For the four years she swam at Skyline High School, Jade Garstang never lost a state race in her two disciplines. Now, she’s taking her swimming prowess to Raleigh and North Carolina State University.

She’s one of only four swimmers in Utah to have accomplished that feat at the state championships, and the second female. Natalie Edge of Kearns High, who graduated in 2007, also did it, along with Long Gutierrez of Brighton High (Class of 2013) and Joe Beutler from Snow Canyon High (class of 2009). Garstang’s events were the grueling 100 meter butterfly and 100 meter backstroke.

“I started swimming when I was 6,” she said. “I was taking swimming lessons and my instructor said I had a natural talent or something. We were living in Houston at the time, and when we moved to Utah, I got involved in a summer league and joined a couple of clubs, including the Wasatch Front Fish Market team as well as Skyline.”

She was recruited by several schools but chose N.C. State after visiting with coaches and the university.

“They have a top 10 program and the coaches were very nice,” she said. “My roommate in college is also a swimmer from New Jersey. I’m excited to get back there.” She left for school in mid-August.

“The butterfly was always like the stroke I grew up with, because I love doing underwater strokes,” Garstang said. “As I continued in high school, my backstroke improved and they became my two favorites.”

She “kind of” has her eyes on the 2028 Summer Olympic Games which will be held in Los Angeles, but qualifying is a couple of years away. She plans to major in business at N.C. State but admits, “I have no idea what I’ll do with that after college. For now, I’m just excited to live somewhere different and enjoy the experience.”

Garstang was born in Dubai and moved to Texas when she was six months old, living in the Woodlands section of Houston before moving to Utah. Among her favorite female swimmers are Summer McIntosh, Katie Ledecky and Regan Smith.

“They are all amazing,” she said.