in the 200 IM finals at Pac-12s to take 12th place (1:58.21)
• For the season, had UCLA’s top time in the 200 fly (1:56.47) and 200 IM (1:58.21), and the second-best time in the 100 fly (52.50)
• Swam a best time in the 200 free (1:49.77) at the UNLV Invitational from Dec. 17-19
• At the UNLV Invite, was runner-up in the 200 free and 100 IM, and also had top-10 finishes in the 100 back and 50 free
• Had a pair of event wins over the course of the season – the 100 fly vs. UCSB on Oct. 23 (54.83) and the 200 fly vs. USC on Feb. 12 (1:56.47)
• Earned Second Team CSCAA Scholar All-America honors
• Named to the UCLA Director’s Honor Roll for fall and winter quarters (3.0+ GPA, 12+ quarter units passed).
2020-21
• Double qualified for the NCAA Championships as a true freshman, qualifying in both the 100 fly and 200 fly
• Set a school-record in the 100 fly (51.65) at the Pac-12 Championships en route to a runner-up finish
• At NCAAs, placed 37th in the 100 fly (53.07), 46th in the 200 fly (2:00.01), and 64th in the 200 IM (2:01.93)
• Besides her runner-up finish in the 100 fly, also placed top-five at the Pac-12 Championships in the 200 fly (1:56.77, fourth) while taking 12th in the 200 IM (2:00.21)
• For the year, had the Bruins’ top time in both butterfly events, and the third-best time in the 200 IM
• Was also part of UCLA’s top relay squad in the 400 medley
• Notched six individual event wins over the course of the year, two apiece in the 100 fly and 200 fly, and one apiece in the 100 breast and 200 breast
• Also notched one relay win apiece in the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay
• Her six individual event wins were a team-high for the 2020-21 season
• Opened her collegiate career by sweeping the breaststroke events in the season-opening Fresno State dual meet
• Swept the butterfly events in both the USC dual meet and the USC tri-meet with Arizona (tied for the 100 fly win in the latter)
• Runner-up in both butterfly events at the Cal dual meet
• Set new PRs in the 100 fly and 200 fly over the course of the year
• Season-best times: 100 breast (1:03.08), 200 breast (2:17.48), 100 fly (51.65), 200 fly (1:55.66), 200 IM (1:59.74)
• Named to the UCLA Director’s Honor Roll for winter and spring quarters (3.0+ quarter GPA, 12+ units passed)
• Named to the 2020-21 CSCAA Scholar All-America First Team (3.5+ GPA, invited to NCAAs)
• Over the summer, competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials
• Swam a 1:02.28 in the 100 fly, good for 32nd place
High School/Club
• Attended Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash
• Earned four varsity swim letters
• NISCA All-American
• Two-time state champion in the 200 IM, also won a state title in the 100 fly
• No. 3-ranked swimmer in the state of Washington as a senior … 2019 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
• Finished first in the 100 fly at the 2018 Pacific Northwest Swimming Senior Long Course Championships
• Won the 200 IM, 200 fly, and 400 IM at the 2019 Pacific Northwest Swimming Senior Championships (long course)
• Recorded an Olympic Trials-qualifying cut in the 100 LCM fly with a time of 1:00.52 at the 2019 Speedo Junior Nationals
• Notable personal bests entering college include: 50 free (23.16), 100 free (50.34), 200 free (1:51.93), 500 free (5:09.24), 100 back (55.04), 200 back (2:08.44), 100 breast (1:02.48), 200 breast (2:20.21), 100 fly (53.39), 200 fly (1:57.97), 200 IM (1:58.86), 400 IM (4:18.21).
Personal
• Full name: Samantha Reese Baron
• Parents are Kyong and John Baron
• Has two older sisters, Bridgette and Natalie
• Psychology major
• Aspires to become a sports psychologist
• Chose UCLA because of “its unmatched team culture and coaching staff; I knew I would receive the best support in and out of the pool”
• Cites the 400 medley relay at 2019 Summer Junior Nationals as her favorite pre-UCLA sporting moment, as her team jumped seven places to earn a podium finish
• Admires Dana Vollmer, Simone Manuel, and Simone Biles
• In her free time, enjoys baking, hiking in the Pacific Northwest, and traveling with friends
• Her favorite dessert is egg tart
• Her older sister, Bridgette, attended UCLA.