South African Marlies Ross Heads to Arizona State University

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South African swimmer Marlies Ross has verbally committed to join Arizona State University.  According to Ross, she is not sure exactly when next year she will begin competing for the Sun Devils, although she noted, “if all goes well it will be in January, in time of Pac-12 and NCAAs.”

Ross was one of the eight swimmers from her nation to receive financial backing from the “Get Girls to Gold” program and represented South Africa at both the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. In Glasgow, Ross finished 3rd in her 200m IM heat, registering a time of 2:15.17 for 9th and just out of the final. Ross earned 7th in the same event at the YOG in Nanjing.

At the South African Short Course Nationals this past July, Ross racked up multiple wins, showing the versatility of the young athlete.  Top results included:

Gold, 400m IM – 4:41.70
Gold, 200m Breaststroke – 2:28.90
Gold, 100m IM – 1:03.47
Gold, 200m IM – 2:17.12
Silver, 400m Free – 4:15.98
Bronze, 100m Backstroke – 1:03.37
Bronze, 100m Freestyle – 56.04
Bronze, 200m Freestyle – 2:01.93

Of moving to Tempe in the near future, Ross says, “I am super exited to join the Sun Devils family!”

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