Paige Kuwata

2022 NCAA Women's Team pose at the venue

Paige Kuwata cheers from the sidelines at the ACC Championships

Photo by: Jermaine Bibb | University of Louisville

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
Distance freestyle
High School:
Palo Verde
Hometown:
Las Vegas, Nev.

2024-25: Paige did not compete for the Cardinals in 2024-25 due to an injury. She did assist the team with social media and in-meet photography.

2023-24: Paige has handled the distance events for the Cardinals. At the ACC Championships, she placed 23rd in the 500 free (4:50.96) and was in the B-final in the 400 IM (4:18.94) and was tenth in the 1650 with a time of 16:28.09. During the dual season, Paige won the 1000 free (10:11.49) and the 500 free (4:59.33) against Xavier. In the meet with Auburn, she won the 1000 free, and was second in both the 400 IM (4:19.20) and the 500 free (4:52.08). She touched fourth in the 800 M freestyle at Tennessee, going 9:03.98. Against the Irish of Notre Dame, she won the 1000 free (10.06.86) and was third in the 500 free (5:00.99). During the Missouri meet, she won the 1650 free, boarding a 16:32.81 and was fifth in the 400 IM (4:25.32). In the Battle of the Bluegrass, Paige was fifth in the 1000 free (9:54.57) and sixth in the 500 free (4:59.33). In the double dual meet with Indiana and Wisconsin, she was ninth in the 1000 free (10:08.24) and 11^th in both the 500 free (4:58.85) and the 400 IM (4:24.89). She won the 1650 with a time of 16:26.83 versus Cincinnati and was second in the 200 fly (2:03.90).

Prep: Coming from Las Vegas, Nevada, Kuwata will add strength to the distance group for the Cardinals. Swimming for Sandpipers of Nevada for coaches Ronald Aitken and Michael Kinross, Kuwata was a three-time champion at the 2022 USA Swimming Futures Championship in Santa Clara. She won the 200 backstroke, the 400 freestyle, and the 400 IM. Kuwata also placed second in the 200 butterfly. At the 2021 Speedo Sectionals in Huntington Beach, Kuwata took home six top-6 finishes. She placed 1^st in the 500 freestyle, 2^nd in the 400 IM and 1000 freestyle, 3^rd in the mile, 4^th in the 200 butterfly, and 6^th in the 200 IM. Kuwata was a FINA Swimming World Cup silver medalist. She is also a two-time NAG relay record holder and five-time Olympic trials qualifier. Kuwata is an NIAA 4A State Champion for high school coach Brent Gonzalez. This two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-America has best times of 4:14.50 in the 400 freestyle, 9:45.22 in the 1000 freestyle, and 16:11.10 in the mile.

Personal: Daughter of Dean and Lisa Kuwata. Born August 23, 2004. Major is Sport Administration.