Hannah Stevens from Lexington, Ohio (just outside of Columbus) has verbally committed to swim for the Missouri Tigers next season.
Stevens is the defending Ohio Division II State Champion in both the 100 yard back and 100 yard freestyle for Lexington High School, and has yards best times of 50.22 in the 100 free, 54.73 in the 100 yard back, and 1:59.97 in the 200 yard backstroke.
“I chose Missouri because of the amazing atmosphere there,” Stevens said of her decision. “The team was just so friendly and welcoming that I felt like I just fit in. I think the biggest reason was the coaching staff. They are wonderful and seemed to communicate well with the the athletes.”
In long course, her bests are 1:02.62 and 2:14.90, both from the 2013 World Championship Trials in Indianapolis.
For the Tigers, this signing is very important as they try to maintain their status as one of the best backstroking programs in the SEC after the graduation of All-American performers Dominique Bouchard and Cassie Cunningham.
Fortunately for the Tigers, aside from those two, they return a huge part of this group, including sophomore Dani Barbiea, sophomore Madi Bridges, and junior Emily Doucette, who were all under 55 seconds in the 100 last year and will all be around for Stevens’ first year in Columbia.
Now the Tigers will just have to start working that group and see who among them is capable of getting under 53 seconds, where Bouchard and Cunningham had been.
Very proud of my daughter. She Is an amazing athlete. Go Tigers.