Ohio State earns now their sixth verbal commit thus far in the recruiting season with a verbal commitment from Macie McNichols. McNichols is an Ohio native from Brecksville, Ohio, which is south of the Cleveland area; she swims for Tom Stacy of SwimStrongsville.
McNichols shared, “I’m so excited to be wearing scarlet and grey next year. I chose OSU because of the amazing program, team, and coaches. I knew, the moment I stepped on campus, that Ohio State would be to able to take me places, both academically and with swimming, that I wouldn’t have found at other schools. Go Bucks!”
She is primarily a 50 and 100 freestyler, with best times at 23.28 and 50.89. Outside those events when looking for a third, she has only been a 1:53.41 200 freestyle and 58.42 100 butterfly. Easily those can be improved as Head Coach Bill Dorenkott has had some very solid 200 freestylers (Alex Norris & Samantha Cheverton) and butterflyers (Megan Detro) develop all the way to the NCAA level within his program.
She’s dropped a considerable amount of time from her freshman to junior year in her primary events – 53-low to 50-high, 24-mid to 23-low. With that kind of continuous drop in times, her development should only continue into her collegiate years.
The Buckeyes will need her to step up as a strong freestyler to fill relay gaps from graduating seniors Alex Norris, Phoebe Carter and Michelle Williams, all of whom have at least one team record in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays.
Swimming for Gilmour Academy one last season this winter, she will look to defend her two-time 50 freestyle crown at the Ohio High School Division II State Tournament this February.
