WHAT a Future NCAA Student-Athlete: Gracie Lowney Commits to Fairfield University for 2026-27

Rob Riccobon

Speedo Sectionals finalist Gracie Lowney has announced her commitment to compete for Fairfield University in Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2026.

“I am so excited to announce my commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at Fairfield University! I want to thank my family, my friends and all of my coaches and teammates for their support! I especially want to thank Coach Lichter and Coach Brown for giving me this amazing opportunity! Go Stags!!”

A Connecticut native, Lowney’s commitment to swim for Fairfield will keep her relatively close to home next season.  Lowney trains year-round with the West Hartford Aquatic Team, primarily specializing in free and back. She is currently a senior at Conard High School in West Hartford, where she has been a member of the varsity swim team all four years alongside her twin sister, Kayla. 

Lowney made a splash at the West Hartford Invite a few weeks ago, breaking Conard’s school record in the 100 back with a time of 59.86. She also set a new meet record in the 100 free in 53.28.

At the Ithaca Sectionals back in March, Lowney earned a second swim in three of her races. She posted a lifetime best time in the 500 free, placing 21st in 5:05.10 and shaving almost 2.5 seconds off of her previous personal best (5:07.57). She also finished 26th in the 200 free (1:54.03), 33rd in the 100 free (52.92) and 68th in the 50 free (24.74).

Over the summer, Lowney competed at the Futures Championships (LCM) in Madison, where she clocked two new lifetime bests. Her top performance came in the 200 free, in which she finished 47th in a best time of 2:10.13. Lowney posted a best time in the 50 back (32.35) and contested the 100 free (1:00.04) and 200 back (2:26.17). She also time trialed the SCY 200 back, clocking a lifetime best time of 2:03.88.

Best Times SCY

  • 100 free – 52.16
  • 200 free – 1:52.50
  • 500 free – 5:05.10
  • 100 back – 59.20
  • 200 back – 2:03.88

A Division I Mid-Major program, Fairfield competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, with the Stags taking the runner-up spot at the 2025 MAAC Championships. Based on the results from last season’s championship, Lowney would have landed in the ‘A’ final in the 200 back and the ‘B’ final in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free, giving her no shortage of events in which she could score points.

Lowney was named a Connecticut Swimming scholar athlete two years in a row, receiving the honor in both 2024 and 2025. Outside of the pool, Lowney is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society.

Currently set to join Lowney in Fairfield’s class of 2030 are Meredith Roberts (breast/fly) and Simona Bogdanova (free/fly), who should both make for strong training partners over their four years together.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].