SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Chloe Beebout has committed to swim at Cal State University East Bay and attend school at the campus in Hayward.
"I am super excited to attend East Bay!" said Beebout. "The team seems very welcoming and the school's campus is so beautiful and so close to San Francisco as well as home."
Beebout will swim for Head Coach Shane Pelton, who was named the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference (PCSC) Female Coach of the Year in 2020. He led the Pioneers to a Top 25 NCAA Division II ranking and the PCSC team title.
"I was attracted by the swim team because I've heard great things about the teammates and the coach," said Beebout. "I also want to keep myself challenged and that team will do just that."
Pelton and his staff helped guide 15 athletes cut NCAA times including, nine individuals to achieve NCAA "B" cuts. Both the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relay teams were ranked in the top 16 in Division II helping to establish the dominant culture of East Bay swim.
"I want to continue to see our program grow from an athletic standpoint, but I also want to continue to see our athletes develop into the individuals that they want to be," said Pelton recently about the upcoming season. "That's what it is all about. I think all of our fans should be excited about the future of this program. We have a great group of returners and one of our best recruiting classes for next season. I will admit this, I told the team that winning back-to-back conference championships was great, but starting a dynasty sounds even better."
Beebout was a four-year member of the swimming team and three-time Section qualifier. She helped the 200 free relay win the consolation final last year at Sections and was eighth in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free at Delta League Championships. She was also part of two Frosh/Soph Section titles and was named one of the Frosh/Soph team MVPs as a freshman and a sophomore. She was second in the 500 free and part of winning 400 free relay at 2018 Sections.
"Chloe is an amazing young woman who is like a bright light everywhere she goes," said Adriana Contreras. "She is always optimistic and engaged and I'm going to miss having Chloe around! She always expected the best from those around her and from herself. Chloe will definitely be missed next year but I wish her luck as she moves on to her new home for the next four years and cannot wait to see what she accomplishes!"
Beebout, who has posted personal bests of 59.08 in the 100y backstroke, 2:0916 in the 200y backstroke and 1:55.70 in the 200y freestyle, discovered swimming after being a competitive dancer.
"One day I realized I wasn't in love with my sport as I used to be," recalled Beebout. "I wanted to try something different. I started competitively swimming when I was 10. It's one of the only sports that you can't tell you're sweating which I oddly loved about it. I love my swim team at Spare Time Aquatics and at St. Francis, they're my family. Seeing their faces always cheers me up. I also love that swimming keeps me focused. If my brain is scattered I know I can count on swim practice to get me centered."
She plans to study Environmental Science at East Bay.
