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Rachel Ballard, a junior at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, has verbally committed to Brigham Young University for the fall of 2023.
“I am beyond thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at Brigham Young University. I’d like to thank my coaches, family and the people that have pushed me to be my best. Coaching staff and team atmosphere are amazing and BYU is a great school and a good academic fit for me. #byuswimdive”
Ballard competed at the 2022 CHSAA 5A State Championships, where she placed 7th in the 100 free and as part of the 400 free relay. She currently owns school records in the 200 free and 200 IM, as well as part of the 400 free relay, 200 medley relay, and the 200 freestyle relay.
Ballard says that she used to be a distance swimmer, but converted to sprinting within the past year. Prior to her time as a sprinter, Ballard swam AAA times in the 1000 (10:40.22) and 1650 (17:55.61), but after switching she has nailed a AAAA time in the 100 free (51.17), the highest ranking among any of her best times.
Ballard swam her best times in the 50, 100, and 200 free in late 2021 and early 2022, signifying her progress as a sprinter since she decided to focus on that area.
Ballard swims club for the University of Denver Hilltoppers. At the 2022 Speedo Sectionals in Austin, she placed 2nd as part of the 800 free relay, 4th as part of the 400 free relay, 7th as part of the 200 free relay, and 15th as part of the 200 medley relay.
Her best short-course yards times are:
- 50 free: 24.10
- 100 free: 51.17
- 200 free: 1:52.94
- 200 IM: 2:08.44
BYU is currently a member of the MPSF conference in swimming & diving, though it will move to the Big 12 conference the year Ballard joins the team – presuming the Big 12 continues to sponsor swimming & diving.
Ballard has the potential to have an immediate impact in BYU’s sprint program. Her best times would’ve made her the 2nd-fastest 100 freestyler on the team in the 2021-22 season. She also would’ve been the 5th-fastest 200 freestyler, 6th-fastest 50 freestyler, and the 8th-fastest 200 IMer.
Ballard joins Kiara Xanthos, a breaststroker and IMer, Victoria Schreiber, a distance freestyler, and Kara Martinson, a sprinter, for the class of 2023.
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and here i thought she had converted to mormonism.
Anyways, congratulations!