NEW COMMIT: Peoria, Illinois’ Emma Theobald will be staying in state for college after giving her verbal commitment to swim for Northwestern University beginning in the fall of 2018.
Theobald told Swimming World,
“I am extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim for Northwestern University! With Northwestern’s amazing swim program and rigorous academics, I know I can reach my full potential in the pool and in the classroom! Go Cats!”
Theobald excels the most in backstroke, though she’s also strong in the IMs and has put together a nice 100 fly. Among her best SCY best times are:
- 100 Back 54.71
- 200 Back 1:57.39
- 100 Fly 54.95
- 200 IM 2:01.75
- 400 IM 4:20.01
Theobald does her club swimming with the Dunlap Dolphins. She will be a senior at Dunlap High School, where she’s had an excellent high school career. At the 2016 Illinois Girls High School state championship Theobald finished fifth in the 200 IM (2:05.05) and second in the 100 backstroke (55.08). For her efforts, in December Theobald was named the Journal Star Co-Swimmer of the Year along with Indiana commit Noelle Peplowski.
At the college level, Theobald should be able to develop into a conference level point scoring contributor for the Wildcats. At the 2017 Big Ten Championships she would have finished just outside scoring in the 100 backstroke. In the 200 backstroke she would have snuck into scoring range last season. She’s also not far off in the 200 IM.
