Magnolia Aquatic Club’s Grace Ritch has made her college decision, as she’s verbally committed to join the Texas Longhorns. Ritch will be staying in-state when she makes the move to Austin next fall after graduating from John Cooper School. She’ll be adding depth to the Longhorns’ roster in the fly, middle distance free, and IM events.
Last season, Ritch was a 2-time champion at the Texas Southwest Preparatory Conference Championships. There, she won the 100 fly with her 57.43 and the 500 free wtih her 5:01.60. Ritch then went on to earn a 5th place finish in the 200 fly at the Speedo Sectionals in College Station.
Ritch’s Top Times:
| Event | SCY Time |
| 100 fly | 56.75 |
| 200 fly | 1:59.14 |
| 200 IM | 2:07.54 |
| 400 IM | 4:22.67 |
| 200 free | 1:52.53 |
| 500 free | 5:01.32 |
Ritch will have an immediate scoring impact for Texas at the Big 12 Championships, as she’s already fast enough to score in 3 events. Her times in the 200 fly and 400 IM would’ve been good for a spot in the championship final at last season’s Big 12 meet. She’s also just outside of A-final range in the 100 fly, and just outside of scoring range in the 200 IM and 500 free.
At Texas, Ritch will train alongside Remedy Rule, who won the 200 fly at Big 12s as a freshman last season. In her freestyle training, she’ll be in a group that includes Big 12 champ Joanna Evans and Quinn Carrozza, who went 1-2 in the 500 free last season.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].
Saw her swim at Futures at UT – nice!