Darby Coles of Donner Swim Club and Columbus North High School in Columbus, Indiana has given her verbal commitment to Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
Excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim for Marshall University next year!! #goherd pic.twitter.com/B73jQPyo3b
— darby coles (@darby_coles) October 11, 2016
Last season, Coles was the runner-up in her sectional championships in both of her events, finishing the 100 free in 53.25 and the 200 IM in 2:14.15. She capped off the high school season by anchoring her 200 medley relay to a 22nd place finish at Indiana High School State Championships. Her best times in SCY are listed below:
- 50 free: 23.85
- 100 free: 53.25
- 200 IM: 2:14.15
Led by coach Bill Tramel in his fourth season, the Marshall Thundering Herd finished third at the Division I Conference USA (C-USA) Championships, the top placement in the program’s history with 12 total medals. And, given that just 17.5 points separated Marshall from Rice University, a few key recruits could make a huge difference for the 2017-2018 season.
Coles could score some points for the team in her upcoming season. She would have made the ‘C’ final at last year’s C-USAs in the 50 free, and her personal best time would have missed the ‘B’ final by just .02. She also is within range of a spot on the team’s ‘A’ relays. Last season’s conference team of Lauren Cowher, Gloriya Mavrova, Maggie Stovall, and Chloe Parsemain grabbed a silver medal in the 200 free relay with 1:33.45, and their splits ranged from 22.62 to 24.33, making her a serious contender for an ‘A’ slot.
