Winter U.S. Open Qualifier Molly Blanchard (2023) Verbally Commits to Lady Vols

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Molly Blanchard from Richmond, Virginia has announced on social media her intention to swim and study at the university of Tennessee beginning in the 2023-24 school year:

“i am SO excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and swimming career at the University of Tennessee!!! a huge thank you to my family, friends, teammates, and coaches for all of their support and guidance through this process! i can’t wait to be a part of this family and to be a Lady Vol!🧡🍊 #govols”

Blanchard is a junior at Veritas School and swims club for Poseidon Swimming. A USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, she specializes in backstroke, breaststroke and IM, and her 200/400 IM times landed her in the “Best of the Rest” section of our Way Too Early list of top girls recruits from the high school class of 2023.

Blanchard won the 200 IM (2:03.46) and placed 3rd in the 100 breast (1:05.26) at the 2021 Virginia Independent Schools VISAA Swimming & Diving State Championship. A year earlier, the then-9th grader finished 2nd in the IM (2:04.68) and 3rd in the 100 back (55.63). In December 2020, she competed in a dual meet with 757 and won every event she entered (50 free, 100 back, 100/200 breast, and 200/400 IM). She left the meet with new PBs in the 50 free, 100 breast, and 200/400 IM. At 2021 NCSA Spring Championship, she added PBs in the 50 back and 50/200 breast. She placed 11th in the 50 breast, 10th in the 100 breast, and 10th in the 200 breast in Orlando.

Best SCY times:

• 200 IM – 2:01.24
• 400 IM – 4:16.44
• 50 back – 25.99
• 100 back – 55.32
• 200 back – 2:00.54
• 100 breast – 1:02.46
• 200 breast – 2:13.26
• 50 free – 23.77

Blanchard will join the Volunteers in the fall of 2023. Her breaststroke times are reminiscent of another Molly (Hannis) before she began at Tennessee. The IM group will have turned over by the time she begins, and she will train with Ellen Walshe, Julia Mrozinski, Kate McCarville, Josephine Fuller, Asia Minnes, and Sara Stotler for two years.

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