Phoenix Xavier Prep senior distance swimmer Mia Rankin announced Monday that she will be joining the Ohio State Buckeyes after she graduates high school in 2021. 

Rankin helped lead the Gators, ranked eighth on Arizona Republic’s all-time greatest high school sports dynasties, to the 2017 Division I girls state team title. Also, Rankin was one of the key performers who led the all-girls school to second place in the state team championships in the following two seasons.

Rankin chose Ohio State out of her list of offers from Arizona, Texas A&M, Indiana, and Southern Methodist.

“I could tell the coaches at Ohio State were really interested in me, as well as the swimmers. They reached out to me in ways that made me feel wanted by the team. I’m already creating friendships with some of the other swimmers,” Rankin said. “Plus, their training is based on everything I do now, their campus is beautiful, and academics are competitive.”

In 2019, Rankin won the 400-meter IM at Mount Hood Sectionals where she also placed fourth in the 1500m freestyle and finished as the 2019 state final runner up in the 200-yard IM.

Rankin holds several U.S. Open and Junior National standards and recently posted a pair of top-18 finishes at the Arizona Seniors meet after racing five events at the Toyota U.S. Open in December in Atlanta. 

“We are so proud of Mia’s accomplishments and her choice to attend Ohio State,” Xavier swimming head coach Jenny James said in a press release. “Mia is one of the strongest young women I’ve had the pleasure to coach. She will be missed but will be an invaluable member of the Buckeyes.”

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