Texas A&M has kicked off their commitment season with the first verbal on the women’s side, as Texas native Karling Hemstreet is staying local and will swim with the Aggies starting in 2016.
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Hemstreet, who swims for Nitro Swimming, had a very successful summer of 2015. She was all over the place at the 2015 Junior Nationals, placing 7th in the 400 free, 8th in the 200 back, 9th in the 800 free, and 13th in the 200 free. She turned around a week later, focusing on just freestyle, to grab 15th in the 400 free, 23rd in the 800 free, and 36th in the 200 free. She put up lifetime bests in all three of those races.
A look at her best times in yards (and LCM).
- 100 free – 50.93 (58.02)
- 200 free – 1:47.19 (2:02.12)
- 400/500 free – 4:45.33 (4:13.74)
- 800/100 free – 9:48.80 (8:48.03)
- 1500/1650 free – 16:23.26 (16:59.96)
- 100 back – 56.47 (1:04.76)
- 200 back – 1:57.19 (2:15.18)
Hemstreet is a talent who can excel in long course too. The Aggies are going to really benefit from the distance background that she brings in. A&M will graduate two consistent contributors in freestyler Meredith Oliver and backstroker Claire Brandt after this season, and Hemstreet will help fill those holes nicely. The Aggies also suffered a big loss after All-American Sarah Henry graduated last season; Henry was an elite distance freestyler and IMer.
Hemstreet already has times that would put her in last year’s SEC Champs B final in the 500, C final in the 200 back and 200 free, and her 1650 best time would’ve placed 13th overall. Look for her to bulk up the distance free ranks in College Station, as well as provide some help on free relays.
“[Texas A&M] is the perfect place for me. It felt like home while I was on campus, and the group of girls that I will be swimming with next year are just the best people you could possibly be with. They are so driven in the water and the classroom as well as the nicest people outside of that. I’m honored to be a part of the Aggie family and I can’t wait to be there!”
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected]
