National Age Group Record Holder Karina Plaza Gives 2028 Verbal to Virginia
NEW COMMIT: Charlotte, North Carolina native Karina Plaza has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Virginia’s Class of 2032. Plaza, one of the top recruits in her class, is a versatile Summer Nationals qualifier and National Age Group record holder.
She will join Allison Kelly and Shelby Hutchinson in Charlottesville in Fall 2028.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Virginia! I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for always supporting me, believing in me, and helping me get to this point. I would also like to give a huge thank you to Coach Todd and the entire UVA coaching staff for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue my academic and athletic career at UVA.
GO HOOS!”
Plaza owns the National Age Group records in the girls’ 13-14 100 breast and 200 breast with respective times of 59.94 and 2:09.40. Those were both achieved at the North Carolina Short Course Age Group Championships in 2025. She became the youngest high school girl in U.S. history to break the 60-second barrier in the 100 breast.
Plaza, who trains year-round with Mecklenburg Swim Association, most recently competed at the USA Swimming National Championships where she raced six events. At Juniors East in December, she finished seventh in the 100 breast, ninth in the 200 IM and 400 IM, 17th in the 200 breast and 19th in the 200 back while also swimming on the winning 4×50 medley, 4×100 medley and 4×100 free relays.
Her best times include:
- 100 breast – 59.94
- 200 breast – 2:09.40
- 200 IM – 1:57.44
- 400 IM – 4:12.12
- 50 back – 24.75
- 100 back – 53.47
- 200 back – 1:55.72
- 100 free – 50.48
- 200 free – 1:47.66
Currently a junior at Myers Park High School, Plaza earned gold in the 100 back and bronze in the 200 IM at the 2026 North Carolina 8A State Championships, also grabbing gold in the 4×50 medley relay and silver in the 4×100 free relay. She took third in the 100 back and fourth in the 200 IM at the 4A state meet as a freshman in 2024, also swimming on the winning 4×50 medley and 4×100 free relays.
Plaza would’ve ranked fourth in the 100 breast on Virginia’s roster last year. She would’ve scored in the B-final in that event at last year’s conference meet.
The Cavaliers won their seventh straight Atlantic Coast Conference title and their sixth consecutive NCAA Championship crown in 2026.
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