Auburn Gets Verbal Commitment from Fly/Back Specialist, Jewels Harris

Tuscaloosa, Alabama-native Jewels Harris has given a verbal commitment to Auburn University women’s swimming and diving team for the 2017-18 season.

“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim at Auburn University. I can’t wait to be a part of the tiger family with an amazing coaching staff and team! There is no other college that represents dedication, hard work, and family the way Auburn does. I believe that Auburn is the place that will help me reach my collegiate goals and full potential in and out of the pool. With the help of all of the coaches as well as my new teammates, I believe that I’ve made the best possible choice. War Eagle!!”

Harris is a senior at Northridge High School and swims for Crimson Tide Aquatics. As a sophomore she finished second in the 100 fly and fourth in the 500 free at the AHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships; she was third and second in those same events as a freshman.

Harris had a particularly strong long course season this summer. At Speedo Junior Nationals she dropped a half-second in the 200 fly to make top-8, then took another 1.3 off in finals for a sixth-place finish and a best time by 1.8 seconds. She earned a PB in the 100 fly, too, and only missed the A final by .08. Harris also finaled in the 100 back, an event in which she improved by 6 seconds over the last year.

Harris will have an immediate impact for the Tigers in the 200 fly, where she would have made the B final at the 2016 SEC Championships. She’s not far off in the 100 fly, and if she continues to make the improvements in short course yards that she did in long course meters in her backstroke events, Harris will be dangerous in any number of slots. She will join an Auburn butterfly group that boasts conference scorers Aly Tetzloff in the 100 and Bailey Nero in the 200.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected]