Senior swimmer Emma McCarthy verbally committed to the University of Arizona earlier this month.

McCarthy, who specializes in the 100, 200, and 500 yard freestyle, made her decision to compete next year for the Wildcats, who finished in eighth place at the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship, on Sept. 6.

According to McCarthy, she also received interest from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Michigan.

“I really liked the team and the coach [at Arizona],” McCarthy said. “It was a better fit for me. You have to spend four years everyday with these people. You have to get along and like them.”

McCarthy spends most of her time in the water competing year-round for North Bay Aquatics, but still manages to swim for Redwood.  Last year, she placed second in her primary event, the 200 yard freestyle, in the MCAL Championship, and placed ninth at NCS.

By swimming for the club team North Bay Aquatics, McCarthy has connections to her future school.

“My North Bay coach, Ken DeMont, went to Arizona and basically started the legacy for a great program there,” McCarthy said. “My other coach, Don Swartz, coached Ken’s brother Rick DeMont, who is the head coach at Arizona, to the Olympics winning a gold medal and setting a world record.”