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Mary Kate Leonard of Holland, Pennsylvania has verbally committed to swim at Boston College beginning in the 2021-2022 season. She swims year-round for the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club and she is heading into her senior year at Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
“I’m so excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Boston College! Thank you to my family, friends, coaches and teammates for all the support. The coaches and the team at BC are really special and the campus is absolutely beautiful! I can’t wait for the next four years! Go Eagles!!”
In February, Leonard competed at the 2020 Pennsylvania District 1 Girls Swimming Championships in the 200 and 500 free and two relays. The high school junior finished 11th in the 200 free with a time of 1:53.89 and 4th in the 500 with a time of 4:57.58. Additionally, she swam the breaststroke leg of Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s 200 medley relay, splitting a 30.09. Leonard led of the team 400 free relay with a time of 53.57.
Leonard’s performances at the district meet qualified her for the Pennsylvania 3A State Championships in March. She made it back into the consolation finals in both the 200 and 500 freestyle. In the finals of the 200 free, Leonard jumped from 16th place to 11th, dropping 1.74 seconds from her entry time to go a personal best time of 1:52.15.
She remained 9th in the 500 free, going the same time in finals as she did in prelims (5:00.61). She split a 30.72 in the 50 breast of the 200 medley relay, and she led off the 400 medley in a personal best time of 52.91.
In December, Leonard competed at the NCAP Invitational in College Park, MD. She swam the 200 and 500 free, 50 and 100 back and breast, and the 200 and 400 IM. She made it back to finals in both the 50 and 100 breast and she earned personal best times in all of her backstroke and breaststroke events.
Top SCY Times:
- 500 free – 4:57.58
- 200 free – 1:52.15
- 100 breast – 1:06.16
- 100 free – 52.91
- 200 IM – 2:09.71
- 400 IM – 4:34.65
When she joins the Eagles in the fall of 2021, Leonard will be one of the team’s top middle-distance swimmers. Her 500 free time is ranked second behind Lindsey Ryalls and her 200 free time places her fourth behind Ryalls, Sophia Miller, and Madeline King.
Leonard will be joining Maryland 4A3A State champion Samantha Smith as a member of the class of 2025.
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