Miami University (OH) RedHawks pick up a big verbal commitment in the form of Jake Precious, esteemed backstroker from Louisville, KY. Precious swims for the storied Lakeside Seahawks, an 85-year-old club with a rich history of national-level swimmers, including Olympians Rachel Komisarz, Caroline Burckle, and Clark Burckle.
Precious is a national-level backstroker himself, clearing 2014 Winter Nationals times in two events: 50.48 in the 100y backstroke (earned at the 2014 SE Southern Premier meet) and 1:49.09 in the 200y backstroke, which he obtained at the 2014 Kentucky Short Course Championships. Precious also recently performed well at the 2014 SE Southern Premier meet earlier this year, swimming a time of 47.70 in the 100y freestyle, 1:43.66 in the 200y freestyle, and 4:37.26 in the 500y freestyle.
On the high school level, Precious represents Ballard High School in Louisville and was the 2014 State Champion in the 100y backstroke with his winning time of 50.62. Precious also earned 2014 Kentucky High School First Team All State Honors.
The RedHawks’ current swimmers, sophomore Maximilian Jelen, junior Sean Neri, and junior Heshan Unamboowe, have competed in backstroke events thus far this season; Therefore, it looks as though adding Precious will further strengthen this Miami backstroke arsenal, while also perhaps increasing the RedHawk freestyle point-scoring potential.
