U.S. Open Water National Champion Becca Mann has made her college decision, verbally committing to the USC Trojans for the 2016 season and beyond.

Mann was rated as our #3 recruit nationally in terms of pool swimming, but is even better in open water, where she won the 2015 U.S. National title in the 10K and competed at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

That open water arena is likely a huge draw for Mann to USC, which features U.S. Olympic open water coach Catherine Vogt on its staff.

Mann perhaps dropped a hint on social media last week, expressing great excitement at Vogt’s selection as open water head coach for the U.S. Olympic team.

Today, Mann publicized her commitment on Twitter, posting a very spirited photo of herself in full Trojan getup:

Mann competes for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, but has previously represented the Clearwater Aquatic Team as well.

Mann’s Top Times

1650 free: 15:45.33

500 free: 4:34.77

200 free: 1:47.73

200 fly: 1:56.97

200 back: 1:57.19

200 IM: 1:58.46

400 IM: 4:05.52

Mann is not only a great distance freestyler, she should turn out to be a big help to the Trojans in the IMs and the 200s of fly and back as well.

Her best 1650 free time would have been 2nd at last year’s NCAA Championships, and she would have been 4th in the 500 free.

Training with Vogt at USC should also allow Mann to continue chasing her open water aspirations. Mann was a top contender for the U.S. Olympic team for 2016, but barely missed the cut, finishing 14th at Worlds with the top 10 earning Olympic bids. The only U.S. Olympian on the women’s side, Haley Anderson, also swam for the USC Trojans and continues to represent Trojan in competition.