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The Crimson Tide have picked up a verbal commitment from Holland, Michigan’s Kyle Maas, who swims under coach Steve Bowyer at West Ottawa High School, and under Dan Kimble at West Ottawa Swim Club. Maas was instrumental in helping West Ottawa finished second overall at the 2015 MHSAA D1 Boys Swim and Dive Championships. He placed third in the 200 IM (1:50.37) and third in the 100 back (49.68), both personal best times. He also split a 23.35 leading off West Ottawa’s medley relay and 46.43 leading off their 400 free relay.
“I chose Alabama because of the great coaches, swimmers, and culture of excellence that will help me achieve my full potential in the pool, the classroom, and in life. Roll Tide!”
Maas is a 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100m backstroke who has shown strong and sustained improvement over the last two years:
| Year | Freshman | Sophomore | Junior |
| 100y back | 53.01 | 51.29 | 49.68 |
| 100m back | 1:00.83 | 59.19 | 57.11 |
| 200y back | 1:55.57 | 1:53.43 | 1:49.08 |
| 200y IM | 1:58.11 | 1:53.52 | 1:50.37 |
His 100m backstroke trajectory has been especially impressive. At Junior Nationals this past summer in San Antonio, Maas dropped .90 in prelims to make the B final and earn his first Olympic Trials cut. He also competed in the 200m IM and 200m back at Juniors.
In addition, Maas has posted the following personal bests:
- 100 free – 46.43
- 200 free – 1:41.87
- 100 breast – 57.10
- 100 fly – 51.25
This fall is the first year Maas has not played varsity tennis in the fall. Now that he is no longer a two-sport varsity athlete, Maas shared, “I will be working towards some more big drops this winter.” He added, “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have without great training partner Gabe Moura.”
Maas will be joining the Crimson Tide with fellow-commit Wyatt Harrison of Alabama.
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who is Gabe Moura?