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Gracie Colvin, a senior at Hononegah Community High School in Illinois, has verbally committed to the University of Arkansas for the class of 2027.
“I chose Arkansas because of the amazing facilities, resources, and welcoming team culture!”
At the 2022 Illinois High School Girls’ State Championships, Colvin finished 7th (winning the B-final) in the 50 free and 8th in the 100 fly. This is an improvement from her junior year, when she finished 11th in the 50 and 100 free.
Colvin also competes for McGuire Aquatic Club. At the 2022 NCSA Summer Swimming Championships, she finished 6th in the 50 free (26.64), 14th in the 100 free (57.83), and 21st in the 100 fly (1:03.19). Earlier in the year, at the Central Zone Section 1 Spring Championships, she finished 8th in the 50 free, 13th in the 100 free, and 15th in the 100 fly.
Colvin has a 2023 Summer Juniors cut in the SCY 50 free and 100 back, and 2022 Winter Juniors cuts in the LCM 50 free and 100 free. She also has 2023 USA Swimming Futures cuts in the 200 free, 100 fly, and 200 fly.
Best short-course yards times:
- 50 free: 23.11
- 100 free: 51.08
- 200 free: 1:52.19
- 100 back: 53.94
- 100 fly: 55.51
- 200 fly: 2:03.97
Arkansas is a member of the Southeastern Conference. At the 2022 SEC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Arkansas finished 11th out of 12 teams.
With Colvin’s versatility in free, fly, and a bit of backstroke, she’ll be able to fill in wherever the team needs it most. Over half of the team’s fly program is composed of seniors or grad students, so Colvin could help there when swimmers begin to graduate. The free program is a lot more diverse grade-wise, plus there are over 10 swimmers of a 24-person roster who claim that freestyle is at least one of their strokes. Along with the fact that the sprint events are a lot more packed at the conference and national level, Colvin may seek to differentiate herself by focusing on non-free events. The team only has three members who list back as one of their strokes, for example. Colvin’s best times are 53.94 in the 100–notably a Summer Juniors qualifying time–and 2:07.73 in the 200. There are no backstrokers joining in her grade, so Colvin might also look to drop time in these events to fill gaps.
Colvin will join a group of seven other women in the class of 2027, announced by head coach Neil Harper at the end of November. She’ll join breaststroker/IMer Kiara Xanthos, diver Isabella Perreira, diver Lauren French, breaststroker Lindy Hunter, diver Bryze Sanchez, freestyler Sophia Iskenderoglu, and butterflier/IMer Alma Dahl.
“Gracie is one of the most talented swimmers coming out of Illinois this year,” Harper said in a press release. “She’s got speed in free, fly and back, and we know she will really benefit as a Razorback from being part of our team next year.”
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