For the second-straight season, the Iowa women have picked up a verbal commitment from a very good breaststroker. Last year, it was Olivia Kabacinski, and this fall, it comes in the form of a verbal commitment from Shea Hoyt of the St. Charles Swim Team in Illinois.
Hoyt is actually a very similar swimmer to her future teammate Kabacinski, in that she’s a very good breaststroke, and could end up as a contributor in the sprint freestyles as well.
In yards, Hoyt has been 1:03.9 and 2:18.9 in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke races, as well as a 23.9 in the 50 yard free.
In long course, the numbers are even better in the breaststrokes: 1:11.78 and 2:34.67.
Depending on how Hoyt develops over the next two seasons, this could make a significant and immediate impact on the Hawkeyes, as it would allow them to use Kabacinski on the freestyle legs of their medley relays and Hoyt on the breaststroke legs without much of a letdown there.
Hoyt swims for St. Charles Easth High School scholastically, where she took 7th at the Illinois State meet as a junior in the 100 breaststroke (she wound up in the B-Final of a 6-lane pool, which she won).
